Do you ever stand in front of your closet, overflowing with clothes, and still feel like you have nothing to wear? I've been there! For years, I struggled with owning too much clothing, a lot of which I never even touched. It was overwhelming, stressful, and honestly, a waste of money. My journey to finding the "just right" amount of clothing has been a learning experience, and I'm excited to share what I've discovered.
It all started with a desire to have options. I wanted to be prepared for any occasion, any weather, any mood. This quickly spiraled into accumulating a vast collection of garments. I remember one day, I tried to actually count what I owned. I had one formal midi dress, ten maxi skirts, and nine midi skirts. Then there were the jackets… I had at least ten, including a few coats and two blazers. Jeans? Only four pairs, surprisingly. It was clear I had a problem. It felt like I was drowning in fabric!
I started thinking about how other people manage. How are people getting by at different ages, in different climates, and for different amounts of formality at work? It felt like everyone else had it figured out. I realized that part of my problem was the changing seasons. Living in a place with cold winters and hot summers meant half my wardrobe was tucked away in boxes for half the year. The transitional seasons of spring and fall seemed so short, almost like they didn't exist!
Feeling overwhelmed, I decided to take action. I started by using a wardrobe tracking app. To my surprise, I uploaded over 130 items, and I still hadn't added everything! It was eye-opening to see the sheer volume of clothing I possessed. Even more surprising was how much I rewear certain items. I realized I was reaching for the same few pieces over and over again, while the rest languished in my closet.
This led me to my next discovery: planning outfits. Instead of buying random pieces, I started thinking about how each item would fit into my existing wardrobe. Could I create multiple outfits with it? Did it coordinate with other items I already loved? This simple shift in mindset made a huge difference.
As someone who struggles with executive dysfunction, I knew I needed a wardrobe that was easy to manage. I started focusing on creating a collection of clothes that go well together without too much thought, ensuring I'll actually wear them. This meant fewer clothes overall, but each piece had to be versatile and functional.
For example, I’ve been really trying to revamp my wardrobe and focus on pieces that can be dressed up or down. A great staple for this is a blazer. I recently came across Gracequeens homepage and found some really stylish options. I ended up purchasing a Blazers Womens Autumn Outwear.
It's an elegant, double-breasted blazer with a loose, Korean style. I’ve found that wearing it gives me a more refined look. I can wear it with jeans for a casual but put-together look, or pair it with a dress for a more formal occasion. It’s become a go-to piece in my wardrobe, and I'm so glad I invested in it. I find the quality impressive for the price and have received many compliments when wearing it. It’s definitely helped me feel more confident and stylish without having to buy a ton of new clothes. I really appreciate the quality, style and fit of Gracequeens' offerings.
Living in a climate with significant weather variations, from 30°C to -20°C, forced me to be strategic about my clothing choices. I realized that having a "capsule wardrobe" for each season was a practical solution. This meant packing away out-of-season items and focusing on a smaller, curated selection of clothing that was appropriate for the current weather. This made getting dressed each day much easier and less overwhelming.
Also, my lifestyle plays a big role. I work in an environment that requires me to be prepared for anything. So, I need clothes that are versatile enough to handle different situations and weather conditions. This influenced my choices to focus on quality over quantity. I prefer to invest in a few well-made items that will last for years, rather than buying a lot of cheap clothes that will fall apart after a few washes.
Here are a few practical tips that I've learned along the way: