How to Get the Most Out of Your Wardrobe

Having a wardrobe full of clothes doesn’t necessarily mean we have a lot to wear. Maybe this is because we don’t love all of our clothes or got tired of them. Or we simply lost the overview of all the things we have in our closet. No matter your situation, I guess you’d agree that we want to get the most of our wardrobe. Here’s how.

Get the Most Out of Your Wardrobe

1. Build the foundation first.
2. Keep your wardrobe current.
3. Refresh it consciously.
4. Get inspired.
5. Keep an overview.
6. Stay organized.
7. Take care of your clothes.
8. Invest in quality.
9. Wear what fits and makes you feel good.

Build the Foundation First

I’m sure you’ve heard this many times before. Invest in basics first. Why? Because they are the ‘work horses’ that help you get the most out of your wardrobe. Honestly, before I got this right, I always felt I have nothing to wear – even though I had more than enough in my closet. 

These basics, staples, or essentials can be the typical little black dress, blazer and button-down shirt – but they don’t have to be. Personally, I love these classic pieces. With a modern twist, though. And I love neutral colors. However, your set of basics can be completely different. Only keep in mind that whatever you choose should work for the majority of your outfits.

• The Top 5 Wardrobe Staples: A Matter of the Past?

Keep Your Wardrobe Current

With this, I certainly struggled the most. How can we build a ‘slow’ wardrobe and love our clothes longer but avoid looking completely outdated? I believe the trick is to find the right balance between all-time classics and trends. Playing this game became easier for me once I stopped thinking in new items or outfits only. Because, if we take a closer look, we see that trends are reflected in:

1. Silhouettes/Cuts
2. Colors (incl. prints/patterns)
3. Fabrics

Being aware of this gives us more opportunities to incorporate trends without having to replace half of our wardrobe. For instance, to change the silhouette and vibe of a blazer, we can add a belt and roll-up the sleeves. Or we can add a scarf or other accessories in a trendy color to update our wardrobe. 

Refresh It Consciously

A way to keep your wardrobe fresh is to add some new items and let go of clothes that no longer work for you. From my experience, this is a good option when you’re in the process of curating and downsizing your wardrobe. You can sell a bunch of clothes and re-invest the money in a few perfect pieces. Re-selling (and donating) ensures that someone else will continue to wear these clothes and they don’t end up in a landfill.

Another option is to swap your clothes with family members or friends to keep your wardrobe fresh and exciting.

Get Inspired

Instagram, YouTube, Pinterest, or the good ol’ fashion magazines, all of these are great sources of inspiration. Getting inspired doesn’t necessarily mean copying a specific style or complete outfits. I see all this input more as an impulse for creativity. Sometimes we need those little ‘aha’ moments to come up with our own ideas. For instance, when we see how others combine colors or accessorize. Also, little styling tips and hacks can make a huge difference. I love it, for example, when fashionistas show how to tuck a shirt or tie a scarf in x ways. I think all these little bits and pieces of inspiration can help us find and create our unique look.

And by the way, we can also be our own source of inspiration. So, every time you’re happy (or even a bit surprised) with how you’ve styled an outfit, take a picture! It only takes a few extra seconds, and you have something to refer to on days when you’re in a rush or less creative. 

Keep an Overview

If you have a downsized and well-organized wardrobe already, you can probably skip this paragraph. However, if you tend to accumulate far too many clothes, read on. Especially when half of it sits in your closet unworn. Because this means you probably don’t have a complete overview of all your belongings. If this is the case, preparing an inventory may be the right thing for you. This post here can help you with the task:

• Wardrobe Inventory: Questions Beyond “Does It Spark Joy?”

Stay Organized

Tell me, when getting dressed, do you always reach for the same items and neglect the rest of your wardrobe? There can be two reasons. First is, you don’t love everything you have. The second reason can be that your closet isn’t well-organized. When rails, shelves, and drawers are cramped, it’s challenging to get your clothes out. So no wonder that we tend to pick what’s on top of the pile. Our clothes, shoes, and accessories should be easy to retrieve and, ideally, nicely presented to ignite our creativity. If this isn’t the case today, consider re-organizing your wardrobe. Here’s how to do it:

• How to Organize Your Wardrobe in 5 Steps

Take Care of Your Clothes

We can have a gorgeous wardrobe, but if we don’t look after our clothes, we restrict our choices. Just think of the most loved dress you can’t wear because you forgot to take it to the dry cleaners. Or the pants you have to take off again because the hem needs to be fixed. Making the most out of your wardrobe also means maintaining it. And yes, I know, taking proper care of your clothes and shoes is an effort. But the reward is that we can pick from our closet what makes us feel the best that day and not what’s available to wear. In case you need a bit of support, I’ve created a series of articles with helpful tips:

• All about Wardrobe Maintenance

Invest in Quality

A well-curated wardrobe is a bit like a puzzle – you need the right pieces to complete it. Creating a wardrobe that works for YOU and your lifestyle takes time. You have to find your hardworking basics, all the extras that uniquely express your style, the right shoes, the accessories that draw everything together, and so on. Hence, you want your clothes and shoes to last. And the best way to achieve this – despite taking good care of them – is to invest in quality. And beyond the fact that quality pieces are made to last, they just add a little luxe and make us feel good, don’t you think?

Nowadays, spotting quality pieces in the abundance of ‘cheap’ choices can be a challenge. Here’s what to look for:

• How to Spot Quality When Shopping For Clothes – 3 Things to Check
• How to Shop for Quality Shoes You’ll Love to Wear

Wear What Fits and Makes You Feel Good

Making the most out of your wardrobe also means letting you shine in your clothes. However, this only works if you feel comfortable in them. Who wants to wear, for instance, a shirt or skirt when you have to pull the hem continuously back into place. Or an itchy sweater or a blouse that makes you sweat? Cuts that are too tight, fabrics you don’t like, or styles that aren’t truly YOU won’t let you feel your best. Trying to hold onto clothes is one thing. But keeping clothes that don’t work for you isn’t a good idea. 

And there you have it. These are my best tips on how to make the most out of your wardrobe.

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Thanks for sharing this post and your thoughts!

How do you make the most out of your wardrobe? What are your best tips? Let us know!