If you’re one of the many women who look into their overflowing closets with the feeling that there is nothing to wear, you are not alone. At times it’s too many options creating a clutter of the mind that makes it nearly impossible to find the few treasures buried behind the mess. If you’re one of the rare opposites who never have enough this is for you too. A basic guide and checklist for your closet will help you on your way to a successful and interchangeable wardrobe.
The key is quality, not quantity. Consider this. You might be able to buy four sweaters for the price of one but the quality of the sweater is what matters. Would you rather purchase twelve sweaters over the next three years or have a few good quality garments that could last up to five?
Five Pairs Of Jeans
Five pairs of jeans should be enough to get you through the week. It’s recommended that you spare the jeans from a wash to keep the color. As long as you have the proper undergarments and you’re not covered in oatmeal, repeated wash is not always necessary.
If you’re a mother of youngsters this may be a little bit of a challenge. Tailored jeans to prevent shredding by your shoes might seem a little pricey, but once again quality pays off and most jeans never run out of style. I have a great pair of quality of jeans myself that look as good as new after nearly eight years of use. Those I bought on a whim due to low cost I generally end up throwing out by the next year.
4-5 Basic Plain Shirts
Whether it’s v-neck or full neck the choice is yours. You can spend less than five dollars at many clearance sales. Basic tees are easy to replace so it’s not a big deal if a stain comes along.
Three Long Sleeved Shirts
The great thing about thin long sleeved shirts is the ability to layer when required. During the winter when it was a little more chilly I would find myself hiding buried in a large, frumpy hooded sweatshirt. This wasn’t great for my self esteem, obviously. Eventually I learned to just throw a t-shirt over my long sleeved shirts to take off the chill. Alternatively, the long sleeved shirts can be worn just as is.
A Decent Cardigan (Or Two)
Once again, it was that bulky, hooded sweatshirt that made me feel frumpy. A little exchange from hooded sweatshirt to a cardigan was a quick and fashionable pick me up and still kept me warm.
A Jacket You Love
One good quality jacket. Great quality, water resistant, and lined is all you need. A detachable hood is nice as well, if you prefer. Try to pick one that matches the rest of your wardrobe so there are no excuses when you look in the closet. Consider all the moments when you popped on your old jackets and said to yourself, “This doesn’t match anything!” Then once again, found yourself changing for the 200th time in the afternoon.
The Full Workout Apparel
To make your work out apparel simple is easy. A pair of yoga pants, shoes for working out, a training bra, a t-shirt, and a matching sweatshirt should be all you need. You can use one of your shirts from the basic t-shirts above, but I recommend reserving at least one for your workout. This little outfit will be easy for both summer and fall.
A Basic Pair Of Flats
Ladies, do care for your feet. It might sound weird but it’s much better to skip the heels for the sake of being able to walk when you’re older. I started wearing four inch heels at the age of 15. I even wore heels during two pregnancies! I was the champion of running in heels, but that doesn’t go to say it didn’t cause pain later. It wasn’t until this year that I turned 24 that I realized it was time for me to switch to flats. Black is great for keeping your wardrobe simple but I won’t lie. I have a pair of pewter flats with buckles that I fell in love with.
Basic Undergarments
I won’t stress on the subject of undergarments other than what you wear below is sure to show if you’re not careful. White undergarments can tend to peek through white clothing, so natural and closest to your skin tone is preferred. Black is also sure to show through light colors. As an added tip, try using a small mesh bag designed for holding undergarments in the wash to prevent losing socks and bras straps tearing away and knotting at your other garments.
A Basic Dress Suit
I am not a person who is required to wear a dress suit and realistically from what I’ve seen most people where I live aren’t. However, you never know when the time will arrive where you end up having a job interview, a family reunion, or you simply just want to make your high school friends jealous and show off how successful and professional you are.
At Least A Two (If Not A Few) Shirts
It doesn’t need to be flamboyant. Just dressy enough for a holiday gathering. Shirts that contain rhinestone, embroidery, or other embellishments should be handled with care and dry cleaned or washed by hand to prevent damages.
All Matching Socks
Boring? Maybe, but perfect for organization and preventing the stress of missing socks and mix-matched socks. If you’re a professional you might want to stick with the black. Having all matching socks makes it easy. No setting up pairs, just grab and go.