Last week I mentioned that one of the things I’ve enjoyed “letting go” of the most since moving on from capsule wardrobes is the notion that pieces for that season must be purchased at the beginning of the season.
I wanted to unpack that thought a little more in today’s post…
because this, more than any other thing, has allowed me to start building a wardrobe with the “long haul” in mind.
After all, when you buy things to fill an obligatory, or perceived, hole in your wardrobe it’s hard(er) to tailor your wardrobe in a “unique to you” sort of way.
So how DO you build your wardrobe with the long term in mind?
Buy pieces only when you have felt a need for them on more than one occasion.
That might seem a bit extreme, but I firmly believe that a long lasting wardrobe should be filled with pieces that have a specific purpose.
Having this mindset a.) cuts down on unnecessary and impulse purchases and b.) automatically makes room for a more thoughtful buying process.
So what does this look like practically?
I went into the fall and winter with a relatively low number of new purchases because I wanted to sit with my cold weather wardrobe for a bit before I decided what to purchase.
And the result of that waiting was a realization that I could benefit from warmer clothing… specifically sweaters and boots.
After living with my wardrobe for awhile I realized that it wasn’t cutting it for the harsh Minnesota winters…
this past week with the polar vortex had me reaching for all of my hiking gear because nothing in my wardrobe was warm enough.
…
I’m not saying that you should fill your wardrobe with only pieces for the most extreme weather, but I am saying that your wardrobe should reflect the climate you live in.
…
So armed with this new information I’ve added both categories to my “to invest in” list…
with a reminder to myself that if the hole doesn’t get completely filled this season, that’s okay!
The point of investing is taking the time to wait for the clothing that will truly go the distance.
And taking the time to really figure out what styles you are drawn to will make the “weight” of investing much less heavy… or in other words: you’ll be able to invest with confidence.
What do you think? Do you feel like your wardrobe is built to last? Or do you still feel like you could improve in this area?
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Tee (TTS) | this tee has quickly become a favorite for me. So substantial and flattering! It’s sold out in this oatmeal color, but still available in other colors.
Cardigan | one of the coziest things I’ve ever put on
Denim c/o | see my denim guide here
Boots c/o (I’m a 9 and I got them in a 39) | CHECK BACK ON INSTAGRAM LATER TODAY FOR A GIVEAWAY WITH TROENTORP CLOGS!
Recycled Fabric Scarf | I’ve been loving the leopard print trend, but I’m not sure a lot of leopard is really me, so I was happy to find a compromise in this scarf. Unfortunately, the scarf is already sold out in this print (they have lots of other prints though!), but I found a good alternative here.
Motherhood pendant necklace | even if you’re not a mother, check out their other pieces… I love everything they do!
The usual suspects:
My current wardrobe is definitely not built to last, currently. It’s mostly thrifted pieces I purchased when I was too small for my maternity clothes, but still hadn’t lost the baby weight.
I’ve kept my wardrobe sparse because I accidentally discovered it has helped me figure out what I really want/need, just like you’ve said! Having the “wrong” clothes has also helped me discover my style, interestingly enough. Being thoughtful on why various pieces don’t work for me has helped me discover what I would like out of my wardrobe.
Now that I’ve lost the baby weight and am at a size I’m happy with there has been lots of standing in front of the mirror with my “it’ll do” thrifted clothes and asking myself “how would this have to change for me to like it?”
I resonate with all of that Lauren! I think it’s taken me several years post partum to figure out what I like based off of what I don’t like. I’ve found Pinterest to be a really helpful actually in giving me inspiration for how people put outfits together.
I really resonate with what you said about investing in your wardrobe. I live in the Pacific Northwest and it rains here just about as often as everyone thinks it does, but for the longest time, I was just buying cheap rainboots, which would all too quickly break and leave me with a miserable day with a flooded shoe. When I finally invested in a good pair of water proof shoes, I didn’t know why I’d waited so long. That realization really changed how I buy all my clothes. Buying versatile pieces that last is one of those things that seems so obvious, but took me a while to figure out. I want to give a shout-out to the company I work for, Texture Clothing (www.textureclothing.com) We are a small label that designs and manufactures our clothing using hemp and organic cotton here in the U.S. and we focus on making versatile wardrobe basics.
I try to follow fashion bloggers around my age (44). Even though she’s way younger than me, her outfits seem age appropriate for me. I love them. 🙂