It's an all too familiar feeling looking into your closet and thinking you have nothing to wear. Some of your items don't fit properly, others you just don't like anymore, and the rest seem to be the same four pieces you wear all the time. Although I don't condone throwing out all that you own and spending countless dollars on a new wardrobe, I can give out a few tips that helped me cleanse and refresh my closet.
After moving around three times over the past year, I learned to condense. Take a good look at everything you have in your closet, in your drawers, whatever you have laying on the floor, and all that comes in between. I started by setting aside the items I absolutely did not like or wear anymore into a donation pile. These pieces would be 'out of style', too small, or too old to try and resell. You'll feel relieved to declutter, I promise.
Next you can pick out the stuff you may actually be able to make some money off of. Check your local resale shop to see what types of brands or garments they may be looking for. The hardest part will come when you think "Well, maybe I'll wear this again. I'll hold onto it just in case." My suggestion would be to allow yourself to keep up to five of those items. Now go sell and put that money towards buying new clothes! You should be left with your favorite things.
Building a wardrobe you love doesn't mean buying new things all the time. Before you start buying, think about what kind of style you have. I'm not asking which current fad is your favorite, but what style of clothing do you usually gravitate towards? Sophisticated? Edgy? Boho? Chic? Romantic? Artsy? Or a mixture of multiple? Hop on Pinterest and check out some outfits to get a feel ofwhat you like. Then you can start shopping. Start with the basics; pieces that you can mix and match, layer, and reuse all the time. Things like jeans, tees, skirts, a little black dress, etc. These will be the structure you build upon so I recommend finding durable pieces that fit. I'm sure you have a bunch of these in your closet already.
Change your mindset when shopping. Think of it as a process; you go to the store, have a thorough look around, pick out things you truly love, and try them on! If it doesn't fit you perfectly, then don't buy it. It'll end up being worn maybe once. Think about places you could wear this garment, if it's a seasonal garment, or if it's just a trend that will be forgotten in a few weeks. The worst thing you can do is buy something just because everyone else is. If you don't really love it, it'll just be a waste of money and closet space. After getting your basics, you can work on picking out some more unique pieces to add in. A few patterns, different styles of jeans, blouses, a couple nice jackets, and accessories.
The key in creating a good wardrobe is being able to make tons of different looks using the same pieces. Make sure to accumulate piece that work with what you own. Then you can get creative! Use what you already have and style them in ways you never thought of before. Remember it's about quality, not quantity. Overtime you'll have collected pieces that you love. Some of these tips may seem like a no-brainer, but they can really help you build a wardrobe that translates to your personality.
