GirlsGuideTo | The Ultimate Guide to Working With Your Wardrobe

Do you spend 20 minutes every morning griping that you have “nothing” to wear? Are you wearing the same ten pieces over and over? It sounds like you’re in a major fashion rut. The only way to solve it is to start working with your wardrobe. Keep reading for our advice on what pieces you need and what you can ditch.

Start with Neutrals
Yes, fashion is all about daring colors and prints, but you can’t rock that fuchsia leopard print skirt to work can you? It’s necessary to have a great base of basics in neutral colors. These are the pieces that will work with all the trendy and colorful items you buy. Neutrals include black, brown, white, tan, camel, navy, grey, and cream. Start with neutral pieces, and then add a few pops of color for a great look, every time.

Know How to Layer
Part of having a wardrobe you can work with includes knowing how to layer. Layering really takes your look to the next level. Plus, you can make pieces work over-time once you realize how many different ways you can use them in outfits. For example, you can take a basic cotton dress and layer a thin sweater over it and it looks like a skirt and top combo. Start getting creative with the way you layer and you’ll realize just how many more outfits you can get out of the same wardrobe.

Clean Your Closet
Part of having a good working wardrobe is keeping only the items that work. Throw away or donate items that are worn out, faded, outdated, or no longer fit properly. Now you can really see what you’ve got to work with and discover the items you’ll need to add. Take this time to organize your closet and dressers too, so you’ll be able to quickly put together an outfit without tossing half your closet on the bed.

Get Your Basics
Every great wardrobe has the basics in it. Basics are items that you wear often, and can be easily mixed and matched with the other pieces in your closet. Don’t be afraid to spend a little extra on these items, these are quality pieces you will wear time and time again.

Basics include:

a pair of great jeans
a white button up shirt
black pumps
a little black dress
a neutral blazer
a cardigan
flats in a neutral color
a pencil skirt
a pair of dress slacks
a great bag,
a perfect coat

Don’t Follow Every Trend
Trends are definitely part of what makes fashion fun. I mean, I’m already getting excited for this fall’s trends. But, part of having a great, lasting wardrobe, is understanding not to follow every trend. Pick just a few trends each season that you’d like to buy some pieces for. Then, don’t go to Nordstrom or any other expensive store, but instead hit up Forever 21 or H&M to find the look for way cheap. Make sure that whatever you’re buying will work with several items you already own before purchasing, too.

Maintain Balance
Unless you can get away with the casual look at work, then a wardrobe consisting entirely of jeans and t-shirts isn’t going to do you much good. And vice versa, you can’t wear fitted blazers and pencil skirts when hitting up your neighborhood pub. Make sure you have a balanced selection within your wardrobe. You’ll want options for each of these styles:

casual attire
casual dress attire
work attire
dress attire

Consider Your Lifestyle
When building your wardrobe, it’s important to take your lifestyle into consideration. Are you a recent grad hitting the job search, a working mother, or work in a corporate office? Think hard about what clothes will work best for your lifestyle, a recent grad might want to purchase some quality dress wear, but if you’ve been in the office for years, maybe you need to focus on versatile pieces to mix and match what you’ve already got.

Don’t Forget about You
While you may have to follow a dress code for work, make sure you’re still incorporating some of your own personality into your wardrobe. Fashion should be fun, so choose things that you like. A really great part of building your wardrobe is honing in on your personal style, whether it’s bohemian or simple chic.

Make Sure it Fits
It’s time to stop purchasing clothes that fit awkwardly or aren’t quite what you’re looking for. Building a great wardrobe means being picky about the items you buy. The worst fashion mistake is wearing clothes that fit incorrectly and don’t flatter your form. Find a good tailor who can alter garments that aren’t the proper fit, and you’ll be amazed how much better you look instantly.

Do you have a wardrobe that works or just a bunch of random items? What clothing do you consider as basics? Let us know in the comments!