Does your wardrobe really represent who you are?
Right now, in the life you are living today?
Does your wardrobe really represent who you are? If the answer is no, you’re not alone- I see this all the time. A lot of the problem comes from shopping for the life you wish you had, rather than the one you are actually living in, putting off buying clothes until you’ve lost weight / got the body of your dreams (I’m afraid this rarely happens) and can only then have the wardrobe that you want, you catch my drift?
Maybe, your wardrobe still reflects a previous chapter of your life- pre-kids & a lot more socialising, pre-remote working when you were trekking into a corporate office 5 days a week (or vice verses and you’ve been at home for 5 years & are about to head back into the office and have no idea what to wear), you’re children are growing up and you’re socialising more, your divorced and ready to start dating, in face pre-anything!
Life changes, and your clothes need to change with it!
Life is constantly evolving & your wardrobe needs to move on to reflect your current reality, whatever that is. This isn’t about just about colour, style or shape (though those matter greatly too)- it’s about lifestyle. Your wardrobe should work for the life you are living day to day, and be fit for purpose whatever your daily life throws at you.
So, if you’re going to have a new year clear out, or you’ve decided it’s time to reorganise your clothes, a great question to start with is: “When am I really wearing this?” (There are a lot more questions but that’s in a another blog so definitely have a read of that one). If an item doesn’t fit your current lifestyle- like heeled shoes which give off Bambi vibes when you try to walk in them or a tailored dress that’s too formal & the office vibes of circa 2020- it’s just clutter, taking up space both physically and mentally that needs clearing. In the words of that mildly annoying Ice Queen ‘Let it go!’ Sell, donate, or pass it on, and make space for clothes that actually work for you in 2026.
A practical tip used by many Personal Stylists is: the rule of three. If you can’t think of at least three real occasions to wear something, reconsider its place in your wardrobe. And if you’re rebuilding your wardrobe, map out a typical week so your clothes cover everything you do- home, office, errands, playdates- whatever your life looks like. You won’t believe how many wardrobes I see where is it dominated by workwear, yet the client hasn’t been into their office for over 5 years!
The key is simple: your wardrobe should reflect your life now. The life you’re living in- dress for it, don’t put it off for the one you are dreaming about, that can be another style evolution as, when and if it ever comes.