My top tips for creating a well-rounded wardrobe
Before we dive right into my top tips for creating a well-rounded wardrobe, let’s first answer the questions of “what exactly is a well-rounded wardrobe” and “how does it work”.
Firstly, a well-rounded wardrobe is one that works for your lifestyle, suits your personal style, and has something that will see you through just about any scenario — it is functional, practical, versatile, and timeless.
Secondly, the beauty of a well-rounded wardrobe is that it works for everyone, regardless of personal style preferences or lifestyle, because it can be adapted uniquely to you. It is not about a set of style “rules” that must be followed, or an outline of which pieces every woman should have in her wardrobe, but rather, it allows for much more creativity and specificity so that your wardrobe is tailored specifically for your daily needs and personal style.
(You can read more about a well-rounded wardrobe here).
If you want to create a wardrobe that is functional, practical, versatile, and timeless, here are my top tips to help get you started.
1. MAKE SURE YOU HAVE PLENTY OF BASICS
Basics are the foundation of a great wardrobe and work well for everyone, regardless of personal style preferences. These are the pieces that help everything else in your wardrobe work together seamlessly and allow for endless mixing and matching.
(You can read my Ultimate Guide to Wardrobe Basics to learn everything you need to know about this essential wardrobe category.)
2. BUY PIECES THAT WORK FOR YOUR LIFESTYLE
Be realistic about your current lifestyle and be sure that the majority of your wardrobe is filled with items that make sense for your day-to-day life, rather than an overabundance of items that you only reach for a handful of times in a year or items that would only work for your fantasy life.
3. KNOW YOUR STYLE AESTHETIC
Knowing your personal style aesthetic and what works for you ensures that the pieces you choose for your wardrobe will be ones that you actually want to wear (and re-wear), rather than pieces that you never reach for because they don’t suit you.
4. KNOW (and stick to!) YOUR WARDROBE BUDGET
Keep track of how much money you can realistically afford to spend on your wardrobe and be sure you’re not spending it all on one item or on unnecessary purchases that won’t positively contribute to your wardrobe. If your annual wardrobe budget is $1000, you probably shouldn’t purchase those $500 shoes that you know you’ll only wear a handful of times.
5. CHOOSE QUALITY OVER QUANTITY
High-quality does not have to mean expensive, but it does mean that an item will look better, fit better, and, if properly taken care of, will last for years and years (which ultimately helps reduce your overall number of purchases in the long run). A handful of high-quality pieces that you constantly reach for will be a much better investment than dozens of lower quality pieces.
6. UNDERSTAND THE VALUE OF ACCESSORIES
Accessories allow you to create multiple different styles and looks using the same items of clothing, which is especially helpful if you have a smaller or more limited wardrobe. A simple jeans and t-shirt outfit can look completely different when styled with a pair of statement earrings and heels compared to styling it with a baseball cap and sneakers. Accessories typically don’t require much space (with the possible exception of shoes!) and can exponentially increase the versatility of any wardrobe.
7. AVOID/LIMIT IMPULSE PURCHASES
Impulse purchases very often turn out to be purchases that we regret. It may be that they’re completely wrecking your wardrobe budget or they’re simply creating a wardrobe that is so full you can’t keep track of what you even own anymore. Having a “to buy” list comes in handy when trying to avoid or limit impulse purchases because it helps keep you on track with the items your wardrobe truly needs and will benefit from the most.
8. UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF GARMENT/BODY MEASUREMENTS
Since there really isn’t any kind of universal standard sizing for women’s clothing (and since we all know that sizing can be all over the place), knowing your measurements is a much more accurate way of determining whether an item will fit. Learning what to measure on a garment and what your body measurements are will ensure that you get the right fit every time, regardless of what the size tag says.
9. CHOOSE ITEMS THAT CAN BE WORN MULTIPLE WAYS
Items that can be worn multiple different ways with multiple different outfits will increase the versatility of your wardrobe and are a much better long-term investment compared to flashy “magpie” items that catch your eye but are discarded after only wearing a handful of times.
10. LEARN TO SHOP YOUR OWN CLOSET
Rather than buying something new every time you feel like you have nothing to wear, learn the value of shopping your own closet. Try styling something you’ve had for years in a new way or pair it with something you’ve never worn it with before. Not only does this help you value and appreciate what you already own, but it can also help you stick to your wardrobe budget!
11. UNDERSTAND THE VALUE/IMPORTANCE OF TAILORING
Tailoring has the power to take an item from sloppy and ill-fitting to making it look like that item was made uniquely for you. Tailoring doesn’t mean completely redoing an item, but simple tweaks, like changing inseam length, shortening sleeves, or taking in the shoulders, are (usually) inexpensive alterations that can make a big difference.
12. DON’T WORRY ABOUT MAKING IT PERFECT!
I think we put so much pressure on ourselves to create something that is absolutely perfect before we allow ourselves to be satisfied. If we apply this thinking to creating a well-rounded wardrobe, we lose the opportunity of appreciating and making full use of what we already have and wind up feeling dissatisfied because it isn’t what we think it should be. Just remember that perfection isn’t the end goal — rather, the goal of creating a well-rounded wardrobe is to have pieces that work for you in whatever season of life you’re currently in — and as the season changes, as you change and evolve, your wardrobe should too!
These twelve tips are a great place to start, but if you want to learn more and dive even deeper, try my digital course, Creating a Well-Rounded Wardrobe, which includes lessons on the different types of fabric, measurements and sizing, how to determine the quality of a garment, the essential wardrobe categories, how to declutter your wardrobe, and much more.
If you have any questions, feel free to reach out at anytime by sending me an email at hello@awellroundedwardrobe.com or through my contact page here.
Amber
Hi, I’m Amber
Creator and founder of A Well-Rounded Wardrobe. Whether you’re looking to start building a wardrobe from scratch or simply want to fine tune what you already have, you’re in the right place. Start exploring.