A Wardrobe Refresh - Curation
In this post, the last in our Wardrobe Rehab series (read our previous posts, The Clean Out and Organisation first, if you are just starting the process), we dive into how to best approach the curation, upkeep and, when necessary, expansion of your newly edited wardrobe. Because what is the point of decluttering and organising your wardrobe if you don’t have a strategy in place that will help you keep it that way and guide you in any further purchasing decisions.
Before you even consider buying something new, one important point is to honestly evaluate why you shop for new things. Are you really filling an actual gap in your wardrobe or are you simply purchasing out of boredom? Do you tend to “medicate”/self-soothe an emotional issue by buying new clothes? Discovering and acknowledging behaviour patterns can really help you on your journey to a holistic wardrobe that truly reflects who you are and the kind of life you are living.
So it’s worth taking a step back and to thoroughly consider how your wardrobe could reflect and indeed, support your life, now and going forward. Once you have fleshed out your wardrobe “philosophy”, the following points can help you identify and map out an actual gap in your closet.
Work | Life Situation
Will you stay focused on your career for the next couple of years? Or are you planning a sabbatical/extended travel in the next few months? Is sport playing a major role in your life right now? Whatever the focus is in your life at the moment (and in the near future), your wardrobe should be balanced to support every season of that work/life situation. So, if you have a corporate job and are dressing business formal every work day, do you have, for example, an essential sweater for each season?
Fashion Style
Would you like to keep your fashion style (e.g. classic) or is there any specific style that has been inspiring you for a while? If yes, is there a way to implement it in your daily work/life situation? For example, since Santhya moved to Bali she is craving a more relaxed, boho-chic look. As she is no longer working in an office, her closet is slightly changing from very classic to a more leisure focused look, supplemented with simple, bohemian inspired pieces.
***
Once you know where you are and want to be, go through each clothing category by season to identify your gaps and make sure to think through the following criteria before purchasing your missing elements.
Criteria I
Versatility
A simple design, a neutral color or a simple cut are key factors for maximising the wearability of a garment. Focusing on timeless items will help you to create a variety of styling options with your existing wardrobe pieces and will enable your new wardrobe addition to become a forever treasure in your closet.
Criteria II
Longevity
Take your time and don’t rush into something. Always keep quality over quantity in mind by focusing on better craftsmanship and premium materials. Whatever you are missing, you don’t want to end up replacing it after a couple of months. You want to find something you can love and wear for a lifetime.
Criteria III
Budget | Investment
Quality doesn’t always have to mean expensive. There are so many exceptional fashion labels on the market, who offer premium quality products with an ethical focus, for an accessible price. Also, you do not always have to buy new. So many fantastic, hardly worn items are waiting to be found out there, so why not consider buying pre-owned from a well curated second-hand or vintage store (both brick-and-mortar and online)?
***
For us at Cimelia, these core criteria are our compass and measuring stick by which we assess potential purchases before we pull out our wallets and invest. Evaluating that temptingly filled shopping cart (virtual or physical) through the lens of versatility, longevity and monetary investment, as well as our general wardrobe philosophy, helps us keep impulse buys in check and our curation grounded in the reality of our daily lives.