I’ve been in a lot of closets, most of them with an abundance of choices. However, over and over, clients tell me, “I have no tops.” The last word in the sentence varies, but when I go into their closet, I see A LOT of what they tell me they lack. Funny, right? Lacking options is not the problem.
Fill in the blank of where you feel like you have nothing. Then, go into your closet and COUNT how many of that item you own. Most of the time, you have PLENTY of that item. The problem is not a lack of quantity; it’s not owning enough of what you look forward to wearing.
Our closets sometimes become a collection of “crap shoot” choices, wardrobe mistakes, and “close but not quite.” And rather than edit those items out, we keep them thinking we might need it one day. We won’t. Ideally, we walk in our closets and see only what we enjoy wearing, pieces that feel supportive and make us happy.
The Solution
How do we get there? Slowly and carefully.
As I explained in my January blog post, ask yourself a series of questions to determine where your style is going and what will make you feel like you have plenty to wear. All of the questions in the post are good ones, yet the last question is the king of questions: Does this purchase support the wardrobe I’m building?
By slowing down and thinking about what items support your life, your body, and your style, you will have more than enough to wear and then some.
Slow wardrobe building is not the pace we are accustomed to. Our feeds are full of wardrobe hauls, and they create a desire to have what she’s having. I love getting style ideas from influencers, but I’m less likely to buy a piece unless it ticks all my boxes plus it fills a gap in my wardrobe.
Edit for Clarity
May is mental health awareness month. As I’ve explained in previous May blog posts, this is a great time to edit your wardrobe. While it may seem that having a lot of choices is better, too much in the closet creates decision fatigue and raises anxiety. Fewer choices + better choices = an abundant wardrobe.
Your Path Forward
The path to more in your closet involves doing less: less impulse buys, less trendy buys, and LOTS less buying overall. Sound scary? It shouldn’t. Buying less and better will save you lots of money in the long run! It’s just harder to think about spending $125 for a pair of shoes than $65. I know because I fight this urge all the time. “Oh, it’s only $____.” If it’s a great buy AND it moves your wardrobe in the right direction, wonderful. If it’s just buying to buy for the great deal, skip it and enjoy a meal out with a friend instead.
A New Mindset – One Great Thing
This year, go for “one great thing” rather than five okay things. With this in mind, I’ve created a catalog. I know I just told you to buy less, and here I come with a catalog. Hear me out. I don’t want you to buy everything here or even three things. I am simply demonstrating good brands making quality items where you might be inspired to invest in one great thing. The items in the image above are in the catalog.
I’m Here for You
Need help with your wardrobe and style? I’m here for you. Send me a message so we can have a brief discovery call. It’s always free, and I’d be happy to walk you through my process. Invest in education with a style coach. Learn what works and why. Then, you have the structure in place to make better wardrobe decisions in the future. You are spending on me to save on your wardrobe in the long run.
Thank you for reading! Wishing you a wonderful spring and summer season! I’d love to hear about your one great thing.
Photo of me by Stephanie Sifuentes at Denim Manor in Dallas.
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