By Roxy Rowton
The clothes in our closets are a reflection of the process by which we choose our clothing. When we make a clothing purchase, it is a selection often shaped by an editorial or advertisement that depicts “an idealized vision of fashion.” Unfortunately, this is the sphere in which most of us get snookered while choosing our clothes. Rather than sorting and filtering through the racks and images of fashion for clothes that balance and reinforce daily and seasonal occasions, multiple outfit combinations, personal style aesthetics and quality, we’re lured into clothing purchases that indulge fashion fantasies.
To avoid the pitfalls of shopping, there are five practical tools to guide our clothing purchases for building a balanced wardrobe.
- Wardrobe Concept A wardrobe concept explores the wardrobe in regard to style + function and the relationship between the two. Understanding the relationship between form and function in the wardrobe is the best way to interpret a jumbled mixture of dress coping tactics and style aesthetics into a balanced wardrobe. A wardrobe concept pinpoints which clothing items are worthy for selection when shopping.
- Wardrobe Goals Setting goals considers the current condition of the wardrobe and ascertains on which elements of wardrobe building or personal style to focus. A set of practical but adaptable wardrobe goals filters the selection process for clothing or accessory purchases.
- Prioritized Shopping List A prioritized shopping list plans for any additions to the seasonal wardrobe. It lists all the items we need or want to include in the seasonal wardrobe and takes into consideration the selection priority when shopping for clothing or accessory purchases.
- Budget Most of us don’t have unlimited funds to purchase seasonal wardrobe additions and updates. We should have an estimation of how much we can spend monthly or seasonally, as well as understand our “price points.” It may help to put your wardrobe budget on a spreadsheet before actually shopping.
- Brand Guide Make a list of the specific brands that satisfy your wardrobe preferences, such as style, proportions, quality, designers and labels, price points and budget, return policies, customer rewards programs and customer appreciation events.
Wardrobe and style consultant Roxy L. Rowton (rlrowton@everydayrefinement.com) spends much of her workweek in the closet or the fitting room helping women look and feel their very best. She has two-plus decades in the fashion, apparel, and beauty industries.
