How to Work Your Wardrobe Right Now!

If you’re looking into your wardrobe and thinking, “I’ve got nothing to wear,” you're in very good company!

At the start of a new season that feeling appears almost overnight. The weather changes, heavier clothes suddenly seem wrong and the things you wore happily a few months ago can feel tired or uninspiring. It’s no wonder so many women head straight for the shops.

But before you buy anything new, may I suggest something far more useful - work your wardrobe first. It may not sound thrilling but it can be surprisingly revealing - and even fun!

Before spending money, it makes sense to see what you already have, what still works and how many outfits are sitting in your wardrobe waiting to be discovered.

That's exactly what I did with my own clothes and I was amazed by the result.

Shop Your Closet Before You Shop the Stores.

This little wardrobe exercise began...

This little wardrobe exercise began quite casually. I wasn’t creating a capsule wardrobe or following a set formula, I was simply getting dressed for an ordinary day.

One Monday morning, I pulled on my usual jeans and T-shirt for housework and computer time. Later, I visited my grandson’s school so made a few quick changes. Off came the jeans, on went a pair of navy linen-mix pants and I added a soft little jacket I’ve had for years plus a scarf.

Simple. Easy. My kind of outfit.

...with one simple outfit

I like clothes that are smart but not fussy. Clean lines, relaxed shapes and pieces that feel comfortable and pulled together. I’m not one for skinny jeans, biker jackets or anything too tricky. I’d always rather feel like myself.

And that ordinary outfit sparked an idea!

The moment everything changed...

At first, I thought I might hang those few pieces at the end of the rail and see how often I wore them but the next morning I had a better idea.

What else in my wardrobe would go with that same jacket and those same navy trousers?  So I started pulling out tops.

A couple of t-shirts, two or three blouses and, before long, I had several different outfits using exactly the same base.

That was the moment everything changed for me and, instead of seeing individual garments, I started seeing possibilities.

And that is the whole secret to working your wardrobe well. You stop looking at clothes one by one and start looking at how they work together. From one outfit I suddenly had 7!

Why simple clothes often work hardest

Like many women, I have often thought my wardrobe was rather boring, lots of navy, some black, neutrals, a few stripes and spots...  Not much fuss.  

But those are the very pieces that make outfit building easier.

A plain top may not look exciting hanging in the wardrobe but once you add a flattering skirt/pants, a soft jacket, a scarf, a necklace or a bright bag, it becomes part of a look. Suddenly the simplest pieces are the ones doing the most work.

That’s why it helps to have a few reliable basics in colors you love wearing. For me navy and denim tones are wonderfully useful neutrals. They work with almost everything and make it easy to mix in softer or stronger colors for a change. 

Add one more layer and watch what happens

Once I realized how many tops worked with one jacket and one pair of trousers, I added my jeans back into the mix roo. That instantly created a whole new set of more casual outfits and I was up to 14.

Then I tried the same tops and trousers with a few colored jackets and a short-sleeved cardigan.

That’s when the wardrobe really began to open up!

The number of possible combinations grew quickly, not because I had masses of clothes but because the pieces related well to one another. A small collection can go a very long way when the colors and shapes make sense together.

I'm really enjoying myself now as I add 3 jackets and a cardigan into the mix. Each change of jacket adds another 14 outfits and my total is up to 70 combinations!

There's no doubt that layering is often what makes an outfit feel complete.

A jacket can sharpen up a simple T-shirt and trousers. A cardigan softens the look for daytime. A scarf adds polish. A necklace or handbag can bring in personality. These small finishing touches are often what lift everyday clothes into something more stylish.

Accessories and finishing touches make the difference

All garments Crew Clothing / Accessories Marks and Spencer

This is worth remembering if you feel your clothes look plain. There is a big difference between clothes and an outfit!

A pair of trousers and a top may be perfectly fine, but they may not yet feel finished. Add earrings, better shoes, a brighter bag, a scarf or a swipe of lipstick and everything changes. You can vary the accessories as befits the occasion too.   

For me, makeup makes a big difference too. I’m very fair and can look washed out without it, so even a little helps me look more awake and better dressed. That may not be your thing, but most of us have some finishing touch that helps us feel polished. And that matters.

Style after 50 is so often about refinement rather than excess. It’s not about wearing more. It’s about wearing things with care.

What working my wardrobe taught me

As I carried on, I added black trousers, 2 colored tops, a lighter pair of taupe trousers and a couple of dresses. Quite quickly, I could see that my wardrobe was far more versatile than I had imagined.

I also learned something useful about my own style - and so can you!

I am clearly drawn to easy trousers, simple jackets, understated shapes, spots, stripes and a fairly neutral colour palette. I don’t need lots of statement pieces, I need clothes that feel elegant, relaxed, and wearable.

That may sound obvious, but it’s surprisingly easy to lose sight of what really suits us especially when fashion is full of trends that may not fit our lives at all.

Working through your wardrobe like this helps you come back to yourself.

It shows you what you reach for, what flatters you, what feels dated and what might be missing. You begin to spot the gaps more clearly - and that means you shop more wisely later on.

It will work for your wardrobe too...

Your wardrobe may be completely different to mine!

It may be more colorful, you may prefer dresses, skirts, bold prints or softer shapes. You may dress up more or completely live in casual clothes.

It doesn’t matter.

This is not about owning a “perfect” capsule wardrobe or ticking off some list of fashion essentials, it's about making the most of what works for you and your lifestyle.

If you love something and it creates one fabulous outfit, that's enough. Not every item has to earn its keep by matching ten other things.

But when you do buy something new, it is always worth asking whether it will work with at least two or three things you already own. That is how a wardrobe becomes useful instead of overcrowded.

Before you buy, try this first...

If you’re tempted to shop for the season ahead, spend an hour with your wardrobe first.

Pull out one pair of trousers, one jacket or cardigan and a handful of tops. Try them in different combinations. Add shoes and accessories. Take photos if it helps. See what feels current, flattering and easy to wear.

You may discover that you already have far more options than you thought.

And if something no longer fits, flatters or feels like you, leave it out. This is one of the easiest ways to edit your wardrobe gently without making the whole task feel overwhelming.

One piece at a time is enough, that's how style becomes simpler.

And that is often when it becomes more confident too.

Because the real joy of working your wardrobe is not just saving money or creating more outfits, it's that lovely feeling of knowing you can dress well with what you already have.

And that is a wonderful place to begin!

I found my style with just 24 pieces, I kept that first mix and match plan and still follow the same formula. If you'd like to see how I put those first outfits together, you can download my FREE plan...

HOW TO WORK YOUR WARDROBE here.