If you find yourself staring blankly into your closet trying to work out what to wear, and wishing someone would help you make outfits with the clothes you have, this post is for you!
I'm sharing 8 simple tips that will help you build more outfits with the clothes you already have, so you stop saying you have nothing to wear, and start having more fun with your style!
I've also created a free download with 20 outfit ideas so you have some prompts to guide you. If you want that, CLICK HERE!
Scroll on down to see my tips, or click here to go straight to tip 1!
8 ways to BUILD MORE OUTFITS WITH THE CLOTHES YOU already have
Build your outfits around color
Don’t get bogged down thinking about fabrics, occasions or shapes. Focus on color. It’s the easiest way to pull together an outfit that works. So, for example, if you have a skirt that you want to build an outfit around, take it over to your closet and pull out all the tops that match or compliment the color of the skirt. Once you’ve found them all, start trying them on with the skirt.
Combine clothes you have never worn together
Try pairing clothes that you’ve never worn together. Don't worry too much at this stage whether or not they work together, just grab them from the closet and try them on. I know you'll find some new glorious combinations!
If you’re someone who hangs their clothes in outfits, this will be a really valuable exercise as hanging clothes in this way can often limit how you wear them.
Remove any labels you've given your clothes
Don’t leave an item of clothing in the closet because it’s ‘too special’, or ‘too casual’. Remove those labels and free up your clothes to be worn anytime, anywhere.
That favorite dress you’re saving for a special occasion could be dressed down for the weekend with sneakers and a leather jacket! Those scruffy Mum jeans you save for wearing around the house can be dressed up with a blazer and heels!
Don't save clothes for best
Following on from the last point, don’t save things for best…what if ‘best’ never comes around? It's such a shame to spend money on something that you love but to never actually wear it!
You make your own style rules, if you love something wear it. There is always something you can do to make dress an item of clothing down. Combine it with casual footwear, layer something under or over it, play around with accessories...
Try on every possible combination
This is really important. I don't want you to rule out any combination until you've tried it on! Clothes look totally different with a body inside them, and there are lots of styling techniques (like tucking in, cuffing, knotting etc...) that will help make two seemingly incompatible items work perfectly together. So, I'll say it again, don’t rule anything out until you’ve tried it on to see if it works.
Don't put pressure on yourself to create the perfect outfit
Some combinations won’t work, but that’s OK. That’s part of the creative process. I’ve found some of my favorite looks by first creating some terrible ones. This exercise is an opportunity to experiment and try new looks. If a look doesn't work, it doesn't matter, try another!
Use styling techniques to bring a look together
You can’t just put clothes on and expect them to work perfectly together. Often, you’ll need to style them in order for them to sit well together. Knotting and tucking in are two of my go-to techniques. I often find that tucking a top into my waistband gives both me and the top a little more shape…as you can see in the picture below. And make sure you play around with the sleeves. Sometimes a simple cuff of a sleeve will transform the look and fit of a top.
If you want more tips on how to how to put an outfit together htat works, this post will be super helpful!
By turning up the cuffs of the hoodie and loosely tucking it in at the front, the outfit is much more flattering and stylish.
Accessorize each outfit
I know it’s tempting not to bother, but at a minimum you should be adding shoes to each outfit you try on. Shoes are what make an outfit. They play such an important role in the success of an outfit, that you could mistakenly think a look doesn’t work, when all it needed was different footwear. In fact, I can guarantee that the reason you're not wearing some of the clothes in your closet is because you don't' have the right shoes to wear them with.
It's also a good idea to have a few belts and necklaces to hand while you try outfits on as they tie a look together and can help change the shape of an item that's not quite right or is lacking in shape.
Look at the difference when I swap the flat boots for a tight fitting pointy pair, and tuck the sweater in. My legs look longer and slimmer, and I look like i have a waistline.
After spending the past 17 years helping women edit and re-work their closets so they are easy to use and fun to wear, I KNOW that there are lots of 'new' outfits hanging in your closet, you just need to spend a little time looking for them. If you try any of my tips, let me know how you get on, I'd love to hear from you. And if you want any help, please ask me, I'm here to help you!
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