Sometimes I can get so caught up in checking all the boxes that I forget to add the flourishes. Know what I mean? Whether I’m running through my to-do list for the day, restocking my pantry or lining up appointments in my calendar, I sometimes find myself “getting the job done,” but not leaving much room for creativity, serendipity or fun. But if we make this mistake when we’re building our wardrobe, we’ll soon discover that it lacks the joy and excitement that makes wearing our clothes fun. So today I’m sharing seven tips to help you make your wardrobe more enjoyable to wear.
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They say a party without refreshments and decorations is just a meeting. Hmm. Likewise, a wardrobe without a little personality and special touches can feel drab, boring. And before long you tire of wearing it. I think that may be one of the reasons so many of us have a closet full of clothes, but feel like we have nothing to wear. We’re really just bored with what we’ve got.
So let’s fix that. Here are 7 tips to help you create a wardrobe that feels fun, makes you feel special and actually brings you joy.
Style Tip #1 – Keep your wardrobe small and manageable.
Of course “small” is relative. Some women do prefer to have lots of options and a full closet. And you may also have a life for which you need a wide variety of outfits. But I’ve discovered that most women over 50 have reached a point in life where they actually need fewer types of clothes. Especially if you’re no longer working outside the home, you may realize you can do with less.
Still, small is relative. The point here is to keep your wardrobe to a size that doesn’t overwhelm you when you try to put together outfits. You want a wardrobe that feels manageable, like you are in charge of it, not the slave of it. So I suggest moving some clothes to a different closet in your home, into storage containers or into a chest elsewhere. Only keep in your closet and drawers what you want to wear for that season of time, whether it’s a full season on the calendar or a couple of months.
Style Tip #2 – Swap out your wardrobe each season.
That may sound obvious to some, but I know a lot of women who have been in the habit of keeping their entire wardrobe in their closet and drawers year round. Not only does that make it hard for you to manage what you have, but it also causes you to tire of your clothes. Instead, swap out your clothes at least each spring and fall. Even if you live in an area where the temperatures don’t change that much, swapping out your wardrobe will make it feel fresh and much more enjoyable.
Style Tip #3 – Incorporate a select number of colors for each season that you love wearing.
You can definitely choose the colors of your wardrobe based on your analyzed colors. But I also suggest that you limit your color palette of your wardrobe to the colors you enjoy the most. And yes, that can be neutrals if you prefer. You may have felt in the past that you have to wear certain colors because they’re “in your season” or they’re trending. But I suggest you only put the colors you love in your closet.
Style Tip #4 – Add a new color or neutral to your wardrobe occasionally.
I do think it’s smart to mix things up every now and again. For years I wore the same neutrals and four signature colors – pink, blue, green and red. But in recent years I’ve added lavender (starting last year) and burgundy (just recently). I’m enjoying the infusion of these new colors. They bring me joy and I’m excited about learning new ways to wear them.
Style Tip #5 – Purchase basics that are still beautiful and interesting.
Sometimes we make the mistake of buying basics that are too, well, basic. They’re boring. But basics like t-shirts, button-ups, jeans and black trousers don’t have to be boring. I still like to keep my basics fairly classic so I can wear them for a while and with versatility. But don’t be afraid to shop for those that have a little something extra special about them, like a fun collar, some pretty trim or a unique silhouette.
Style Tip #6 – Don’t forget to add some special pieces to your wardrobe.
When I get busy checking boxes and forget to add the flourishes, this is what happens: I look in my closet for something to wear to a night out or a special outing only to realize that nothing in my wardrobe feels special at all.
I’ve decided it’s important to be on the lookout for those special items. They’re the ones you rarely find when you’re looking for them, know what I mean? They tend to sneak up on you when you’re least expecting to find them. So keep a little money in your clothing budget to accommodate them. I suggest looking for pieces that grab a little attention, make a statement, elevate an outfit. And I think it’s nice to have about seven of these in your closet…just so you could wear one every day of the week if you wanted to!
Style Tip #7 – Focus on quality accessories.
Accessories can really bring an outfit together. I’ve found that I enjoy my clothes so much more when I have the right shoes to wear with them, a good belt to set them off and a nice bag to grab as I go out the door. Having a few capsules of jewelry that work well with my outfits makes my wardrobe more enjoyable, too.
Check out the other posts in our Define Your Style…Refine Your Wardrobe style series HERE. And you can always locate them through the tab in the top menu, 2024 STYLE SERIES.
One more thing: we’ll be wrapping up our 2024 style series soon. Are there other topics you’d like for me to cover in the Define Your Style…Refine Your Wardrobe area that I haven’t shared yet? Please let me know.
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Blessed for My Day
Do you enjoy your relationship with the Lord? I’ve discovered that I generally enjoy things to the degree that I invest in them. If I invest the time, effort and money in a good wardrobe, then I’m more likely to enjoy wearing it. And if I invest time and effort and sacrifice in my marriage, I get more out of it, too.
Likewise, when we invest in our friendship with God, we enjoy Him more. We can do this by worshiping Him with our congregation, singing praise songs, memorizing Scripture, reading our Bibles and spending time in prayer. As I invest in those spiritual disciplines I grow in my desire to please Him through obedience and service.
I delight to do Your will, my God; Your Law is within my heart. ~ Psalm 40:8
Enjoy your trip to upper New York. Should be beautiful this time of year Enjoyed reading your tips. Some I will use and others I will think about. Clothes in the ME& EM line are a little out of my budget and price line. I bought a cream blouse this Spring from the line and still have not worn it. I am not sure if it’s not me or what? I am going to try to wear it today. Put some outfit together. It was a high price point and cannot let it hang in my closet. Nice BFMD.
Good tips! Thanks!
I would mind tips on what shoes go with which kind of pants. Loafers are the trickiest for me.
Whoever does the website is sizing the email signup pop up page too long, (maybe has a longer cellphone screen?) where we can’t see nor scroll to the signup permission button, after we’ve checked the boxes. I’d like to get daily emails and the weekly one too. Thank you.
Sorry about that, Diane. I’ll look into getting that fixed. I imagine you need to squeeze it smaller with your fingers. But I’ll get you signed up so you don’t have to. 🤗
I love the green vest. That color looks very nice on you and goes so well with the jeans. I must say that the jeans are way out of my price point. I also want to say for those of us who are looking for more economical option to the jeans: Don’t discount Old Navy for jeans that hold up great after numerous washings. They have a plethora of styles and size options!
Great post! Dressing should be fun! The part about keeping ~7 special outfits in our closet gave me an idea for you to cover, if you would. What are 7 “special” outfits to keep on hand. What is our “dress up Capsule wardrobe”??? Thanks in advance.
Hi Kay. As always I enjoyed this very detailed and informative post. Then I went back and re-read all the posts in this series, realizing how helpful they have been to me personally as I have worked to curate a wardrobe aligned with my style angles and current lifestyle. In the introductory post, Style Principle #4 says it all: “Defining your personal style helps you shop smarter, dress more authentically, build a more cohesive wardrobe, feel more confident, and enjoy getting dressed for your day.” For me, it was very helpful to purchase a full length mirror and take pictures of outfits I created. I also found that moving clothes to a different closet and having a seasonal closet made it easier to dress for my day. Thanks for all your well researched and thoughtful posts.