Fashion Guide: Wardrobe & Closet like a B.O.S.S. - Basics, Organization, Storage & Staples
Welcome back to to the Fashion Guide! I have been working very hard on a few projects (including this blog), which is why I have been away for this long, but now I am back with a great post for you. Last week Spring sprung upon us and with every seasonal change we must always do a clean up of our closet and wardrobe to make it more attuned with the season's offerings. This is why I come to you with an easy solution to the season, tips for organizing your closet and your wardrobe, and they work all year round.
Let's start!
Basics
There three basic key rules to keep in mind:
- Versatility
- Function
- Quality
Versatility is picking pieces that will transcend any trend from here until eternity. These bring flexibility to your wardrobe making it a cohesive one because these pieces fill the gaps left by trends. More on these below, under Staples.
Function is choosing pieces that have a purpose. For example, if you are not outdoorsy or into camping, what purpose would boots (e.g. Timberland) have in your wardrobe? Or, if you never wear shorts, why would you have 5 pairs of them in your closet? Avoid any "what ifs" when cleaning your closet or updating your wardrobe.
Finally, quality is about getting the most for your money. Now, I understand that we all aren't millionaires with a never-ending bank account of funds for going shopping for designer clothing only, trust me, I can't afford that either. But, what we can do is the following: buy basics like t-shirts and trendy items at affordable stores and then make a little bit of effort in saving up for items we need to be durable, like coats, versatility pieces and shoes for important occasions (or ones we need to be able to hold until we run them to the ground). That way when something goes out of trend, if it is rundown, it won't hurt your pockets as much. How can you tell good quality from bad quality? To be honest, it is more about construction than it is about labels or price range. Don't let brand names or prices fool you. Sometimes they can have pieces that are not necessarily up to par, and if that is the case, then you are better off buying the affordable piece. Look out for stitching - Is it out of place? Does it look like a three year old with no sewing experience made that stitching?, Check how the garment was put together - Does look, again, like someone without sewing experience just stitched it together crossing their fingers no one would notice?, Feel and observe the fabric - Does it feel like after a few washes it will deteriorate? Does it look cheap? The best trick to buying clothes is to pick those items that look expensive but did not break your piggy bank.
Organization
Organization might seem like the hardest part of this, but I promise to make it easy. The first thing to do is do it in steps so you don't get overwhelmed. This always works for me.
- Purge - Get rid of anything that does not have a purpose (like I mentioned before) or that does not fit (either too big or too small). This is the main issue with organization, who are you gonna have room for the stuff you really want/need/use if you keep hoarding stuff that no longer has a place in your closet or wardrobe? What should you do with the stuff? You can go the classic route of donating, but if the clothes are in good condition you can sell them on eBay, Amazon or even ThredUp or Poshmark.
- Divide and Conquer - Organize your closet by "departments". What do I mean? Well, when you are shopping stores make it easier for you by dividing their offerings by department, that way everything has its place and it looks put together and appealing to you so that you are more inclined to purchase things. Apply the same rule to your organizing. Start by organizing your jewelry and accessories, it is smaller stuff so it will be easier to organize, and this way you will hone your organizing skills for when you move up to the "heavier" stuff. Then move on to your shoes and handbags, after that tackle your drawers and then deal with the closet. Now, breathe, you don't have to to it all in one day, you can deal with the smaller stuff first and then the next day tackle the closet. You can make it a task for the weekend, even better - a long weekend, that way you still have a day left for relaxing!
Storage
In the case of seasonal clothing, like coats, winter boots or summer dresses, you can put them in storage (meaning plastic boxes in a closet, attic, basement - wherever you have the space. Unless you have a socialite's closet/wardrobe, then you could rent a storage space. You can also but in boxes or bags the clothing you will donate or sell, in order to clear out the space for the items that need it.
Staples
Staples, also known as "Wardrobe Capsules", are the pieces that you should always have in your closet. These are the versatile pieces I mentioned before, these will be not only the base of your wardrobe, but as the pieces that (as I said) fill those gaps that we create when we only buy the "on trend" items. They don't necessarily have to be in neutral colors, if your style is very attention grabbing, you can always use colors and prints, as long as you remember to be careful to make them as "neutral" or versatile as possible.
Blazer
LBD
Dress Pants
Pencil Skirt
Jeans
T-Shirt
Dress Shirt
Cocktail Dress
Summer Dress
Coat/Cardigan/Sweater
Easy, right?! Well, pretty much and totally worth it!
If you want more fashion posts, head over to Tru Chick and visit the blog, I am guest blogging for them! Also, you get 15% off your purchase* when you use my code Hil15! Isn't that a cherry on top? I think so!