10 Tips on How to Create the Wardrobe of Your Dreams on Any Budget

Having experienced a few warmer days here and there and a lot of them being ahead of us, we are slowly (or not so slowly) getting ready for our spring/summer wardrobes. Seeing all what’s put out there by retailers, brands, influencers and magazines can be pretty overwhelming leaving you confused about what to buy.

Here are my 10 tips to consider in order to keep focused and not waste time trying on pieces that are not for you:

1.  Know your three style words
   If I asked you to describe yourself in three words, what would you tell me? I give you myself as an example: My three words are feminine, glamorous and edgy. Can you see this in my style?

2. Can you wear a garment or accessory three ways?
   Don’t buy anything that doesn’t go with anything in your closet but this one particular item. You’ll waste your time and money because you are forced to look for more items that actually pair well with the garment or accessory you just bought.

3. How does your typical week look like? Are you a stay-at-home mom chasing a toddler most of the time, are you tied up in work and events or are you retired spending most of your days in the gym, on the golf or tennis courts and at ladies’ luncheons and fundraisers?

4. Which parts of your body would you like to accentuate? Each and everyone of us favors certain body parts and that’s where dressing for your body type comes into play.

5. Do you have style icons? If so, keep track of what you like about their style. Is it certain colors you are drawn to, cuts or fabrics? 

6. Are you a minimalist or maximalist? Some women like bold pieces and thrive on ‘more is more, less is a bore (Iris Apfel quote) while others enjoy ‘less is more’. This totally depends on someone’s style personality.

7. Quality closet time is essential! Spend some time in your closet and get rid of all the things that don’t fit, have holes or stains or you haven’t worn in more than 2 years. Only keep in your wardrobe what still works for you.

8. Create a collage for the season (Pinterest, google or simply cut out photos of a magazine). This takes some extra effort, but is so worth it. You’ll quickly realize what you are drawn to.

9. Create a shopping list! Now that you are aware of what is actually in your closet and what you want to achieve in your style, you can easily create your shopping list.

10. Set yourself a budget! This makes it easier to determine which garments and accessories to tackle first and which ones later, but also where you can spend a bit more and where you can opt for a lesser price tag. Trendy pieces should always be on the lesser side!