How To Build A Wardrobe That Is Unique To You
Have you always had a closet filled with miscellaneous clothing without any real personality or direction? To build a wardrobe that is unique and reflects you, you must start by identifying your personal style.
So, ask yourself, what is your style?
Understanding Your Personal Style
Your fashion style is a personal statement of who you are. Whenever you dress, an assertive expression of you shines through. Your choice of outfits, down to your accessories, expresses your personality. And as such, your wardrobe should ideally reflect your style.
But hey, personal style can take time to build, more so for your unique wardrobe. So, no rush. As you go through life, your personal style may also evolve according to your experiences, situation, and modified values and beliefs.
But wherever you are in your journey, you can express yourself through your unique wardrobe.
Below, I've outlined in 6 steps a wardrobe action plan that will be a true reflection of your personality and style.
Step 1: Identify Your Personal Style
- Consider incorporating trends into your wardrobe while still reflecting your personal style. Contrary to what you might think, sticking to a style doesn't mean entirely avoiding trends. It's more about keeping up with that style as it advances over the years. Look for the current trend in your style So you don't have to look 80s in 2023.
- Set a budget for updating your wardrobe.
- Create a mood board of style inspiration.
- Consider the occasions you'll be wearing the new wardrobe for. Each occasion—casual, work, party, etc.—should have its own set of outfits.
Step 2: Know Yourself
- It's important to know your body type and what works and doesn't work for you when building your style and wardrobe. For example, remember that a gown that looks great on an hourglass figure might not flatter your body if you're pear-shaped.
- Identify any problem areas in terms of fit or style.
- Evaluate what you have in your current wardrobe, what you need, and what you want. Don't just go for whatever clothing comes your way.
Step 3: Add Foundational Pieces
- Establish a color palette in line with your personal style and skin tone. This involves determining your skin's undertones and selecting clothing colors that complement those undertones. There are three main skin undertones: warm, cool, and neutral. Warm undertones work well with rich, warm colors like oranges, yellows, and olive greens. Cool undertones match with cool colors like blues, greens, and pinks. Neutral undertones look good with neutral colors like beige, gray, and black. It's important to consider your skin's natural color and not just your tan when selecting a color palette.
- Hone in on your specific style using a list of wardrobe essentials.
Step 4: Create a Style System
- Make outfit combinations to maximize your wardrobe. I.e., two pairs of jeans and three tops can form up to 6 different outfits.
- Save time by having pre-selected outfits put together for you.
- Incorporate accessories to enhance your looks.
Step 5: Do a Closet Purge
- Remove items that haven't been worn in a few seasons. The best part about a closet purge is it allows you to identify what's working for your current style and what's not. If there's a piece of clothing you've repeatedly passed over, it most likely doesn't suit your style.
- Discard damaged or outdated items.
- Keep items that you like, and that flatter your body.
Step 6: Organize! Organize! Organize!
- Assign a specific place for each item in your wardrobe. This way, you'll always know where to look, saving time whenever you dress.
- Rotate items to ensure you wear all of your clothes.
- Determine your organizational style to maximize your wardrobe.
- Color-coordinate your clothing items. Do this by choosing a dominant color and then building around it with complementary colors. A good place to start is the color wheel. Here, it would be best if you also considered your skin tone.
Finally, don't be afraid to experiment every once in a while. If you’re ever in doubt, talk to us at Sadie House of Style and we can build that confidence you need through your fashion.