It’s the eternal problem of a closet full of gorgeous clothes: making sure that you actually WEAR them. What good are those amazing pieces if you wake up with five minutes to throw something on for class and go? How is it that some people can look so put-together no matter what?
The key to this conundrum is “wardrobe management“, or knowing exactly what you have and how to work it.
Learning to manage your wardrobe can be beneficial in a number of ways. It can save you time, money, and can make you look far more stylish and put-together. It’s an essential skill to master if you plan to invest in quality pieces, or if you just want to make the most of what you already have.
My Top Tips for Managing Your Wardrobe:
- Spend time coming up with new looks.
I know you might hate to hear it, but it’s true – looking fashionable isn’t always effortless. If you want to take full advantage of what you have, you need to spend some time planning outfits. Whenever you get new clothes, shoes, or accessories, try them on with different stuff you already own! Once you know what goes with what, getting dressed will be a snap. - Get a second opinion.
Go through your closet with your most fashionable and honest friend. Try things on and get her opinion. Your friend might also help you come up with new outfit combinations that you would have never thought of on your own. - Take photos of the looks that work.
If you really need help with your style, you could create your own “look book” of outfits. After you spend time going through your clothes and creating outfits that work, lay all the pieces down on the floor with matching shoes, handbag and other accessories, and snap a photo. Polaroids are the quickest, but regular or digital photos are fine too. - Write it all down.
You might also find it helpful to write down the names of which pieces you chose on the back of each photo, just in case you’re in a hurry. And it’s good to keep all the photos together too, so it’s like an archive of your style. Any time you need to get dressed fast, just turn to your personal look book and a great outfit will be all ready to go. - Digitalize it.
If you’re more into digital photos than polaroids, the web can help you with wardrobe management. Lookbook.nu is a community where users take pictures of their outfits and post them for all to see. This site offers you an easy way to save all your outfits in one place, and also serves as a great source of wardrobe inspiration. You can always have a “saved” section on Instagram, as well!
Ultimately, wardrobe management is not a one time only deal, but rather an ongoing process that you will need to repeat whenever you get new clothes or accessories. It may seem like a lot of work, but the time you put in will pay dividends. With a little extra outfit planning, you too can look put-together and fashionable every day, no matter how late you sleep.
Editor’s note: This post was completely updated with new images and tips in 2017.
Love your blog! You’re doing a great job getting girls outside their fashion comfort zone and develop their own style beyond Juicy Couture and A/F.
lookbook.nu is a much better website to get outfit inspiration from in comparison to mystylediary.
Yeah, there are always those people that seem to pull it off effortlessly! Before I started keeping track of my outfits, I was always jealous of them. It feels like work at first to manage all your clothes, but it really feels great to do it!
This site is very useful!!!! especially where, like me i got like a lot of clothes but don’t have enuff time to plan. Started planning outfits like at the beginning of the yeah and yeah, it really helps!!!
Oh and taking pictures will be helpful too!!
Great tips–I especially like the idea about taking photos of looks that work!
this is a great, great article.. thank you for the tips – I’ll definitely have to try out the look book idea ^_- I’ve become a regular visitor over the past 2 weeks and I love the constant updates.. keep up the wonderful posts!
Wonderful post!
I end up using my blog as somewhat of a “lookbook”. Especially the Month of Sundays posts (Sunday mornings can be the most challenging).
My biggest trouble is that, although I know all this stuff, I’d rather be blogging. 😉
Erinsays – Ooh! Dress assistant looks awesome! I may have to get that.. Thanks for the tip!
Michelle – Thanks so much for your comments! 🙂 Glad you enjoy the posts!
I don’t do the formal “look book” thing, but I do try on new clothes with old to see what works. I always work out what I’m going to wear ahead of time and make sure the whole thing hangs together. I’ve gotten a lot better at it over the past few years.
In my spare time (or when I’m just bored in class) I like doodling outfits that I come up with. Often before I buy something, I’ll sketch it out as well, pairing it with other items in my closet! I find this has been really helpful! I get to plan out my wardrobe for weeks in advance, that way when I wake up in the morning I can just throw on the outfit and go. Before sometimes I’d wake up in the morning and just be waaay too tired or rushed, so I’d just wear a hoodie and jeans or (gasp) sweatpants. But I never have a bad day anymore!
Great tips.I was looking for help with my wardrobe when I stumbled across this post.
I was thinking I needed serious help with my wardrobe when I stumbled across this post,thanks.I’m going to start taking photos of outfits now.Great article!
I discovered your site a few days ago and I have to say it is AMAZING!! this article was also very helpful!! I will definately start taking photos of different outfits..as finding an outfit every morning is really fun but sometimes exhausting if I do not like what I came up with..:/….:P
thanks a lot for these helpful articles!!:D keep up the great work..:)
i think taking pics is a great idea! when i get new clothes, i take pics of my self wearing different outfits that include it using my phone..and sumtimes in the morning i can just look thru my phone to pick wat im going to wear! however…i’ve taken so many pics LOL that i dont think my phone will be able to fit it all..i’ve had to upload a few on my computer. i wonder if theres an electronic device whose soLE function is to store and display pictures? of course..theres always the ipod..
Icy – Yeah, I didn’t use to take pictures of my outfits until I got to college. I’m always in a rush to go somewhere and it’s so much more helpful to have everything in one place so it’s basically brainless in a hurry. I like your idea about putting outfits hanging together though. That must keep you really organized.
Rebecca – Thanks so much! I like the idea of using your blog to post your outfits. I’m not sure if I’d be that brave or if I’d want the whole internet to see what I was wearing every day, haha
Hey, I love your tips! Check out Dress assistant, it’s a sweet program a la Cher in clueless that lets you catalog your closet. It’s pretty sweet. http://www.dressassistant.com/index_win.html