They say some people have an entire wardrobe yet still have nothing to wear. It’s a rarely acknowledged annoyance of life, a rack upon rack of clothes that don’t match, impulse purchases because that’s all that’s seen in the moment, and a handful of really nice things that do the heavy lifting. A working wardrobe doesn’t mean having more. A working wardrobe means having value and intention in what one does choose to wear.
Know What You Have First
And so, before venturing into making any new purchases, one must assess what one already has. Take stock. Get an idea of what’s what. This means taking it all out and not just glancing through quickly on a rack. Assess what’s worn frequently and what’s used zero times in a year and what’s a guilty conscience take up from a gift or a good memory.
It’s clear after a while that most people generally wear 20% of their clothing 80% of the time. This means that this percentile of items is what gets the focus and expansion and everything else is either surplus to what could be donated or options that need to get worn nevermore.
Intentional Online Shopping
And so, with that in mind, online shopping gets a bit easier because one has an idea of what’s missing. Now, it’s about reputable sellers and good options. Browsing 31 Tabs is a great go-to for anyone looking for good accessible limited pieces and clothing without having to pick through unnecessary options because it cuts out the fluff.
Shopping for a working wardrobe should not be impulse based on something that looks sexy/trendy; rather, there should be a mental checklist of what’s up next. The point of a working wardrobe is versatility. What can work with what’s already there? What can serve different purposes? What outfits can be made from one piece? What allows for consistent use? These are the important questions as opposed to how pretty it looks on the screen.
The Importance of Basics Done Right
This is why fashionistas talk about basics as trusted wearers because they are the foundation of any good wardrobe. A well-fitting pair of neutral slacks, a good amount of solid colored shirts/tops, one really nice jacket that can facilitate many situations. These are not “sexy” purchases. These are the ones that make everything else work easier.
The thing about basics is that price needs to go out the window. The cheapest version of a basic piece will always look cheap. Spending a little more on items that will get a lot of consistent wear makes sense in the long run. It does not mean spending exorbitantly on everything. It means being discerning as to where it makes sense to spend more for quality.
Items Need 2-3 Ways to Wear Them
A successful working wardrobe is one where items can be worn at least 2-3 ways. A tailored blazer can go over a casual t-shirt as much as it could a button-down. The slacks used for casual work on a Wednesday could easily be taken out again for a nice dinner out on a Friday. Shoes that slip the line between multiple environments.
Not that they all need to be the same color or style; a boring wardrobe happens when uninformed decisions are made. But staple pieces need to be evened out by versatile pieces that support those shouty pieces instead of clashing.
This also requires reading descriptions online because a good seller will describe what an item goes with or when/where it’s appropriate. This is valuable information when deciding if it’s an applicable item for one’s collection or just a pretty picture.
Avoiding the Replace Instead of Inventory Cycle
What prevents people from ever having a solid working wardrobe is the impulse to buy as replacements instead of building an inventory. A shirt gets stained, a new shirt is bought. But instead of finding something slightly better, it’s just a grab, filling in a hole in the moment.
If any update to a wardrobe can be made as an intentional choice instead of reaction, the game changes. What’s worn down? What’s truly missing? What would help my getting dressed process easier? These are the questions that should be asked before proceeding to the checkout.
In addition, shopping seasonally instead of reactionarily helps, too. Getting pieces beforehand when the season hasn’t started yet gives plenty of time to process instead of stressing that there’s nothing appropriate for the current weather in said season.
Keeping It Together
No working wardrobe is ever complete without a little maintenance here or there, seasonally gapping what’s not needed anymore, clearing out what’s failed to sustain consistent wear, and slow purchase over time fills in gaps that needn’t happen if the first time around was executed well. But once a foundation is set, everything else is a breeze. Getting dressed becomes a cut and dry process; it needn’t be a slog every day.
The goal is not to make it magazine-cute and capsule collection worthy. It’s what’s best for the owner, personalized decisions that fit well and last and make the getting dressed process stress-free.
