You dont need a whole lot to be super stylish or build a great wardrobe. What you need is to be smart. Which you already are, now all you need to do is apply it to your wardrobe. We operate under this misconception that the more clothes we have the better we will look since there will be more options to choose from. Nothing is further away from reality than this misconception.
Before we get to how many is enough let us understand why we should focus on less is more. If you were given a choice of to do more with your life or spend hours getting ready, just to miss out on all that you could have accomplished, what would you choose? Doesnt the obvious, logical choice become less is more?
The limited wardrobe helps you optimize your self better. Imagine all those extra tasks you could have finished or extra time you could have spent with your friends in your favourite restaurant if you had just spent less time staring at your overcrowded wardrobe.
You can develop your own method of organising your wardrobe so that every time you open it you have atleast 2-3 outfits to choose from in less than 5 minutes! Here are a few tricks that I follow every time I buy something:
-Does it fit well?
-Is it stylish?
-Does it make me feel good?
-Is it versatile?
-Do I already have something similar?
-Is it elegant and timeless?
-Can I see myself wearing this atleast ten times? (Why not?!! It is my hard earned money plus if something looks good why should I not be able to repeat it).
You will be surprised how many options you will be eventually left with. Resulting in your shopping cart being full with clothes that you will love to wear over and over again. Just a reminder, what might have looked great on the mannequin in the store might not have any real life purpose in your wardrobe. Think before you buy always works like a charm. You could even go with a companion to help you choose better.
Lastly you should always walk in a store knowing what you want & why you want. Much like what you would do before a holiday ( plan the itinerary, the wardrobe etc) or plans for the weekend ( party, watch a movie or go out for dinner). Half the battle is won if you have clarity. Again this can be easily achieved when you understand yourself, your style and whats in your closet better.
Easiest way to start understanding what you need is first eliminate all those pieces of clothes that are just sitting in your cupboard that you haven’t worn even once over the last 6 months. It was a secret mantra to marry the right guy : make a list of what I definitely don’t want in a guy ;)!
Next is what are the must haves. First get the basics in place like the neutrals and the nudes. The classic white shirt and a fun button down printed shirt (www.poppyandco.in) . Make sure you get a couple of pairs of jeans ( for both at home and going out), trousers, jeggings, a couple of dresses, skirts and a pair of good fitting trousers. With this combination alone you could go months without repeating a single look. Try it for yourself and share your success story with me.
Discover your personal style. Easiest way to do is first figure out who is the fashion icon you most relate to. Go through their images, instagram handle, pinterest pages and start shortlisting photos of styles you loved seeing them in. Then gradually start visiting stores in malls or online where I am pretty sure they would have things similar to it. Buy it, try it and if it succeeds then repeat if not then move on to another style or celebrity :)!