Home > Appearance > Wardrobe

Achieving the Impossible: Building a Wardrobe of Essentials

Achieving a stylish wardrobe is not an easy task. Let’s face it: Shopping is a refined skill. It exhausts some, while others can cruise through stores for hours on end. Some go to the mall for black socks and end up buying an aqua blue silk blouse that sits in the closet for eons. Here are some tips to help you build a wardrobe full of the essentials.

Give Me Some Space!
For both men and women, the key to building a good wardrobe lies in planning. Experts recommend a three-step system that begins at home. Review what is in your closet. Are there any items you have not worn in a year or more? Take down those pieces, and put them in a box to give to friends or a charity.

Once you’ve cleared up some space, take a look at what remains in your wardrobe. Try on all the items to see if they still fit. If an article of clothing does not fit, you should probably pass it on. Chances are, once you're able to fit into your "skinny jeans," they won't be in style. Once you've cleared your closet, you're ready for step two.

Deciding What To Buy for Your Wardrobe
Step two involves sitting down to decide what wardrobe essentials you need to buy. For both men and women, the trick is to keep it simple and look for things that coordinate. That way, you can wear many different classic ensembles, instead of one trendy outfit, with the pieces you buy.

For men, style experts recommend the following:

• a few well-fitting shirts
• a pair of khakis
• a suit (medium-weight wool)
• a sweater in a color you like
• at least one tie
• black shoes with a matching belt
• black slacks.

These pieces should keep you looking good at work, on dates and even at more casual events. Of course, a nice looking pair of jeans and some gym clothes are essentials too.

It's a bit more complex for ladies to compile a list of wardrobe essentials. Most style mavens suggest the following:

• a suit for work
• a well-cut jacket
• at least one skirt or dress
• clean white t-shirts
• collared shirts for work
• flat-front pants
• good-fitting jeans
• matching shoes and belts.

For women, you will also want to add undergarments to your list. Many ladies have clothes that fit just fine, but their bras leave lines under blouses. Look for supportive undergarments made of smooth fabrics. Lace looks nice on the rack, but under a shirt it can look bunchy. And don’t settle for anything less than a perfect fit! Many department stores offer fitting services to help you find the brand and size best suited for your body.

Buying Your New Wardrobe
This is by far the most difficult and time-consuming step in the wardrobe-building process. To help ease some of the stress, some shopping experts recommend you take a friend with you to stores to give you a second opinion on how things fit.

Another tip from style consultants is to try on everything during your shopping trips. When building a wardrobe, don’t bring any items into your closet that don't fit properly and that you don't absolutely love. After all, these are pieces you will wear often.

Attention guys and ladies: Off-the-rack clothing won't always fit perfectly. Most of the stylish folks on television and in movies have their clothes tailored. If you find a great piece that doesn't fit properly, have it tailored. Most basic tailoring services (hemming, replacing buttons, shortening sleeves, etc.) are reasonably priced.

Building A Wardrobe Without Breaking the Bank
You can save money by shopping sales, but sizes and color options will be limited. Most experts agree that a piece that you absolutely love and that fits perfectly is more valuable in the long run, even if it costs more than a less-than-stellar on-sale item.

Some people shop thrift stores and find cheap designer clothes, but beware of hidden stains, small rips and other problems that might make these items dead weight in your closet.

Outlet malls are a good way to save money, but, often, the clothes for sale there are a couple of seasons old. However, you’re shopping for classic pieces, so it shouldn’t matter too much.

Watch the labels on clothes at outlets: A pen mark on the label can mean the item was returned from a retail store. "IRR" stamped on the tag means there is some kind of flaw in the piece, so check the item closely before you purchase it.

Many outlet malls also offer programs you can enroll in to save more money. Typically, if you spend a certain amount of money, the store will give you vouchers for additional savings.