I remember in my twenties being terribly influenced by a mailer I received from a chain boutique that was advertising a compact wardrobe with separates. It showed me how each of the pieces would mix and match, what jewelry I could purchase to properly accessorize the outfits, and when the store's next sale would be. How handy!
I'm embarrassed to confess that I gave in to their siren call, purchasing several of the pieces advertised. And while I regret being so easily influenced by the mailer and spending so much money on the advertised clothing, it did end up being a positive lesson on the value of carefully curating a few quality separates that can mix and match well.
Chances are you don't have to start from scratch. It's now fall; if you've been following this blog, we've already discussed starting with your own wardrobe to identify some of the foundational pieces you'll be wearing for the next couple of months. But let's assume that you want to take a step back and assess.
Use a list of "Closet Essentials" to inform your wardrobe decisions.
A print dress is usually included in "closet essentials" lists.
This Banana Republic wrap dress, purchased used, cost under $15.00.
I've reviewed many such lists over the years, finding that items on the list typically stand the test of time. A crisp white top of some sort (these days it's a plain white T-shirt) still makes these lists, as does an unstressed pair of jeans, a print dress and a neutral blazer. For your own review, check out these "closet essentials" lists from both
Stitchfix and
Gia Rose.
That said, these lists will never perfectly fit your situation. When I worked as a financial advisor, a black wool gabardine tailored suit was part of my closet essentials, but such a suit would not typically be included on these lists. Now that I no longer meet with clients, but I live in the desert where the weather stays over 100 degrees three months out of the year, my nice pair of white shorts is an absolute essential - but not something that would show up on anyone else's essentials list. Make sure that your essentials fit YOUR life.
White shorts never make the "closet essentials" lists,
but they are essential for me to survive hot summers in Phoenix
Keep your wardrobe small and of high quality to maximize your odds of consistently looking good.
How easy would it be if you only had ten core pieces of clothing to choose from and accessorize? (And how little money would you spend if you purchased them all used?) My personal experience has shown that ten or so carefully-chosen quality pieces should be enough to carry you through a three-month season.
When I worked as a financial advisor, my core pieces were:
Three neutral dresses, a black suit (blazer, skirt and trousers), one light beige blazer, one green skirt and three tops that all went with the skirts and the trousers. All of the dresses, pants and tops went with one of the two blazers. With the exception of the black suit, all of the other items were purchased used.
One of my most treasured compliments over the years (and I've gotten a version of it multiple times) has been from women who didn't know me, but who saw me regularly at work and said something like, "You always look so put together." You can, too, when you reign in the number of pieces you choose to wear and stick with quality.
Don't be tempted by "convertible" clothing that promises to increase the number of outfits you can get out of your separates.
Sure, if you're bored by your own wardrobe, you can get creative about how you might wear certain items - but trust me, no one else cares. For proof, I offer
Renata Briggman, a real estate agent who works in the Washington, D.C. area. She wears the
exact same outfit (although not the identical clothes) every single day, looks fantastic and regularly receives compliments on her appearance. The article I've linked to (worth the read!) is from 2017, but if you look for current images of her, she's still wearing the same classic outfit.
I was inspired by her example and, at a time when I wasn't meeting with clients, spent a year wearing only quality black-and-white patterned trousers and black tops. This made my morning routine really easy but still allowed me to look consistently polished and professional.
Search "capsule wardrobe images" for more inspiration.
If you use the search terms, "capsule wardrobe images," you'll find hundreds of images, sortable by any number of filters such as season or style, which you can then use as templates for creating your own high quality, compact wardrobe for the next few months. Once you know approximately what you're looking for, chances are you can find a high-quality version at Goodwill for a fraction of the cost of retail.
Happy wardrobe hunting!
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