Regular Wardrobe Items: Don’t Forget the Supporting Characters!
It’s February in Kansas and let’s be honest, the groundhog is most definitely going to see his shadow. Winter is not just coming; it is here for a little while longer. What’s a girl to do besides hibernate inside, drink coffee and online shop, right? Wrong. Shopping because you don’t have anything better to do is a true recipe for a disaster wardrobe.
In the e-commerce world of fashion, January and February are notoriously used to liquidate leftover clothing to make room for fresh merchandise from the upcoming season. Everything is on sale; everything is going to appear practically free and it is hard not to swipe up on that great deal that every influencer is pushing on you through your social media channels. Right now, the only reason you should be shopping for regular wardrobe items is because you have analyzed your closet to determine the gaps, truly need something for an upcoming trip or have a shopping strategy in place.
I do have one exception. Notice how I mentioned regular wardrobe items? Most people spend all their wardrobe budget shopping for their daily clothes and forget to spend money on your top two drawers. So, I’m giving you the green light to go ahead and invest some money and shopping time on updating your lingerie and your pajamas.
How many bras should I have?
Every woman should have three or four regular bras in their top drawer, one to wash, one to wear, and one on deck for the next day. Rotating your bras daily will extend the life of each of them. I suggest three neutral-colored bras and one black or some combination of that. This number does not include specialty bras such as a strapless or sleep bras. You will need those as well.
How do I know when it is time to replace my bras?
Typically, a bra is built to last nine months to one year. I know it seems like a short life span, but hear me out. Women wear bras every day, all day. They get almost as much facetime with you as your shoes. True, not many will see it, but having a stretched out and ill-fitting bra will alter the way your clothing looks and ultimately kill your entire look. If your straps are continuously falling off your shoulders or you are constantly getting the dreaded double bubble under your shirts, it is time for a replacement.
Do I need to be professionally fitted for a bra?
In short, yes. I have always recommended a professional bra fitting once per year for all my clients. If you lost or gained weight within the year, you would go buy new clothes, right? Same idea goes for your lingerie. Prioritize your lingerie wardrobe to be just as important as your regular wardrobe and I promise you will feel and look better.
How many pairs of panties should I have?
The best rule of thumb is two to three panties per bra. They don’t have to match unless it makes you feel better and more put together to have matching sets. The most important thing to me is that I cannot see panty lines. Whether you prefer a thong or a brief, there are lots of different styles that will give you that invisible panty look we all want.
Do pajamas need to match?
Yes! Nothing makes me feel better when I go to sleep than having matching pajamas. They don’t have to be ultra-sexy or overly fancy; they can be warm, cozy and as comfortable as you want, as long as they match. Many companies even do capsule loungewear and sleepwear so that you can mix and match a few pieces.
Do I need shapewear?
This totally depends on you! Are you the type of person who wants to feel a little bit more held in during the day? Then yes, shapewear will give you a more polished look. Are you someone who gets hot easily during the day? Then no, shapewear isn’t a high priority. If you think you will need it for an event, then wait to purchase shapewear that will go with that particular look. Housing it in your top drawer before you need it isn’t necessary.
By: Abby Wood
Abby Wood is a wardrobe stylist and style blogger in Kansas City, and her education in design plus retail experience make her an expert in fit, fabric, style and trends. Her professional experience in fashion began with an apprenticeship with a bridal designer, shifted to creating and showing her own line, moving up to management and training at a retail level and now professional styling as an independent consultant. Abby loves to help individuals develop and evolve their own sense of style.
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