We’ve seen the lists…
- 10 Wardrobe Essentials to Make the Most of Your Closet
- 16 Clothing Essentials that Belong in Every Closet
- Why Every Closet Should Have These 17 Basic Items
- 11 Wardrobe Essentials that Will Always Make You Look Classy
There are an endless number of articles out there telling women what items they ‘should’ have in their wardrobe. The titles listed above are just a few of the hundreds, even thousands, available.
I often look at them and roll my eyes. Rarely do these lists fit with what I actually have in my wardrobe and I’m pretty happy with my wardrobe. I can say with confidence that you don’t NEED these things in your wardrobe.
What items do you generally find listed?
- button-down blouse
- little black dress
- white t-shirt
- a black blazer
- pencil skirt
- denim jacket
- …just to name a few.
Why are these lists useless?
Because we are all very different in SO many ways! We do not all have the same:
- Lifestyle
- Body shape
- Coloring
- Geographic location
- Inner Beauty (who you are in your heart and soul)
As I mentioned, I have a wardrobe I really like and I do not own even ONE of those items AND I don’t miss owning them.
Why would we ever expect that there are 10 things EVERY woman should own? That’s crazy. Not to mention, that it can be a big waste of money (and time!) when you purchase these items and then never wear them. Who wants to open their closet door to get dressed and see garments hanging there that you never wear?
Periodically, someone asks me for my “list.” I usually say, “Forget it!” and then I thought…hmmm…
There are 3 wardrobe essentials I feel will benefit every woman:
1. Enough Basics
If you’ve ever purchased a garment or accessory you love but don’t have the basic items you need to complete the outfit, you know how frustrating that can feel. Do you have:
- Versatile, neutral-colored pants or skirts?
- Cardigans or jackets that can go over outfits if you get chilly?
- Layering pieces in neutral tones that will pull an outfit together?
- Enough items so that you can get dressed for every part of your lifestyle?
Basics are the building blocks of a working wardrobe, but the actual components within a wardrobe will vary from woman to woman. Without enough of your best basics, you’ll constantly feel discouraged trying to put outfits together.
2. A Good Bra
The long and short of it is that a well-fitting bra allows your clothes to hang properly and fit better. This is especially true as we get older. Your bra not only provides support, but it also gives a lift (increasing space between your bustline and tummy), supports your back and corrects posture. Of course, your bra also needs to feel comfortable and not like you want to rip it off the second you put it on. Finding the perfect bras for you and regularly updating them is worth the effort.
(Please note that I am very aware that there are sometimes circumstances where even a good bra is not something needed.)
3. Joy
What? Yes, you read that correctly. While clothes obviously have a practical, functional purpose, they also can provide great joy and even make getting dressed fun! When you love your wardrobe, you are excited to get dressed and when you choose clothing because it feels authentically like you, you’ll feel confident in everything you wear.
To keep ‘joy’ at the top of your list when you’re shopping, ask yourself:
- Does the garment ‘spark joy?’
- Do you love it and are excited to wear it?
- Do you feel beautiful (or your equivalent word) when you wear it?
Settling for good enough or choosing something simply because it’s comfortable (yes, comfort is important, but it’s only one aspect of choosing your wardrobe) without evaluating color and style, etc. will leave you feeling discouraged or at best ho-hum every time you open your closet to get dressed.
Invite more joy in!
Take a peek at what you’re wearing as you read this (even if it’s your sleepwear!). Are these 3 things represented in what you have on and in your wardrobe as a whole? If not, choose one to focus on now:
- Add a basic item you’ve been missing
- Get a bra fitting
- Remove one thing from your closet that doesn’t bring you joy
Then watch how your experience of getting dressed changes for the better!
* * *
Are there a slew of style questions in the back of your mind to which you don’t have answers, but you’d like to GET the answers? I can help! Whether you live nearby or far away, if you are longing to feel confident and beautiful in the clothing choices you make, be sure to explore my LIVE online class ‘Create Your Personal Style in 6 Weeks’ where you will learn the tools you’ll need to dress with confidence without shedding pounds, sacrificing comfort or compromising who you are.
In this class, I’ll be there every step of the way to answer your questions and help you practice what you’re learning. (Not a class person? Check out my VIP program: https://totalimageconsultants.com/create-your-personal-style-vip/)
Imagine how it will feel to realize your dream of eliminating stress and instead feel more joy every time you get dressed!
