There are 52 micro-trends a year, and many of us are guilty to have indulged in (some of) them. We buy things we don’t end up using and end up with a closet full of clothes, but nothing to wear. In Anuschka Rees’ book, The Curated Closet, she says how a curated closet is “a wardrobe that’s perfectly tailored to your unique personal style and your life”, so it means you wear your personality on your sleeves – literally. From how we choose to pair certain clothing, to being recognised by your dressing, a closet is successful when it truly represents who you are by accounting for every small thing you do.
So here are 4 things to think about when curating your ideal closet:
Minimalism Is Not About Minimal Dressing
It’s not about giving up bold prints and flashy colours to make you happy but giving up the idea that buying more will. It’s about cherishing what you already own, and use it to its fullest. Curating your closet isn’t about creating a capsule collection, it is to filter through what you own and find patterns – buying trendy pieces, buying only statement pieces etc, and find out what you truly like and what was bought on impulse. There are no hard and fast rules when it comes to style – it’s about how you take the things you like and make them your own. And when those garments have a reason to be in your closet, and a purpose to represent your inner persona, you won’t have any excuses not to wear them.
Style Isn’t About Being Fashionable
There is a misconception that style is synonymous with fashion. Unless you have the time (and money) to keep up with every new trend, your style can’t be dictated by what is fashionable right now, unless of course fashionable is what you aspire for. Style is about what you like, what looks good on you, and what makes you feel confident and happy. Even if you genuinely do like the latest trend colour and find the straight cut pants perfect for your wardrobe, it’s about how you wear them that defines your style. Segment your closet into 3 – your basics, key pieces and statement pieces, and make a note of how many of each you have and whether or not it suits your lifestyle needs (example: if you work 40 hours a week but have more casual day clothes, or if you live in humid climate but own lots of leather jackets).
Know the reason behind why you bought something
Even with a closet full of items, some still with their tags on, we don’t reach for them on a daily basis. It’s not only about questioning yourself before you buy something, but questioning why you bought something and why you aren’t wearing it. Here are some questions you can ask yourself to figure out what to do with them (if they are in good condition) – into one of the KRDS (keep, recycle/repurpose/repair, donate/give away or sell) categories.
Is something sitting in your closet because:
1. It doesn’t fit? -> Can it be altered?
2. You don’t know what to wear with it? -> Can you find inspiration from styling images and tips?
3. You are waiting for the right occasion? -> Can you wear it apart from that occasion?
4. You stopped liking it after you bought it? -> Can you return it?
5. It was a gift you didn’t like? -> Can you regift it?
You are constantly changing and so will your style
Your ideal closet won’t be 100% complete ever, because with time you will change, and your style will too. Curating your closet now doesn’t means you won’t have to do it again, because you will have to modify and tweak it with your changing lifestyle and personality. You can’t force yourself to still like the same things you do now, otherwise, you’ll end up back at square one – with nothing you want to wear. It doesn’t mean you have to buy new clothes and throw away the old ones every time, it just means you have to figure out what you like and how to build upon a solid foundation of what you have.
The difference between fashion and style is determined by one simple factor – you. You have to keep yourself in mind when you put on your clothes every day, whether it is flattering on you or simply worn for the sake of following a trend. If you can look at your closet and not feel a wave of stress about what to wear, you’ll know you have a closet tailor-made for you. Your perfect closet doesn’t need an exorbitant budget but does need a lot of patience. The most important quality your closet should have is comfort, in the quality of garments, but also the mental comfort of knowing you are pleased with the selection. In the end, the attitude you put on each morning with the clothes you wear determine who you are, and no trend can tell you otherwise.
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