There seems to be a time in every woman's life when she flings open the doors of her closet and even though it might be stuffed full of clothes she know that she has nothing to wear. But lets be more specific, nothing to wear that is not ripped, soiled, faded, stretched out, too tight, wrong colour, inappropriate, waaaayyy out of fashion or just horrible looking.
And while she keeps spending money on clothes she never seems satisfied with what she gets. So what's a girl going to do?
There is a way to build yourself a perfect wardrobe on a budget, but it does take time and it does take effort.
But the reward is that you will be able to go to your closet and KNOW that there are clothes in there that you love, look fabulous on you and cost a lot less than anyone would have guessed.
For some shopping is an agonizing experience, you don't know where to
start, you don't know what to buy. You don't want to spend a lot of
money on clothes right now because you don't like the way your body
looks, you are planning to lose 30 pounds, or tone up, or grow another
inch. You need something to wear. Face the fact that
your body will probably be changing for the rest of your life and
clothes were never meant to last 20 or 30 years. (Fashions do change if
you haven't noticed).
There isn't, and never will be, a magical list of basics that every woman can buy and have all her wardrobe problems solved. You need something that will go on your top, something that will go on your bottom and something to go on your feet to get you through your day.
There isn't, and never will be, a magical list of basics that every woman can buy and have all her wardrobe problems solved. You need something that will go on your top, something that will go on your bottom and something to go on your feet to get you through your day.
What the combination of these things are really depends on who you are and what you day consists of. The basics wardrobes tend to be geared towards women who work in offices that need business attire but what if you are a stay at home mother with a part time job, or you work in a garden center, or you run a store. But there are a hand full of pieces that most women find that they can't do without.
Dark Skirt
Dark Pants
Jeans
White or Cream Top
Dark Top
Low Heeled Black Pumps
Yes it seems boring but this is not what you are going to wear every day, this is just the very basics of basic wardrobe pieces to get you everywhere from having lunch with your girlfriends to giving a speech in front of the United Nations. (White top and jeans with girlfriends, dark top and dark skirt for the United Nations and black pumps with both).
Everyone's life is different and to find out what you need you have to grab several pieces of paper and a pen and chart out the clothes that you need through out the week, the different seasons and through out the year.
At the top of a page write out 7 columns marked Sunday to Saturday and list in each days column what you typically do. Walk the dog, sort laundry, grocery shopping, volunteer at school, part time job, meetings with clients, weekend antique shopping, skiing, swimming, housework, yard work, lunch with friends, etc, etc.
Dark Skirt
Dark Pants
Jeans
White or Cream Top
Dark Top
Low Heeled Black Pumps
Yes it seems boring but this is not what you are going to wear every day, this is just the very basics of basic wardrobe pieces to get you everywhere from having lunch with your girlfriends to giving a speech in front of the United Nations. (White top and jeans with girlfriends, dark top and dark skirt for the United Nations and black pumps with both).
Everyone's life is different and to find out what you need you have to grab several pieces of paper and a pen and chart out the clothes that you need through out the week, the different seasons and through out the year.
At the top of a page write out 7 columns marked Sunday to Saturday and list in each days column what you typically do. Walk the dog, sort laundry, grocery shopping, volunteer at school, part time job, meetings with clients, weekend antique shopping, skiing, swimming, housework, yard work, lunch with friends, etc, etc.
On another page mark Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter and under those write any clothes you know you'll need for those seasons, summer bathing suit, summer cover up, flip flops, hat, walking shorts, fall jacket, winter boots, coat, gloves, hat, spring jacket, rain boots, umbrella etc.
And on a third piece of paper write out the months and any occasions that you celebrate regularly, New Years Eve, Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, Anniversary, Birthdays, Halloween Dance, Thanksgiving, Christmas Parties, Christmas Day. Also mark on the paper (if it applies to you) weddings, christenings, interviews, parent teacher meetings and any other occasion or event that regularly happens through the year.
You might also have another page of sports activities that you are involved with, golf, skating, tobogganing, horseback riding, etc.
These are the events of your life that you need to clothes yourself for. The reason you want to know well in advance of the clothes that you need is so you can write a shopping list that you will always carry with you. See an amazing 75% off sale on light dresses during Boxing Week Sales? Well you need a dress for your annual Mother's Day Lunch at your sister-in-law's that always seems to sneak up on you. But before you start buying your specialty items you need to sort out your day to day wardrobe.
You need to make a decision about what will be your basic core colours. Don't panic, you can change your mind, this is not that big of a deal. What it means is that you have to decide if you look best in black, light gray, dark gray or brown (dark brown or light brown/khaki) or, if appropriate to your lifestyle, denim.
These are the events of your life that you need to clothes yourself for. The reason you want to know well in advance of the clothes that you need is so you can write a shopping list that you will always carry with you. See an amazing 75% off sale on light dresses during Boxing Week Sales? Well you need a dress for your annual Mother's Day Lunch at your sister-in-law's that always seems to sneak up on you. But before you start buying your specialty items you need to sort out your day to day wardrobe.
You need to make a decision about what will be your basic core colours. Don't panic, you can change your mind, this is not that big of a deal. What it means is that you have to decide if you look best in black, light gray, dark gray or brown (dark brown or light brown/khaki) or, if appropriate to your lifestyle, denim.
As we stated in the beginning you need something on top, something on your bottom and something on your feet. Generally the something on the bottom would be a skirt or pants. To start you can chose denim as one of your basic colours and say black, all these means is that you are going to start looking for the perfect skirt and pants in black and the perfect jeans and denim skirt so you will have something to start building on. You can add different colours pants and skirts latter but you have to start somewhere.
Looking at what you do through out your days you will see that there are things that you do that you never seem to have the clothes for. You walk the dog every morning before you get dressed for work but you do it in a ratty pair of pajama pants, a great pair of jeans or black pants are needed. What to wear on top? If you are starting from scratch look for a top in either white (or cream depending on your skin tone) or black.
Looking at what you do through out your days you will see that there are things that you do that you never seem to have the clothes for. You walk the dog every morning before you get dressed for work but you do it in a ratty pair of pajama pants, a great pair of jeans or black pants are needed. What to wear on top? If you are starting from scratch look for a top in either white (or cream depending on your skin tone) or black.
Why these colours for a top? Because you are not just going to be wearing them when you walk the dog. They can latter be paired with a skirt for when you go to work or another pair of pants for running errands.
While you are dog walking what are you going to wear on your feet? Well this depends on if you are walking your dog on city sidewalks or through the bush. Low heeled cowboy boots would look great with jeans and you could wear your jeans and cowboy boots on the weekends when you go to country auctions or other casual events. If that's not your style then low heeled black shoes or boots would be another versatile item that you could wear to many different occasions.
As you go through your days noting what items of clothing that you need or want always see if you can wear those same items on different days for different events. You should now have several pieces of paper with lots of notes on them. Start making a master list of all the clothes that you want.
As you go through your days noting what items of clothing that you need or want always see if you can wear those same items on different days for different events. You should now have several pieces of paper with lots of notes on them. Start making a master list of all the clothes that you want.
Go through your closet and see if you already have any of these pieces. You might have a black skirt that you could wear but the seat of it is stretched out. Keep the skirt until you can replace it but GET RID OF IT as soon as you have a replacement. You don't want your good pieces to get lost in a sea of bad clothes.
If you are at a point in your life where you are living in your jeans (you're a mother of young children, you run a dog kennel) then you might want to have several pair of "work" jeans and two pairs of "good" jeans. Your work jeans and good jeans are not interchangeable. Your work jeans would be a looser fit easy to bend down in and you don't care what dirt lands on them. Your good jeans would be a flattering fit, dark colour and look chic with a pair of heels.
Your master list is going to be different from everyone else. Though you might have the exact same lifestyle as your sister but you might love turtlenecks while your sister hates them, you might find that you are always cold in the middle of the day and want one or two cardigans to pull on while your sister might find that a shawl is more comfortable and practical for her.
The clothes that you buy to start should be in solid colours and have a perfect fit. If you are a unusual shape this might mean that you will have to learn to do alterations on you clothes or pay someone to do them for you. You would buy your clothes to fit the largest part of you and have the rest altered in.
Your master list is going to be different from everyone else. Though you might have the exact same lifestyle as your sister but you might love turtlenecks while your sister hates them, you might find that you are always cold in the middle of the day and want one or two cardigans to pull on while your sister might find that a shawl is more comfortable and practical for her.
The clothes that you buy to start should be in solid colours and have a perfect fit. If you are a unusual shape this might mean that you will have to learn to do alterations on you clothes or pay someone to do them for you. You would buy your clothes to fit the largest part of you and have the rest altered in.
Buying clothes in solid colours doesn't mean that you will be dull and boring and wearing nothing but black pants and white tops. It means that when you are out shopping and your list tells you to buy a few more blouses for work you know that you have the perfect black skirt and that the tops you buy should compliment that. What goes well with a perfect black skirt? Everything from a Zebra stripped wrap around jersey blouse to a hot pink button down shirt. If you are finding that you are wearing your basic black pants or skirt every day then start looking for a second and maybe even third pair. You clothes need to rest in between wearings or they can start looking shabby very quickly.
You might be a person that enjoys wearing solid coloured basic clothes all the time. You can always dress them up with accessories. Your black skirt, with a black wrap blouse and low heeled pumps can look office appropriate or with your hair in an updo, huge sparkly earrings; a stunning antique necklace and black patent belt with high heeled patent pumps you would be ready for a night at the opera or a formal dinner, put the same top and skirt with red tights, ballet flats a red Pashmina shawl and over sized sunglasses you will look French Chic at the farmers market on Saturday morning.
If you have a love of pattern then dresses might be something you would really enjoy wearing. With a dress there is no worry about it matching anything else as you put it on and your done. Plain shoes, plain purse, nylons and you are good to go.
Interesting jewelry can change a outfit from formal to funky with just a few strands of pearls or glass beads. Never underestimate the impact that jewelry has. A woman dressed in a dark brown turtleneck with a dark brown skirt might look casual but with a multi-strand necklace of burnt orange glass beads and a pair of brass chandelier earrings she'll really stand out.
What ever colour your basic wardrobe is make sure that you are buying shoes, purse and outwear that will compliment it. If your basic colour is dark brown then it would be silly to get a powder blue winter coat, you would never look pulled together. All sorts of gold colours, creams, reds, plums, burnt oranges and browns would look much nicer.
And where are you going to get all these wonderful clothes? As always, Sale, should be your best friend. Malls have regular sales events during the year and this is when you should hit them, list in hand concentrating on what you need and not getting distracted. As we wrote in Where to Buy Stuff Cheap real Outlet malls can be an amazing place to pick up clothes. These are not the outlet malls but stand alone buildings that don't advertise but are always busy.
Also in Where to Buy Stuff Cheap we wrote about the amazing things that you can pick up from Thrift Stores. All those fashionistas who buy things that they never wear need someplace to donate those clothes so they don't feel that guilty about buying them in the first place. If you are a person that loves the hunt then thrift stores are for you. You might have to drop by half a dozen times before you find anything but then it might be on sale for 50 cents! It is not uncommon at all to find clothes on the rack with the original price tags on them. Thrift stores are especially good for accessories like silk scarves, belts, funky jewelry and purses. Like everything else in life there are good thrift stores and not so good thrift stores. Look around to find one that is worth while going to.
In Great Clothes in the Wrong Size we explain how to snag major deals on clothes that have been wrongly sized.
If you have a love a jewelry then a specialty jewelry auction might be just the right place for you. Read How to Buy at a Live Auction for advice on how to find, bid and buy at these auctions. While specialty auctions have the higher end jewelry attending any sort of auction might net you a real find. Like one bidder at an auction a few years ago you might walk away with a garbage bag full of costume jewelry for only $27, inside were several beautiful vintage pieces. On line auctions can also have some real bargains.
If you are determined to look and dress better don't let yourself down with sloppy grooming Move Your Style Up a Notch has suggestions on how you can always look your best.
And finally once you have started buying those great clothes that you love take care of them. You might never again find a black cashmere sweater on sale for 75% off so make sure it lasts forever. Taking Care of Your Clothes so You Look Like a Million will help you with the care of your new wardrobe.
Photography and Content
Copyright Ingrid Talpak 2012
Morestylethancash
Copyright Ingrid Talpak 2009
Morestylethancash
You might be a person that enjoys wearing solid coloured basic clothes all the time. You can always dress them up with accessories. Your black skirt, with a black wrap blouse and low heeled pumps can look office appropriate or with your hair in an updo, huge sparkly earrings; a stunning antique necklace and black patent belt with high heeled patent pumps you would be ready for a night at the opera or a formal dinner, put the same top and skirt with red tights, ballet flats a red Pashmina shawl and over sized sunglasses you will look French Chic at the farmers market on Saturday morning.
If you have a love of pattern then dresses might be something you would really enjoy wearing. With a dress there is no worry about it matching anything else as you put it on and your done. Plain shoes, plain purse, nylons and you are good to go.
Interesting jewelry can change a outfit from formal to funky with just a few strands of pearls or glass beads. Never underestimate the impact that jewelry has. A woman dressed in a dark brown turtleneck with a dark brown skirt might look casual but with a multi-strand necklace of burnt orange glass beads and a pair of brass chandelier earrings she'll really stand out.
What ever colour your basic wardrobe is make sure that you are buying shoes, purse and outwear that will compliment it. If your basic colour is dark brown then it would be silly to get a powder blue winter coat, you would never look pulled together. All sorts of gold colours, creams, reds, plums, burnt oranges and browns would look much nicer.
And where are you going to get all these wonderful clothes? As always, Sale, should be your best friend. Malls have regular sales events during the year and this is when you should hit them, list in hand concentrating on what you need and not getting distracted. As we wrote in Where to Buy Stuff Cheap real Outlet malls can be an amazing place to pick up clothes. These are not the outlet malls but stand alone buildings that don't advertise but are always busy.
Also in Where to Buy Stuff Cheap we wrote about the amazing things that you can pick up from Thrift Stores. All those fashionistas who buy things that they never wear need someplace to donate those clothes so they don't feel that guilty about buying them in the first place. If you are a person that loves the hunt then thrift stores are for you. You might have to drop by half a dozen times before you find anything but then it might be on sale for 50 cents! It is not uncommon at all to find clothes on the rack with the original price tags on them. Thrift stores are especially good for accessories like silk scarves, belts, funky jewelry and purses. Like everything else in life there are good thrift stores and not so good thrift stores. Look around to find one that is worth while going to.
In Great Clothes in the Wrong Size we explain how to snag major deals on clothes that have been wrongly sized.
If you have a love a jewelry then a specialty jewelry auction might be just the right place for you. Read How to Buy at a Live Auction for advice on how to find, bid and buy at these auctions. While specialty auctions have the higher end jewelry attending any sort of auction might net you a real find. Like one bidder at an auction a few years ago you might walk away with a garbage bag full of costume jewelry for only $27, inside were several beautiful vintage pieces. On line auctions can also have some real bargains.
If you are determined to look and dress better don't let yourself down with sloppy grooming Move Your Style Up a Notch has suggestions on how you can always look your best.
And finally once you have started buying those great clothes that you love take care of them. You might never again find a black cashmere sweater on sale for 75% off so make sure it lasts forever. Taking Care of Your Clothes so You Look Like a Million will help you with the care of your new wardrobe.
In a rush but want to explore More Style Than Cash further when you have time? Add me to your Favorites or follow me on Twitter.
For more Articles chose from Crafts, Decorating, Food and Entertaining, Fashion, Gift Giving, Stationery and Cards, Health and Beauty, Kids, or Money Matters.
Photography and Content
Copyright Ingrid Talpak 2012
Morestylethancash
Morestylethancash
Leave a comment