Hello, Darlings! Does Your Wardrobe Match Your Lifestyle? This is a very important question to ask as you are evaluating your closet. Fall is a great time to do a “closet audit” to see where the holes are and make list for Christmas.

Many of us have a wardrobe full of clothes for a life we do not live? Say what? Look in your closet, do the clothes hanging there reflect who you are now?

Does Your Wardrobe Match Your Lifestyle?

First Step-Complete A Lifestyle Audit

This is fairly simple, but COVID restrictions may change this a bit. For a week write down everywhere you go and what you wear. You can also write down “if COVID restriction were not in place, where would I go, and what would I wear?”.

I found that mostly I wear athleisure style outfits on a daily basis. Casual/dressy on the weekends for date night and church. Occasionally, I need a dress for an event. I also play lots of tennis and pickleball so I need clothes for those activities.

Now, the hard part… Take a selfie of each outfit you put on. Evaluate it, does it look good on me, is it the right color for my skin, does it fit. Finally, ask the question, if I saw someone I know, would I be happy about my appearance? Make notes of what you like and what you don’t like.

Warning About The Pity Pit

It is easy for you at this point to fall into what I call the “Pity Pit”. I hate my life, my body, my lifestyle, my clothes. Been there, done that, waste of time! This is the point most people never get past. Instead of making changes, they get stuck in the “Pity Pit”.

Time For Closet Audit

You have completed a real-life audit or a real-life if COVID restrictions were not around audit. You may be surprised to see we wear the same couple of outfits over and over again. Why? If you examine closely you will see the #1 reason is comfort. Especially if you are at home all the time and no one sees you.

Now, lets look inside your closet. You are going to examine every piece in your closet. You will need to try them on, look in the mirror, and possibly take a selfie. Ask these questions:

• Does this piece fit in my lifestyle and have I worn it in the last 3 years?
• Does the color of this garment look good on my skin tone?
• Is this garment comfortable?
• Why haven’t I worn this garment?

I have good quality clothing pieces that look great on me, in my color wheel, still fit, look good in a selfie, but I have not had the opportunity to wear them. They stay!

Time For A Closet Purge

Many of the pieces in my wardrobe are not comfortable and although they look good on me, I will never wear them. They need to go because they are taking up valuable real estate. I WILL NEVER WEAR THEM BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT COMFORTABLE.

Next, I have good quality clothing that I bought for whatever reason (insert reason), does not look good on me, does not fit properly, but I paid a lot of money for it. These pieces need to go either to consignment or an online resale shop such a Thred Up.

Finally, I have several garments such as blazers, silk tops, cashmere sweaters, skirts that do not match my lifestyle. I have nowhere to wear these garments. Even if I did have a place to wear them to, I would choose something else more comfortable. They need to go.

Let’s Face It- Today’s Society Is More Casual

Let’s face it, times have changed. Our lifestyles are more casual. Even the workplace is more casual. Gone are the suits, heels, and pantyhose. Zoom meetings mean you need to look good from the top-up. Even churches have a more laid back atmosphere that encourages a less dressed up outfit.

Casual Does Not Mean Sloppy

This is the other pit that people fall into. Just because our lifestyles are “more casual” does not mean you look sloppy and unkept. With a more casual lifestyle you still want to look good and feel good about your appearance.

Casual pieces are really all about comfort. Fabrics are softer, easy care, more elastic. Your goal is to take these fabrics, choose garments that look good on you, are in your color wheel, work with your body type, and fit your lifestyle.

Be Very Selective In What You Put Back Into Your Closet

After you have completed your closet audit, you will want to make notes of areas you are missing. Do I need more comfortable pants for date nights? Do I need comfortable shorts for travel/leisure time? What would I wear on a typical day? Do I have options that look good on me?

Be very selective on what goes back into your closet. It can not go back unless it meets the following criteria

• Fits my body type
• Is in my seasonal color palette-
• Fits my current lifestyle and I can answer the question “Where would I wear this outfit”
• Is comfortable

Rainy Weekend Project- Frustration To Functional

I encourage you if you really want to make a change in your wardrobe and are tired of the “I don’t have anything to wear”drama, check out this online course. Frustration To Functional is a FREE online course from Kelly Snyder of Adore Your Wardrobe. This is the first step to make changes.

You can do this class at your leisure. Be prepared for some hard “soul search” and some “ah-ha” moments. Because the main reason people have wardrobe frustration is that they don’t understand their true lifestyle.

I have taken all of Kelly Snyder’s Adore Your Wardrobe courses and it has make a HUGE difference in my wardrobe and how I dress. I feel more confident in my choices and I only choose items that work for my unique body type.

Know Your WHY?

Why would I take this free class? Why would I take the time to do a lifestyle audit, why do a closet audit? These are very good questions. Here are my answers

• Stop buying clothes you will never wear. Save Money!
• Make good choices when shopping online/in stores
• Avoid impulse or panic buying
• Looking good, and feeling good in everything you wear
• Being prepared for activities and outings- no more crying in the closet because you do not have anything to wear!

Year Of Color

This year my emphasis has been on color. Colors that look good according to my skin tone in both clothes and makeup. My wardrobe is really starting to shape up and match my currently/future lifestyle. It has taken some time and lots of soul searching and purging.

Check out my post of Seasonal Color Palette for more inspiration.