If I had a quarter for every time I heard someone say, “I have a closet full of clothes, but nothing to wear” - I’d have a lot of quarters. And if you’ve said this, you know (and I know) that you have clothes to wear. And you could figure out something to wear for whatever you have going on. So, the problem isn’t that you don’t have clothes to wear - the problem is that there’s some kind of disconnect with your style.
The clothes in your closet may not align with the lifestyle you have right now - or the body you have right now - or just who you are right now. Or you may have gotten into some habits that aren’t supporting the creation & maintenance of a wardrobe that works for your life & makes you feel good.
The good news is that it’s totally fixable. And you can have a closet filled with clothes that go together & you actually look forward to wearing. So, let’s explore what the real problems are (and what you can do about it).
As a wardrobe stylist, I have physically (and virtually) been in hundreds of clients’ closets. And while each client has unique aspects of their style, there are commonalities as to why they’re having problems getting dressed. And even when you have a closet full of clothes - they may not be the right clothes. Or you may be missing pieces to finish off outfits. Or something else. So, here are five common problems, plus some straightforward solutions.
PROBLEM: You have items, not outfits
I could also call this the ‘I bought it because it was cute’ challenge. Because it’s an easy trap to fall into, right? You walk into a store & see a top in a fun print. You try it on & really like it - so you buy it. But then, two months later, it’s still sitting in your closet with the tags on. Because you don’t know what to wear it with. So, how can you fix this?
You need to shop with intention. Because, even if you are shopping for cute tops - you need to think about what you’re wearing on the bottom. And which jacket, shoes, etc. complete the outfit. So that the cute top works with what’s already in your closet.
Before you shop - create a focused list (if you have no idea where to start, here’s how to write a shopping list). And after you shop - set aside time to create outfits once you get home (or within the return timeframe). Because if you buy something that you can’t create an outfit with, it might not be a wise purchase. And if you’re dealing with something that’s already in your closet (and have no idea how to wear it) - look for inspiration & how other people are wearing it.
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