New Year, New Wardrobe

If you’ve heard it once, you’ve heard it a million times-“New Year, New Me” and no matter how you feel about setting New Year’s resolutions, there is something to be said about getting a fresh start on everything from your personal life, your career, to your health, and even your wardrobe. We’ll help you edit your closet to allow for more space for the boutique clothing you’ve been craving, what shopping urges to avoid, and how to set your own New Year’s “resolutions” for your wardrobe.

“Editing” Your Wardrobe

In order to push the reset button, you need to start at the beginning or what you already have in your current wardrobe. Before or around the new year, begin to edit your wardrobe. What does this mean? Editing your wardrobe means taking a critical look at your clothing, shoes, and accessories and figuring out what is working for you (fits your style, makes you feel confident, and fits) and what is not. This is a very basic and simple task that can take anywhere from half an hour to a couple hours, depending on how expansive your wardrobe is. In the future, try to edit your closet a few times a year or at least every season. This will help you to avoid spending days sifting through clothes you don’t even remember owning. Moving forward, here are a few simple steps that can help you edit your closet in order to create more space for the women’s online boutique clothing that you really want to wear in 2019:

• First create four piles for editing your closet. To save time and frustration, work on one category of your wardrobe at a time. Start with clothing and shoes, then move onto accessories, handbags, and jewelry.
• The first pile you should create is your YES pile. This pile should only consist of the items that look good on you and fit correctly, that you love, and are free from stains and holes. Note: If some items simply need to be tailored in order to fit correctly or need a serious visit to the dry cleaners, create a second pile for CLEANING/ALTERATIONS.
• Next is your DONATE pile. This pile should consist of clothing that is in good condition, but you have no desire to keep. Sometimes it can be hard to let go of women’s boutique clothing that you thought you loved. Try and be ruthless in your decisions. Some key indicators that an item needs to go, are if it doesn’t fit, if it still has the tags on it, if it doesn’t look good on you, if you haven’t worn it in the last year, etc.
• Lastly, is the THROW AWAY pile. These are items that shouldn’t be donated and belong in the garbage.

After you have finished editing your closet, take some time to clean and organize your wardrobe. Some people will even take the YES pile and wash everything and then put it back in their closet using an organized system that works for them ( by color, by season, by fabric, you get the idea). Taking proper care of your clothes increases the longevity and wear of each item, which is a win-win for always looking fabulous and put together in your clothing and for your wallet.

Just Because It’s On Sale Doesn’t Mean You Need It

Now read that again.

Shopping at the end of the year/beginning of a new year can be an overwhelming by all the sales that are going on. Indulging in end of the year sales, clearance, sales, BOGOS, etc., both at online women’s clothing boutiques and storefronts can create absolute “closet chaos”, which after you’ve “edited” your closet, is the last thing you want to do. This year resolve not to buy an item just because it’s on sale.

One way to combat these urges is by creating a “wish-list” or Pinterest board with the items that you do want to wear. If the sale item isn’t on your dream wardrobe wishlist, don’t buy it. However, this doesn’t mean avoid trying a new trend (more on setting wardrobe resolutions below) but if it’s something you can’t see yourself wearing, it’s probably not for you.

Wardrobe Resolutions To Try

If you need a little help setting New Year’s wardrobe resolutions, we think the following ideas may be just need the motivation you need to create, your perfect 2019 boutique clothing wardrobe:

• Back To Basics – This resolution isn’t about creating a boring or “basic” wardrobe, but it is about finding a handful of classic pieces that are versatile, well tailored, and always look great. A way to think of basics is to consider them as neutral pieces. As fashion blogger, Madeline Nachbar states, “ Basics are neutral pieces that are easily mixed, matched and layered and come in functional and comfortable cuts and silhouettes. They are the foundations of a timeless wardrobe and serve as an anchor to any trend-forward pieces you pick up along the way.” Think of a classic trench coat, a soft leather jacket, black skinnys, a few t-shirts, and maybe a cashmere sweater.
• Get Inspired About Your Style – If you’re in the mood to create a specific style this year, sit down and take time to really plan it out, this may mean playing on Pinterest all day-which we’re all about! Really figure out what type of style you are organically drawn to and build from there. Don’t rely on current trends, fads, or other people’s opinions as you create your dream wardrobe.
• Take Risks – While this resolution may seem slightly contradictory to the other resolutions, if 2019 is your year (which it is, darling) we want you to make the most of it! This means, try the trend you’ve always wanted to try, but have always been scared to. Who knows, it may just become a style staple for you.
• Accessorize More – If you plan on taking the less is more approach with your wardrobe this year (or even if you don’t), but still want to add flashy or bold elements to your outfits, accessorize more! Accessories, can change jeans and a t-shirt from a casual outfit, to a elegant ensemble with just a few basic accessory upgrades. Accessories are also an additional way to add your own style and flair to every outfit you create.
• Accept Compliments – Make this year, the year you finally accept compliments about your outfit, your shoes, that necklace, your handbag, or whatever- with a smile and a “thank you”. As livingly.com puts it, “this year you aren’t going to bat away compliments or replace them with self-deprecating comments. You’re going to smile, look the person in the eyes, and say “Thank you.” And then you’re going to walk away knowing their compliment is 100% true.”

If you’d like even more ideas, you can find more resolutions to upgrade your boutique clothing wardrobe, here.

Featured Image by Jorigė Kuzmaitė on Unsplash