Basic Wardrobe Planning Makes
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Strategy is a systematic way to become a fashionable woman who is appropriately dressed for every occasion.|
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Start with a suit, add a white sweater, and a pair of slacks. Now we have two outfits:
- Suit with white sweater.
- Slacks with white sweater and suit jacket.
Add another sweater, and we double our wardrobe, adding to the previous list:
- Suit with gray sweater.
- Slacks with gray sweater.
Now we have four outfits.
Here's where the power of multiplication pays off in terms of our budgets.
Add one cardigan sweater, and we double the number of outfits again to to eight. Substitute a red, black, mauve, gold or mostly any color cardigan -- your choice -- for the jacket in each of the four outfits listed above.
Last, add the delicious alpaca poncho. The result: 16 cold weather outfits after purchasing just six items of clothing.
Spend wisely, and you may have enough money left over for some nice underwear.
Fashion strategy starts with analyzing what personal image you want to project.
Consider what feels good on you, looks good, and serves
Step One: Understand
Your Image
Whether you are a sophisticated urbanite, like Metis, or a gal who would rather be fishing, like Artemis, there are women’s clothes that feel comfortable and just right on you. Visit your closet and figure out what styles you love. This is the start of creating a coherent image. Fashion After 50’s fashion archetypes quiz can spark your thinking about the fashion archetype that embodies the image you want to project.
Create Visual Illusions to Flatter Figure
A fashionable woman uses clothing lines, such as seams, stripes, belts, and the cut of a garment, to create visual illusions.
Mississippi State University Extension Service
has an excellent display of drawings that show how to use clothing lines to choose figure flattering clothes. There are also some good planning documents there.Another basic wardrobe planning document may be found on the page for this ultra-practical work wardrobe. Learn how to make $200 last for a week's worth of outfits.
Coordinate Colors for
Versatility & Value
Basic wardrobe planning includes knowing what colors look best on you. Limit yourself to a few colors and the neutrals that look best with these. This makes it easier to mix-and-match wardrobe pieces.
Shopping becomes a snap, too.
My eyes automatically focus on the jewel tones of blue, green, aqua, purple and deep reds look best on me. I go through a sale rack quickly, because I don't bother to stop to look at size, price, or garment care for all the other items.
The sporty wardrobe, right, for town-and-country uses black and tan neutrals for the main pieces. These are highlighted with neon colors to add pizzazz.
Step Two: Organize What You Own
List your daily activities.Decide what types of women’s clothes you need and how many hours a day or week you spend in them. This helps us see how to best use our clothing budget.
Some of us wind up with too many comfortable weekend togs and not enough for work, clubs, or church. Basic wardrobe planning brings balance into our closets and fashion spending.
Sort, Discard, and Declutter Your Closet
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Now, it’s time to ORGANIZE. Declutter your closet. Be tough with yourself.
Identify figure flattering clothes that are in style and fit your lifestyle. Don’t be afraid to split up suits. Jackets often outlast skirts and slacks, which receive more stress on the seams and wear on the seats.
Pile #two is clothing worth keeping that needs minor alterations or cleaning.
Bring a big box for the third pile – clothing to get rid of because it no longer fits your figure, your lifestyle, or is out of date.
Identify Outfits for Your Daily Activities
Here's the creative part.
Now that you know what you have, identify basic outfits for your lifestyle.Get creative. Try clothing items in new combinations. Experiment. Find new items that work together. Discover what's missing. I end up with tons of colorful shirts, because they are cheap and easy to buy. Finding neutrally colored, reasonably-priced pants and skirts takes shopping commitment, persistence, and patience.
Figure out what you need -- such as that all important black skirt or navy blue shoes.
Every fashionable woman needs -- but too often we forget to buy -- a white blouse, a good watch, or a stylish all-weather coat.
Step Three: Shop Wisely for
Multi Use Women's Clothes
Make the best use of your women’s clothing budget by buying pivotal pieces of good quality that offer lots of wear. Never buy anything unless it’s figure flattering and you can wear it with at least two or three other items you already own.
Tuck the list of key items that you need into your purse. I often find a clothing sale when I am shopping for something entirely different. Carrying the list with you is also a chance to make thrift shop and garage sale stops super productive by looking for missing items.
To summarize, three principles of basic wardrobe planning are strategize, organize, then shop.
Jessica London Introduces Mix-and-Match Collection to Make Basic Wardrobe Planning a Snap
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London and Avenue specialize in clothing for plus-size gals.
There are several modules for spring. The London Collection in earth tones will move easily through the seasons.
The Nassau Collection offers a pant suit in sea blue. Items may mixed and match with others of deep purple -- an arresting contrast.
The Luxurious Linen Collection has accents in several colors as bright as Bahamian houses and tropical flowers.
City Chic does sophisticated in red, accented by white and black.
If you love the ease of mix-and-match, you may want to have a peek at this timely idea to stretch wardrobe budgets.
Now that your wardrobe is up-to-date and organized, find some
fun activities
to show off your great new look.
Learn to expres your personality in your basic drobe planning. Take the Fashion Archetypes quiz.
Does your women's clothing express your personality? Learn more.
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