Shop Your Closet Secrets: Mix Up Your Wardrobe
As part of my shop your closet series, I wanted to discuss the idea to mix up your wardrobe. This technique enables you to wear your items in more ways because the secret is to stop categorizing them. Trust me, this is not as easy as it sounds. But follow along and let’s try to work through all of the ways we pigeonhole our closet (and ourselves).
We started the series talking about combining different colors which also sounds easy, yet for some reason we fall into ruts. Then there is always the idea of getting creative with layering or the items themselves that help to make your closet bigger.
Quote of the day: “My comfort zone is outside of my comfort zone. I like to be a little uncomfortable.” Billie Eilish
This quote isn’t entirely true for most of us. Yet, I’m sure we’ve all heard the phrase that growth only happens outside of our comfort zone. Truthfully, we don’t love the idea of change because it’s not what we are used to. Yet doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results is truly silly.
Therefore, in order to shop your closet and mix up your wardrobe, you have to try things that deviate from your norm.
And the biggest secret I’ve found is to STOP CATEGORIZING your clothing pieces. What do I mean by that?? I bet I’m not the only one that thinks, a certain dress is dressy, or these joggers are casual, right?? What you’ve done is pigeonholed that dress or those joggers into one specific occasion in which to wear them.
Another way we categorize our clothes is labeling them for certain seasons. This can happen with color (as discussed in the first of the shop your closet series) but also with the material or details. For example, I’m sure you put your sleeveless tops away when the weather cools down. Yet layering is key when it’s not 100 degrees outside. Recently I showcased how to accomplish this with a sleeveless top. Is it more work? Sure, but you certainly maximize your closet this way.
Another way to shop your closet?? There are unconventional ways also as I outlined in this post.
Making the Same Item Work for Situations
Let me start with showing how to mix up your wardrobe for different types of situations. This is something the original three of us did many, many times. We would take one item and show how that exact same item could be styled for casual, dressy or even smart (meaning work appropriate) days.
With the examples above, the theme was about sequins. Of course we categorize sequins as something for special occasions. Yet with 2020 behind us, hopefully one takeaway is the idea that everyday should be celebrated. Or another way to think of it is to bring out the china plates even for sandwiches!! So the three of us above, were showing our sequin item worn for casual.
Just like in the mixing colors post, don’t concentrate on our outfits exactly. Maybe you don’t like my scarf with my sweater over the sequin dress? But that’s not the point. The point is I converted this ultra sexy sequin dress (that was originally worn for Valentines day, and you should see the backless part of it) for a winter, casual day.
For Nancy’s outfit, her sequin poncho is something that isn’t as dressy as you think. Sure, there are sequins interspersed on it, but as you can see in this photo, it’s not super obvious.
Then for Charlotte’s sequin top (that she only wore once before this photo for a New Years Eve party), adding the denim jacket makes it work for any day, yet you still get the sass of the sequins in a smaller dose.
Insider tip: Remember, you examine your clothes up close and personal. Everyone else sees the item as part of the big picture (your entire outfit) and doesn’t concentrate on all those details.
Accessories Too
Even our accessories sometimes have a dressy or casual vibe that we tell ourselves. For instance, how many of you wore your pearl necklace last year?? I bet the answer is very low!! The pearl necklace is a classic accessory that too often gets “saved” for weddings, am I right? Yet why shouldn’t we wear it with our casual outfits too?
Other examples of the same item worn for 3 different situations (BTW, most of these older posts don’t have the best photos, but I hope you can gleam that the concept works)
Floral 3 (Casual)
Dressing up your Summer Shirt 3 Different Ways
White Ruffle Shirt 3 (Casual)
Seasonal
I hear women all the time talk about changing out their closets from summer to winter. And it makes sense to a degree. Yet it’s also very limiting on using the pieces we have in our closet. Why not mix up your wardrobe by transitioning those seasonal pieces in different ways?
For instance in this example above, Charlotte made this fabulous print skirt. It’s a lightweight material from Africa. Even though the colors are darker, the material is thin so she only wore it in the summer. Yet when I had her pair it with this turtleneck and boots, she was surprised at how great it looked.
Granted, this works easier to take summer items into the winter season since you can layer them. However, we recently showcased ways to transition our winter items into the spring. I realize this wouldn’t work in the midst of our hot, Arizona summer days. But some items might work many spring days or on the cooler summer days.
Dichotomy or Yin/Yang
Here is a concept that I feel is more modern and creates such interesting outfits. Yet I will never forget when a friend told me she never wears different materials together. She meant if the top was slinky, then the pants/skirt should be slinky also. YET that doesn’t add in any interest. Maybe you were taught this too?? But I hope your education has evolved to realize that having different textures or styles in an outfit is a fabulous way to bring in a modern vibe.
So what is dichotomy or the yin/yang in an outfit? It can be like I stated above, two totally different kinds of materials worn together. Or it can be two different styles of pieces. For example, I took a ruffle blouse (that I would consider feminine because of the ruffles) and I styled it in an edgy outfit, boho outfit, work outfit, and casual outfit in this post.
The hard part to mix up your wardrobe this way is to get out of your head and thoughts about what you think you already know about style. Too many times we’ve categorized “our style” as one way and therefore pigeonhole even ourselves out of trying new things!!! In fact, please read about style at the end of the post!!
My example above is showcasing a tulle skirt (feminine) with a moto jacket (edgy) and sneakers (casual). Not your normal outfit maybe, but it sure mixes it up.
The Takeaway To Mix Up Your Wardrobe
This concept to mix up your wardrobe might be harder than mixing colors. Yet it really opens up your closet to create so many different outfits. Again, let me talk about how to analyze and question each of the roadblocks you have for each category. Hopefully I can help you out in this takeaway.
1-Situational– Even if you bought an item for “work” or “dressy”, challenge yourself to wear it in another way. If it’s a dressy dress, just add a denim jacket or sweater on top. Or pull out your pearl necklace and wear it with a t-shirt today. If anyone asks you why, come up with a good answer now so you’ll be ready. I always say to people that I have cute clothes, so I’m going to wear them.
Remember, it’s just a piece of material sewn into a clothing item. It is not labeled for only one situation.
2-Seasonal– While certain materials are smarter for the very hot days, let’s concentrate on the “normal” days. Why should a cute, sleeveless top only see the light of day in the summertime?
3-Dichotomy– Sometimes this is more about us than the actually clothing items. Even if you consider yourself to have a “classic” style, I bet your personality has a little sass at times, right?? Your clothing style should showcase your entire personality (some days one way, and some days another) so don’t be afraid to include a little of both in the same look.
Again, when you first say to yourself, “I can’t wear that” please question the why you are saying that. If the answer is only “because I don’t like it” I would love for you to come up with a more concrete reason. OR as Nike says, just try it.
STYLE
Truthfully, I think we’ve been hoodwinked into trying to categorize our style. You feel like you need to describe your style in a couple of words. Yet you are SO much more than your style (especially fitting it into 3 adjectives).
Sure, I love the idea that your outfit should reflect your personality. Yet I always say our personality isn’t one dimensional. There are so many branches of it depending on the time, year, situation and even our mood. Along with the fact that it should evolve just like we learn new things every day.
It’s no different than the example that you may be a happy person, yet when you go to a funeral, you are more somber and dress that way.
I’ve decided that “our style” should be ever changing depending on the day, and being open to new things is much more freeing than shutting ourselves off in a box where there are too many rules and “what not to wears”.
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