This Wardrobe Mantra really works

I’ve been working on an e-book, which I’ll be releasing shortly, all about taking back control of your wardrobe.

As part of this process, I have suggested that you follow this simple mantra, both for clothes already in your wardrobe, as well as those you might choose to buy in the future.

The mantra is three simple questions that will really make you think and help you to build a workable wardrobe.  When looking at a piece of clothing, ask yourself:

• Do I love it?
• Does it love me back?
• Do I have at least 3 items I can wear with it?

I always advise my clients to try on before they buy, which will help to ensure that these questions can be answered honestly.

So, let’s take each question in turn:

Do I love it?

To ensure that you feel great in everything you wear, and it’s important that you love every piece of clothing in your wardrobe.

How many times have you heard yourself saying “it will do” when you’re choosing something to put on or searching for something to buy?  As a result, how much of your wardrobe is filled with “it will do” garments – be honest now.

You will probably wear it once then leave it at the back of the wardrobe for weeks or months, before bagging it up for charity.  What a waste of time and money!

From now on, look at each garment you plan to put on, or buy, and ask yourself, do I really love it?  Does it make your heart sing when you put it on?  If the answer is no, move it on (or put it back on the rail if you were planning to buy it).

Does it love me back?

Some clothes look amazing on a hanger, but when you try them on – oh dear!  Buying something you love is great, but it needs to love to you back too.  If it hides your best features, feels uncomfortable to wear or just doesn’t look right, put it back and walk away.

Your clothes should:

• Hug you in all the right places, hiding the bits you want to hide and accentuating your best bits.
• Fit you well, neither too loose nor too tight - the size on the label is irrelevant if it doesn’t fit properly.
• Flatter your natural skin tone, hair and eye colour – giving you a healthy glow
• Fit with your personal style

In short, you should feel fabulous every time you wear them.

Do I have at least 3 other items I can wear with it?

This is probably the question that gets overlooked most often.  You see something you love and it looks great on you, but when you get it home, you realise that you have nothing to wear with it and need to go shopping again in order to find something else, just so you can wear it.  How many times have you done that?

If you have a bottomless pit of money and a huge walk-in wardrobe to store everything in, that’s probably fine, but most of us don’t, so this is a very important question if you’re on a budget, as well as wanting to develop the perfect mix and match wardrobe.

So, if you love it and it loves you back, you should still stop and think – do you already have at least 3 items in your wardrobe to wear with this new garment?  If not, you know what you should do – PUT IT BACK AND WALK AWAY!

The very best way to achieve that illusive mix and match wardrobe for all occasions is to go through everything you own, sort out the good from the bad and make a list of any gaps you might have – those pieces that will add that something extra.  It could be a few camisoles in different shades or the perfect jacket to give you lots of different looks.  Keep that list in your purse and refer to it whenever you shop.  It will help to avoid those mistakes and save you so much money.

There will always be that occasion when you just can’t help yourself and you make an impulse purchase, if or when that happens, remember this wardrobe mantra before you hand over your credit card.

If you feel you would benefit from some personal advice on colour, styling, wardrobe weeding or shopping, do get in touch for a FREE image assessment.