7 Reasons Your Wardrobe Isn't Working for You (And How to Fix Them)
Are you frustrated when you’re trying to get ready? Do you feel like your wardrobe doesn’t work how you imagine it? Are you buying things and still feeling overwhelmed? Are you wearing the combinations of the same thing on repeat? You are not alone.
Struggling to create outfits that you feel comfortable and confident in can really impact your self-esteem and often put you off going out. You are not alone. These are the most common reasons why wardrobes simply don’t work and how you can remedy it:
Overshopping
The Problem: Feeling the need to constantly be updating your wardrobe. Buying things and still feeling overwhelmed and wearing the same things on repeat.
The Solution: Stop. Put yourself on a spending ban until you have had time to spend some time in your wardrobe. Refamiliarise yourself with what you have, try to find new combinations. Create a list of what you are missing when you are trying to create outfits. If this sounds familiar I’ve shared 10 Ways To Ensure That Every Item You Purchase Works Hard in Your Wardrobe.
Lifestyle Alignment
The Problem: Not having clothes that align with your actual lifestyle. Too many smart clothes when you spend most of your time at home?
The Solution: Work out what you spend your time doing each week and ensure that the pieces in you wardrobe reflect that, even if it seems boring!
Hoarding
The Problem: Keeping stuff that no longer fits us or works for us. Yes you loved those Miss Sixty jeans in 2000 but you won’t feel comfortable wearing that style anymore, even if they still fit.
The Solution: Our lives change and evolve. Holding onto stuff that no longer fits can be really detrimental to our mental health and keeps reminding us ‘what we should be’. Move it out of your everyday wardrobe space or sell, donate or recycle. If you really love something but it doesn’t quite fit you right, consider using a Tailor Service for Perfect Fits and Style Upgrades.
Repeat Buys
The Problem: You buy the same type or style of clothes over and over again. You have so many [white tops] that you could open your own shop! But no matter how much you buy or spend you still struggle to put outfits together.
The Solution: Buying the same thing will only ever result in the same result and you will not expand your outfit options. You need to reset. Our brain loves familiarity and gets comfort from re-experiencing enjoyable stimuli from things it felt enjoyment from in the past. Instead give it something new to focus on, build a moodboard and find new ideas. See my blog post here.
Variety
The Problem: The opposite of Repeat Buys, you have too many one-off pieces that don’t work with anything else. Often because you love colour, print or an eclectic mix of styles.
The Solution: Prioritise buying some basics that will allow you to wear those pieces that orphaned in your wardrobe. The neutrals or basics may seem boring, but having them will make getting dressed a lot easier!
Impulse buys
The Problem: You love to shop and discover unique one offs that pull at your heart or find a bargain in the sale. When you get it home you realise it doesn’t work as well as you’d hoped.
The Solution: Plan. Create a list of pieces you are missing in your wardrobe and only shop for that. Remember a bargain is only a bargain if you are going to wear it, check the returns policy and return it if unworn.
Influenced
The Problem: You have seen it on Instagram or someone you know has it and it looked great on them. No matter what you try, you just don’t feel like you when you wear it or get disheartened that it doesn’t look right on you.
The Solution: What suits one person doesn’t always suit another. We all have unique attributes, styles and proportions. Get really clear on what truly suits your body and find the aesthetic that you really love by Unlocking Your Personal Style.
I hope this has helped you get unstuck with your wardrobe, but if you need more personalised advice, please get in touch.
