When I changed careers several years ago, my clothes needed to change too.
I was working at an Investment Bank so most of my wardrobe was made up of suits, crisp shirts, blazers, and heels, but when I started my Personal Styling business, my needs were different. My style was still classic, but it needed to transition from corporate classic into a more casual, fashionable classic.
Before I invested in new clothes I made the conscious decision to simplify my wardrobe, and how I dressed and also decided that I would build a wardrobe around a color palette, of black, white, grey, and navy. Having these colors as my primary base means that everything works together, and therefore dressing is easy.
Over time, for variety, I would add bits and pieces in other colors – red, orange, cobalt blue, fuchsia – that would complement the neutral basics.
I’m now ready to introduce a new neutral. One that I know will work well with all the others, as well as some of my colored pieces. This autumn, I’m keen to incorporate some khaki into the mix.
Photo by Vogue France
What are the primary basic colors you’ve built your wardrobe around? (For you it could be beige, charcoal, cream, white, etc) If you haven’t (and your wardrobe is only made up of lots of colors and patterns) it could be one of the reasons you find putting outfits together difficult and you feel like you have nothing to wear.
Depending on your lifestyle and where you live, you might need a variety of coats for winter – one for everyday wear (perhaps for work), one for weekends, one for evenings out and one for extreme cold. (ie the big puffy fur lined coat I might wear to the football).
If your work coat, is the same as your going out coat, and your watching kids sport coat, and your go to the snow coat, etc, .. think about building a wardrobe of different coats for different occasions.
Coats can be expensive investment pieces, so start with the one you need and will wear the most. Then continue down the list.
I bought this one (pictured), decades ago in a vintage store. I like to buy myself a new coat every few years – and have a collection that I’ve had for about 20 years. (Which also includes a vintage Dior I found in an opshop, for $40).
Rather than just buying stuff, (and still feeling like you have nothing to wear) think about what your wardrobe needs.
“Tell me about this floral (pink, yellow, green, orange, red, blue) top”, I ask my client during her Wardrobe Overhaul, “Do you love it?”
“No”. She responds. “I bought it because I thought I should add more color to my wardrobe.” “I hate it!”
There’s a misconception, I’ve discovered since doing this job, that to look interesting, you need to wear lots of color and pattern – but it’s simply not true.
In fact, stylish and sophisticated looks can be achieved by simply wearing black and white.
My tips to make sure your black and white outfit looks chic, rather than bland, are to:
Keep the black, very black, and the white, very white
Make sure the fit is (really) good. (Because black and white is so clean, an ill-fitting silhouette will be highlighted)
Keep the cuts and styles modern (Rather than outdated)
Put plenty of thought into how you decorate your black and white pieces (Don’t let down an otherwise great outfit with a daggy, sensible shoe or scruffy handbag)
I'm a Personal Stylist from Melbourne who is passionate about helping real women of all ages, shapes and sizes with varying budgets and lifestyles, look and feel the very best they can. I love old things, am addicted to blogs and online shopping sites, have a weakness for happily-ever-after movies and dream of one day having my own apartment in Paris. I'm an avid collector of beautiful books, love a full-bodied glass of red, and could eat my body weight in French cheese.
