Why Is Your Wardrobe Not Working For You? Real Life Tips To Recharge Your Personal Style.
Collage by Lisa Samsom featuring Kimberly Drew museummammy and Sabina Socol sabinasocol
I've been working as a wardrobe stylist for everyday individuals for almost seven years. Hearing people's stories and struggles has provided me with a solid understanding of what's truly happening in the world of style. And, I don’t mean how do I style this new $500 cashmere sweater I bought with The Row trousers I scored on The Real Real. (A link for those who have no idea what I am talking about haha.) I mean real life struggles, like “how do I look more put together?” and “how can I start to express myself with my style?” and “I feel like I have given up on my style and I don’t like what I see in the mirror.” These are the style challenges I am most frequently tasked with and, unsurprisingly, I have seen patterns in why people are struggling. The solutions are rarely earth shattering, but they always seem to come as a lightbulb moment to my clients. Inevitably, addressing these issues helped them move forward in their style journeys. So, if you are struggling with your wardrobe, take a look through this list and see if any of it resonates with you.
Your clothes no longer fit you correctly. This is not whether or not you can button them, it's about how they hang on your body. I have gained about 10 pounds over the last couple of years. My clothes still technically fit me, but they don’t have the oversize cool slouchy vibe that I love. And, yeah, maybe the buttons are pulling a bit. So, in my favorite items, I am starting to replace them with a size up.
You are hung up on the belief you have too many or too little clothes. I have worked with clients with so many clothes that they can’t remember what they have. They are overwhelmed, filled with shame and ultimately uninspired. I have also worked with clients who have so little clothing that they are bored and worried because they wear their clothes too often. (This happened to a lot of people after Marie Condo was popular. I spoke out about the KonMari method then and I stand by what I said.) Neither of these beliefs are helping my clients. Having the right amount of clothing for you is very personal. Although there are a lot of challenges out there with numbers attached to them (Project 333, etc.) I believe that avoiding the emotional reactions to the number of clothes you have is best. Instead do the work on discovering how many outfits you have. This will help you move forward. I repeat. Having a full closet is not inherently bad and having a minimalist wardrobe is not necessarily good. And vice versa.
You have a wardrobe filled with polyester, acrylic, nylon and other plastics. I've said it before and I’ll say it again, clothing made with natural fibers are key. They typically hang better on your body and last longer. Excluding athletic wear and some outerwear, plastic doesn’t look great, especially after you have used it for a while. Check the fabric content and care instructions before you order an item, especially when you order online.
You treat key parts of your outfit as an afterthought. You get dressed in a cute outfit and then you head to the door and cover it with whatever coat fits and a pair of shoes that are closest to the door. Your bag is the same bag you wear with everything. It’s practical but you don’t really think much about it. There is nothing wrong with this btw, you have to live your life. But, if your goal is to look stylish, you just worked against your cute outfit and missed some great opportunities to enhance it. Many of my clients do not have dress coats. They have puffers and ski jackets. In Vermont, we spend almost half of the year in the cold. I think that warrants a dress coat or two. Same with bags. I suggest having a practical bag, a dressy day bag and an evening bag at the bare minimum. The same applies to hats, gloves and scarves. Have some options and be thoughtful about them. Outerwear should never be an afterthought.
You forget about shoes. Notice I didn’t go into shoes in the above? That’s because they definitely deserve their own bullet point. Shoes can make or break an outfit. And, honestly that sucks when you are trudging through winter slush on the daily. I am also a big fan of comfort when it comes to shoes. I walk a lot. So, I make the choice to base my outfits on my shoes. If you have a favorite style of shoe or boot, I suggest really learning what silhouettes and pant styles look best with those shoes. I definitely encourage you to play and take risks with styling your shoes, but don’t forget about them. They are a huge part of your style story.
Honorable mentions:
You are not taking advantage of jewelry as a way to change the look of your outfits.
You do not have a clear color story so it is hard to mix and match.
You purchase items, not parts of outfits, and your wardrobe feels disjointed.
Did any of these sound like you? Do you have any others to add to the list?
I hope naming your struggle(s) can help you on your way. But, if you need a little more help, don’t be afraid to reach out!
Love, Lisa