Dark wash jeans, white cardigan and grey t-shirt - neutral, neutral, neutral, story of my life.
I’ve identified my personal style, or at least what I’m aiming for, so the next step in the process is to go through what I currently have and eliminate anything that doesn’t fit that style.
I have a secret: I’ve been trying to make this change for years; ever since I started this blog which is back in 2008. For some reason I’ve always got to the point of cleaning out my closet, possibly even bought a couple of items, and then never really gone any further. In fact I’ve done it so many times that I have a really lean wardrobe.
Once I did get to the point where I started putting together a cohesive wardrobe, which I really loved. It was right before I get into a relationship with my partner, which was a fairly massive change got to say, but shortly afterwards I had another major life change in that I left my business and took on full time work.
My stress management theories are not so great and I ended up gaining weight. Actually I ended up gaining back the weight that I had lost from dieting along with a little extra and that led to rethinking dieting, but that’s a different story.
I gained weight and the pieces that I had managed to accumulate no longer fit. I cannot tell you how much of a blow that was.
CLOTHING AUDIT
I’m committed to changing my style though, so what the hell I did it. I got rid of anything that:
- No longer fit well
- Had stains, rips, stretches, marks or whatever that couldn’t be saved
- Doesn’t reflect the style I want to achieve
- Just basically didn’t make me feel great
I was pretty ruthless. Well actually I still have a few things in there that I should, and will get rid of, but in the mean time I have to have something to wear!
What I’ve got left to form the basis of my wardrobe is:
- 1 x pair straight leg jeans in a dark wash
- 1 x pair flared boyfriend jeans in a mid wash
- 1 x denim skirt in a straight cut (will possibly go later)
- 1 x maxi skirt in a leopard print (will definitely go later)
- 3 x work uniform skirts / pants
- 3 x knitted tanks various colours
- 1 x sparkly top
- 2 x checked shirts
- 2 x coloured cardigans (both will go later)
- 2 x patterned maxi dresses (both will go later)
- 1 x light bolero wrap
- 1 x Chanel cut jacket (winter weight)
- 1 x booties
- 1 x nude flats
- 2 x wedge shoes
- 2 x fabulous black heels
- 1 x brown heeled loafers
- 2 x thongs
- 2 x work shoes
- assorted jewellery (most of which goes)
- assorted handbags (most of which goes)
That is my entire wardrobe. I have more shoes than anything else, because shoes are easy and it’s always possible to find things that fit.
It’s scary. Now when I go to the wardrobe I can say with no irony what so ever that I have nothing to wear. It’s annoying and frustrating to be in this position but I’m a person who drags things out and I would never have done anything about it unless I actually put myself into a situation where I basically have to.
SO NOW WHAT?
Lets go shopping!
Only, I’ve been looking and well, its not going well. I see a lot of things but can’t make up my mind whether or not it’s going to fit in with what I want to achieve.
My next step is to get really clear about the looks I want to achieve and from there to start incorporating them into my wardrobe design.
Better get on with it then, hey, because, damn, I have nothing to wear.
