The February Fashion Dilemma
It’s cold and gray outside and suddenly there isn’t anything in your closet that excites you anymore. Well, friends, that must mean it is February in Kansas City.
Bored with nothing to do, you venture out to find something that will bring some excitement to your life and your closet. You pop in to your favorite store and everything is on sale! You are overjoyed with the idea of buying random things for half the price because if you are going to buy more “stuff,” it might as well be on sale, right?
WRONG.
You have now embarked upon the beginning stages of hearing that annoying voice in your head say, “I have nothing to wear. How could this be? I just bought all of this new stuff!” Sadly, you have now circled back to where you started, with a closet that doesn’t excite you.
After visiting hundreds of closets over the years, I have witnessed this cycle over and over. But 2020 is a new year! And it is time to break the cycle. How, you ask?
Follow my five expert tips on how to save money on clothes and have a more classic and sustainable wardrobe. Your wallet will thank you later.
1. Don’t shop when you are bored. How many of you have heard people say, “Don’t eat when you are bored?” Same thing; well, kind of. When you are shopping out of boredom, you are shopping aimlessly and without strategy. Shopping without strategy is a sure-fire way to add clutter to your closet.
2. Don’t buy it just because it is on sale. Everybody loves a great markdown, even yours truly. But next time you decide to purchase a sale item, take a second to ask yourself, “Am I buying this because I love it and because it truly fills a gap in my wardrobe? Or am I buying it because its such a great deal I can’t pass it up?” Now, if you have been lusting over an item for months and you can’t stop thinking about it and it finally goes on sale, then yes, go ahead and buy it! But taking a minute to really think about a purchase will help your closet in the long run.
3. Take inventory! When was the last time you really took inventory of your wardrobe? Months, perhaps years? This is the perfect time of year to take a thoughtful look at your closet. Most likely there are items you need to let go of, items that need to be updated or items that just are not your style. Do a mini purge of these items and make yourself a list of what needs to be replaced. Then, if you’re enticed to go shopping, at least you have a plan of what you need.
4. Remember the golden rule when buying classic basics. It’s all about quality over quantity. Want your wardrobe to last you a long time? Just remember, you get what you pay for. Classic basics are going to be worn a larger percentage of the time because they are the building blocks of your wardrobe. If you are shopping from your list and need some basic items, don’t skimp and buy cheap or you will be replacing them over and over.
5. Take a minute to style what you already own. Block out some time for you and your closet. Go through and pull out some random items that never get worn and start playing dress up! Once you find some combinations that you love, take some photos so you remember it! ■
Written 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.
facebook.com/abbywoodwear / @abbywoodwear / abbywoodwear.com
