“I need fashion help! Soooo bored with my wardrobe but I feel bad throwing things out/giving them away “just in case” I end up needing them for something. I also have so much shopper’s guilt; Rarely can I get out and get whatever piece I need without compromising what I set out looking for with something from the sale rack that kinda-sorta does the same thing. I also tend to buy things that I know will go with what I already own, which over time has led to a super monotonous rotation. How do I break out of the same old stuff I’ve been wearing since middle school without breaking the bank?”
From,
Stressed Out
And…
“Dearest &tosters: like my good friend Lauren I’ve found myself in a rut with fashion. Not with accessories, I’ll always be a gold girl, but with my closet at large. I’m at odds with my closet facing the classic “i have nothing to wear” dilemma on the daily. Tips on how to amend this problem or stop wearing one’s “uniform” to the point of exhaustion? I know there’s good stuff in there but my brain just can’t piece an *outfit* together lately, they all just feel like clothes put together, you know? Thank you for your stylish input “
Xo,
Mia
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This has been a hot topic on the blog and something I think about often, so I am glad to give my advice! Starting with shopper’s guilt and buying pieces you sort of love, this is luckily an easy fix. I have always struggled with this, but if you are looking for something specific, do. not. compromise. All of these small purchases of clothing that you are not absolutely obsessed with end up adding up in not only space but, most importantly, money. So if you really don’t want to break the bank, be patient and invest in clothing that you can’t stop thinking about and are so excited to wear right after your purchase. Clothing comes and goes at such a fast pace these days that at whatever store you are at, there will always be something new the next day – both a blessing and a curse. One of my good friends once convinced me not to buy a sweater that I am now grateful to not own by asking me, “if this was $50, would you buy it?” The answer was no, and that question saves me from the classic purchasing of $2 Goodwill sweaters that you only like because of the price tag.
The worst feeling is buying something and not liking it a week later because you found something better. Keep going back to that question of “would I invest double my money in this?” when you’re thinking of buying something mediocre. Shopper’s guilt decreases rapidly when you truly love what you’re wearing. You’ll end up saving so much more money in the long run if you find your dream leather coat that you reach for every day of the fall after looking for a few months, rather than rushing the process and ending up with five sub-par coats. And of course, your dream $2 sweater could be waiting in your local thrift store today; dissuading you from thrifting is absolutely not my goal. Just realize that spending a lot of $2 throughout the year adds up to a nicer piece you might wear for a longer time later on in life.
So ask yourself, “does this really excite me?” and if you are on the fence, the answer is always no. I promise something better is out there for you.
To answer your second question of breaking out of your classic rotation, borrowing clothes from people is the number one gold standard for trying something new without commitment. Trying a new color, a new layer (or four!), or a new color of shoe could be just the change of pace you need to break out of your rut. I find that coats make a huge difference in feeling like you’re finally out of your fashion rut, because people tend to shy away from being playful with these layers. So borrow your friends’ coats and see how you feel after. My friends and I did so many clothing swaps last year, which ended up being a great way to clean out my closet and gain new pieces without spending a dime.
If you’re looking for another route, though, Pinterest has been a game changer for my style. Start curating looks you like and organize them into seasons or occasions that you can reference when you feel lost in your closet. Overwhelmed about how to get started? Look up the names of people you find fashionable and start looking through their saved looks. I also try to do this in real life by noting what people are wearing that are sticking out to me. Make sure to deconstruct each look piece by piece and really question what you like about the outfit, rather than just trying to replicate it. In doing so, you avoid copying someone’s style entirely.
Every individual piece of clothing you put on should have some intention, whether it’s an extra layer or a pant with a specific cut to complement the top of your choosing. If you feel like you’re throwing on your typical uniform, try changing one small thing that you think might be too “out there” for your style. I promise you, small changes make huge differences in your day-to-day uniform. Adding small pieces that feel unfamiliar to your style switch things up without completely abandoning what you historically love to wear. Eventually, these small changes feel just as natural to as your previous outfits and voilà! You’ve changed your fashion trajectory to something that hopefully feels more playful yet nevertheless just as you as the uniform you previously prescribed yourself to wear.
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