Work Your Wardrobe!
How to Create More Outfits from the Clothes You Already Own

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

But before you buy anything new, work your wardrobe first; you may have far more outfit possibilities than you think.

At the start of a new season, the weather changes, heavier clothes are too much and the things you wore quite happily a couple of weeks ago start to feel tired or uninspiring. 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 doesn't sound terribly exciting but it can certainly be revealing - and even fun! Before spending money, it makes sense to see what you already have, what still works, and how many outfits may be sitting there waiting to be discovered.

That is exactly what I did with my own clothes, and I was genuinely surprised by the result. The mantra is 'Shop your Closet before you shop the stores!

How it began...

This little wardrobe exercise started quite casually. I wasn’t creating a capsule wardrobe or following a 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 was going to my grandson’s school, so I made a few quick changes. Off came the jeans, on went a pair of navy linen-mix trousers, and I added a soft little jacket I’ve had for years, plus a scarf.

Simple. Easy. Very much 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 anything too tricky or trend-led. I would always rather feel like myself.

And that ordinary outfit sparked an idea.

The moment everything changed...

At first, I thought I might simply hang those few pieces at the end of the rail and notice 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 pieces.

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

And that, really, is the secret to working your wardrobe well. You stop looking at clothes one by one and start looking at how they work together.

Why simple clothes often work hardest

Like many women, I've often thought my wardrobe was rather boring - lots of navy, some black, neutrals, a few stripes and spots, nothing terribly dramatic.

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

A plain top may not look exciting hanging in the wardrobe, but add flattering trousers, a soft jacket, a scarf, a necklace, a brighter bag and suddenly it becomes part of a proper outfit.

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 bring in softer or brighter colors for a change.

Add one more layer and watch what happens!

Once I realised how many tops worked with one jacket and one pair of trousers, I added my jeans back into the mix. That instantly gave me another set of more casual outfits.

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. 

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

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

Accessories make the difference

All garments Crew Clothing / Accessories Marks and Spencer

This is worth remembering if you ever feel your clothes look plain. There is a big difference between just 'clothes' and an actual '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.

For me, makeup helps too. I’m very fair and can look washed out without it, so even a little makes 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 is not about wearing more. It is about wearing things with care.

What working my wardrobe taught me

As I carried on, I added black trousers, two 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 color palette. I certainly don't need lots of statement pieces; I just need clothes that feel elegant, relaxed and wearable.

That may sound obvious, but it's surprisingly easy to lose sight of what really suits you, especially when fashion is full of trends that don't fit into our lives at all.

Working your wardrobe in this way 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 much more wisely later on.

It will work for your wardrobe too...

Your wardrobe may be completely different from mine.

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

It doesn't matter! 

This isn't about owning a perfect wardrobe or ticking off some list of 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 really is enough. Not every item has to earn its keep by matching ten other things!

But when you do buy something new, it's 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 are 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 usually when you begin to feel 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.

If you would like to see how I first put those outfits together, you can download my free plan here:

HOW TO WORK YOUR WARDROBE here.

Before you buy anything new, it helps to work your wardrobe first - and if you’d like to take the next step, my guide on how to build a Capsule Wardrobe will show you how to pull everything together.