Office wardrobe may not have been on many of our minds for the last year and a half but now that workplaces around the world are starting to open up again, it’s time to prepare for re-entry. But is your work wardrobe up to the challenge of seeing you through the client meetings, work lunches and presentations? If not, don’t worry!
This article will help you sort out your office wardrobe and transition back to the real world in style.
Edit Your Whole Wardrobe
Take all your current office clothes out of your closet and spread them out for examination. Examine each item for holes, rips, and stains. It might be a good idea to try the garments on to see how everything fits but also how you feel about each one of them. You will probably discover that you own quite a few pieces that have stopped serving you and are not in good enough shape for the office.
Organise all the items into 3 piles: things to keep, things that need cleaning and/ or tailoring and things to get rid of. Don’t hold onto something just out of sentimental reasons. Remind yourself that getting rid of old things makes way for the new.
As for the things in the “need work”-pile, make sure you actually go through with it and get them cleaned or tailored. If the pile is still there in a month, untouched, it is probably time to let go of these things as well.
Create some Outfits
Now that you have a well-edited wardrobe, it’s time to experiment with the garments that you own and to create a few outfits. Try on your skirts, trousers, and dresses and try to find new ways of styling them. It is possible to put together quite a few brand new looks just by using the items that you already own.
Don’t forget to include shoes, boots, and accessories in your planning.
Snap of photo on your phone of each outfit that you like to remind yourself of it.
If you feel uninspired and stuck in a rut, get new inspiration by turning to Pinterest – this is a great way to get new ideas for outfits. Try out different search terms, paying attention at the colour combinations, the footwear and any other detail that appeals. Save your favourite ideas to your personal style board.
Identify Gaps in your Wardrobe
While experimenting with new outfits, make a list of all the gaps you have identified, like items you don’t have enough of or need to update.
Remember, if you often feel like you have nothing to wear, it’s mostly because we all tend to buy the same things all the time. However, if you already own several pairs of jeans that look good and fit well, you really don’t need to go out there and get more.
To be able to create successful outfits on a daily basis, you need to have beautiful pieces in all of the following wardrobe categories:
- Blouses, shirts & tops
- Sweaters, knits & cardigans
- Jackets & blazers
- Pants & jeans
- Dresses & skirts
- Shoes & boots
- Accessories
Items that belong to these categories are all wardrobe essentials that contribute to the versatility in your closet, making sure that you can create different looks for different days of the week.
When identifying gaps in your wardrobe the first category you should go through are blouses, shirts, and tops, which is often the most underrepresented area of our wardrobes. You are going to need some dress shirts with long sleeves that can be worn by themselves but can also be layered when needed. Stock up on solid pieces like the white shirt and the blue shirt that you can combine with almost everything you already own.
Another important section to pay attention to is the shoe section since shoes and boots needs to be replaced frequently. Take the footwear that is good quality and only needs minor fixes to a shoe repair shop and replace everything else.
Buy Only What You Love
Once you have identified all the gaps in your wardrobe, it is time to do some shopping. Stick to your list and buy the best you can afford. Don’t let yourself revert to old habits and start to buy what you already have. Also, don’t let yourself be seduced by something different that you think may add that pop of personality to your look. Stick to your list and to what you know works.
Be picky about what you bring into your closet. Buy only if you love it if you need it and if it fits you flawlessly. It’s not always easy to find such items but the result will be worth your while. Imagine looking around your entire wardrobe and appreciating everything that was in it!
