Build A Wardrobe You'll Love
I LOVE to shop. I wouldn’t say I’m a shopaholic, but I am a sucker for cute and stylish fashion. As a kid, all I ever wanted was clothes for Christmas. One of my favorite birthday gifts was in High School when my Dad took me shopping at Abercrombie + Fitch (back when it first became popular…before all the brand drama). He let me pick out an entire outfit, and I still remember every detail of what I scored that day!
You may be the exact opposite of me. You loathe the idea of store and online shopping. You could care less about clothes, as long as they fit, and outfit inspiration may be the last thing on your mind.
Whether you like fashion or not, this topic is for you, me, and everyone in between. It’s for anyone who wants something different for their closet, but can’t quite figure out how to get there.
THE SHIFT
Three years ago, I found out I was pregnant and naturally, my priorities began to shift. Not just because I had to introduce maternity clothes, but I was dissatisfied with my wardrobe overall. My closet felt crammed, but never felt complete. I often felt frustrated, annoyed, and bored. As I reflect on that time now, it was really my soul saying I needed more by having less. You’d be surprised how much can happen when you listen to your own stirrings.
My friend suggested a book to me that inspired a whole new way of living. It’s called Cozy Minimalist Home by Myquillyn Smith.
You know those books you start to read that you’re not quite ready for? You lose interest right away or feel overwhelmed. Then, there’s those books that speak straight to your heart. When I picked this one up, I immediately knew I was ready to minimize and go all in.
The book’s tagline is, “More style, less stuff.” It’s about building a home not centered around things, but centered around the space you create as a whole. In Myquillyn’s words “You can live a minimalist life, without sacrificing style.”
THE MINIMIZING PROCESS
I never had a problem getting rid of things, but I did struggle with accumulating stuff. Impulse purchases were my weakness, and I was motivated by the need to feel cute. I would buy the semi-tight jacket or adorable, but heavy earrings just because. This wasn’t sustainable. I didn’t know about shopping with intention. So when I started asking myself what I was building instead of what I was getting, the real change began. I began to minimize. When I did shop, I shopped less on impulse and more on purpose.
“ I started asking myself what I was building instead of what I was getting. ”
THE GOAL
The key is to write down your vision. What are you building? Here’s what I envision — I’m building a home that inspires creativity, conveys fun, is cozy, and blesses anyone who walks through my door. For me, that kind of environment includes my own closets and drawers.
Here are some examples:
I’d love to build a capsule wardrobe.
I want my closet to be easy to navigate, and to know why I own what I own.
My goal is to have a clean space where everything has a place.
This process has taken me three years of wins, losses, and learning to live a simple and purposeful lifestyle. Now, I look at my wardrobe as if it’s gotten a complete makeover. Not because I bought a lot of new things, but because I learned to minimize.
Inspired by Myquillyn Smith and her book, here are 4 simple tips I’ve identified to help you build a wardrobe you’ll love:
01. SEE IT
First thing is first, you’ll want to see all the clothes you own. You can start in your closet, your drawers, or the clothes you stored away in your basement. Wherever you choose to start, pull everything out. YES, EVERYTHING in that area. Empty your closet, your dresser, and/or shelves that have clothes. It sounds overwhelming, but trust me, it’ll be worth it. Then start minimizing! Begin with macro categories like: Give or Keep. Once you have your Keep pile, move on to step 2.
02. WEAR IT
The best way to figure out what you like or don’t like is to wear what you own. Every.Single.Item. you want to keep. If you don’t want to wear it, ask yourself why. If you’re unsure about an item, try to use it in a way you haven’t. Wear a dress with your favorite T-shirt or a jumpsuit with your favorite pullover hoodie. Get creative! Set a time for when you want to use it by and if you don’t, give it away.
03. GIVE IT
As you start to wear your clothes, you’ll go back and forth between wanting to give it or keep it. For this stage, I had 4 different giving boxes. Actual boxes. Don’t just leave them in piles. Putting things in a box or a bag will give you a sense of accomplishment and forward movement.
Give to a thrift store or Buy Nothing Project
Give to sell (Poshmark and Facebook Marketplace are your friends)
Give to a friend
Give, but possibly keep.
The “possibly keep” box sat in my closet anywhere from 2 weeks to a month, but no later than that. At times, I would look through those clothes and try to use them. If I didn’t end up using it, I’d put it in one of the other boxes.
04. LOVE IT
You won’t love your wardrobe if you’re more confused by what you own. In reality, I had clothes I loved, liked, and sort of just kept. I changed all that by being more intentional about what I have. If I want to keep or buy clothes, I ask myself these questions to help me decide:
Is it timeless? I used to only shop on trend. While that is still a factor, I ask myself if I’ll still like it in 3-5 years.
Is it comfortable? It’s hard to give up cute clothes that don’t fit right, but you’re less likely to love your wardrobe if it takes extra time or money to make it work. If you have to force comfort, then give it away.
Is it versatile? If I buy a dress, can I dress it down? Can I use a blouse with a pair of jeans and trousers. Getting more use out of each item is key.
Does it have a purpose? I ask myself why I have it. I have some blouses I don’t really love on their own, but their purpose is to complete 3 or 4 different outfits. So I love them more for their use.
Do I love it on me? I want to feel beautiful in my clothes. So when I try it on, does it make me smile or question my existence? (Let’s be real, some items have done that to us!) Does it purposely express who I am? Is it functional, but also fun?
Bonus: Keepsakes If you have a collection of items that are keepsakes, have a special meaning, or gifts you can’t get rid of, create a special box or display it in a creative way. You can frame, hang, or display items as part of your home decor. There’s room for creativity and intention here.
This “Love it!” stage actually takes time, practice, and upkeep. I constantly survey my clothes. I literally stand in my closet and scan my clothes to see if I still want, need, and love everything that’s in there.
When it comes to loving your wardrobe, you won’t hit all the marks every time. You’ll definitely have impulse purchases and clothes that are just for certain occasions, and that’s okay. For me the goal was never about how much I own, but more about why I own it. That makes living a “cozy minimalist” lifestyle less intimidating and more doable.
As you build your wardrobe with purpose, you’ll start to learn your style and get excited about your clothes too. This process has stretched my creativity in so many ways. I still shop for fun, but with careful consideration. Building this way offers a lot more freedom than you’d think. You’ll discover more space to use your imagination and pursue timeless things. Minimizing doesn’t hurt the wallet either!
WHAT ABOUT YOU?
What do you like or dislike about your wardrobe/closet?
When it comes to building a wardrobe you love, what is your goal?
What obstacles keep you from building a closet love?
SHARE YOUR ANSWERS IN MY COMMENTS!