My biggest fashion faux-pas is that I adore the color purple. Most of the dresses I own come in every possible shade of violet; I also own several purple tank tops, two pairs of heels in lavender and lilac and one pair of pastel purple jeans. I have since revised my shopping habits to create a more sustainable wardrobe, but I’m not the only one who once suffered this affliction. Whether you hoard floral print or refuse to wear any color other than black, putting an outfit together when all you have is an assortment of mismatching items is nothing short of frustrating. If you too are a culprit of similar crimes against fashion, to the detriment of the rest of your wardrobe, then hopefully this short guide will be useful for you.
Revise your wardrobe
If you think this is about three back-to-back trips to the donation bin followed by a detour to the mall, think again. It’s not necessary to throw out all of your unworn or duplicate items, but it is necessary to look at what you already have. Become better attuned to your wardrobe’s needs by answering two simple questions
- What do I wear often and why?
- What do I rarely/ never wear and why?
Think about what doesn’t work: is it the cut, colour, style or shape of the garment that is most unflattering? Sometimes it’s just a matter of having too many ill-matching pieces (unless you’re channelling Barney & Friends for a themed party, purple jeans paired with a purple shirt is out of the question). If you must throw something out – make sure it’s justified!
Work towards the essentials
The basic building blocks of any wardrobe are the essential non-seasonal pieces. Whites, blacks and other neutral shades can generally be worn with anything. Based on what you currently own, you should be able to fill in the gaps of what you’re missing. Remember, it’s not about shopping more, it’s about shopping smart. So if you’re going to hit the mall, you need a plan and that plan should include a list of essential items. For example:
- Black jeans in flattering cut
- Plain white polo shirt
- White blouse
- Black skirt
- Beige cardigan
Avoid impulse buying
Shopping is a therapeutic exercise for many women and impulse buying is par for the course. But unfortunately, buying on impulse doesn’t allow you to consider how the item will fit in with the rest of your wardrobe. Making impulsive purchase decisions will cost you in the end, no matter how much you think you need them at the time. Ideally, you should avoid buying replicas of what you already have.
Be practical
If you spend most of your life in the office, having fifty party dresses and no tailored pants isn’t very practical. Buy what you need, that’s the key to a sustainable wardrobe. Also as a rule of thumb, you should have more tops than bottoms. People will scarcely notice that you’ve worn the same pair of black denim jeans two days in a row!
Seek inspiration!
There are people out there who know how to do it right. Flick through any magazine or browse an entertainment news website and you’ll see inspirational celebrity style icons like Miranda Kerr, Olivia Palermo and Nicole Ritchie. The best way to sustain a stylish wardrobe is by keeping up to date with the latest trends and styles of the rich and famous.
Skye is a fashion and lifestyle blogger on her blog thehighlifefashion. She enjoys shopping, giving style tips to her friends and occasionally takes her own advice.
