Wardrobe Fatigue
It Happens to All of Us.
A very honest rant from a personal stylist on maneuvering the need to buy new clothes each season and finding your personal style.
To be honest, and I’m about to say the absolute worst contradicting statement as a personal stylist: I’m sick of the phrase capsule wardrobe. I’m having major fatigue seeing video after video on the “must have pieces” I absolutely need in order to not look like a total slob this season. Even as a fashion creator, I get overwhelmed and sometimes a hint of self-doubt thinking, “Oh no am I missing key pieces? Am I not providing the looks my clients need to have ASAP or else?!” And a million similarly alarming career questions.
After taking a massive chill pill and a private session of carpool karaoke, I came to the realization there really is no one true and fast list across the board for everyone, everywhere. Ok sure, I believe your closet should have a good blazer, well-fitting white t shirt and a pair of quality jeans sans rips, but even those three pieces can be interpreted in so many different styles.
As a stylist, it’s my literal job to tailor a “capsule wardrobe” specifically to my client. My summer pieces will look very different to the person next to me and even more so to someone who isn’t spending a majority of it in Italy. I know that may sound like a stupidly obvious statement but it’s to further drive home the fact that there is no one size fits all. That goes for trends, fits, specific pieces and really just about everything.
I was wearing extreme flared jeans most of my late high school/early college days, well past the reoccurring trend (mostly because of my obsession with Rachel Zone) and I wore my over the knee boots on a date last month with my hair parted to the side, thank you very much. If there is a style that you love, that according to the new generation is out, don’t feel pressured to get rid of it. NOW, if it’s something that’s inappropriate (for the office, work, etc.) or clearly needs to be replaced, that’s another story. If anything, your favorite clothing item may just need to be styled differently or tailored which is always an easy fix.
So, how do you weed though the anxiety or feeling of overwhelm when making one of these capsule wardrobes? Let me share what I did long ago to cut through the process.
1. Find your personal style.
This can take time; figuring out what you like, what you want your look to say about you and how you want to feel. A good way to start is to look to fashion figures, celebrities, movie characters, anyone really. If you like a look or someone’s vibe save their reel or follow them on TikTok to peep their looks and how they style them. It’s important not to follow too many, that often leads to the overwhelm. This is meant for inspiration only- I’ll explain why next.
2. Relate it to your reality
It’s easy to feel discouraged when looking at your favorite celebrities when aiming to find new pieces to fill in your wardrobe. Who didn’t love Sophia Richie’s Chanel lineup? But most of us are not attending VIP weddings in the South of France. And not many of us can wear a couture gown to work or have it make sense with our day-to-day schedule, let alone afford that price point. That’s why you should only pin and save these fashion queens as inspiration. Save these looks as the direction in which you may want to model your own wardrobe.
3. It’s okay to evolve
It’s normal for your fashion sense to change over time (thank goodness I grew out of that Ed Hardy stage, yikes). Depending where you are in life, physically and mentally, what you want to wear is going to look different. For the past few years, I spent every summer in Italy, which called for comfy, Medeterrain looks from eyelet sun dresses to bikinis and linen sets. This year, I’m spending the warmer seasons closer to home in an east coast suburb. I can finally wear a summer stiletto again and jump into more of a Carrie Bradshaw, layered look. My Italian clothing will still be saved for the following summer since I tend to buy evergreen pieces that can be worn year after year.
4. Don’t let trends throw you off
That’s the thing about trends, they are always being recycled and come in and out of “style” reguarly. That being said, there is no need to do a whole overhaul for whatever is currently trending. Personally, if I’m really into a hot trend, this is the ONE time I’ll opt for a fast fashion piece. Two years ago, when the tennis skirt became popular (for non-tennis related activities), I took to Amazon to order an inexpensive version to test out. I knew it wouldn’t be popular for long, so I just purchased one at a price point that made sense for me. It’s okay to join in on trends but be weary that they vanish just as quickly as they came in.
Now, all of this is my own personal thoughts on the matter. Will I continue recommending my favorite pieces for the summer? Absolutely. Will they work for everyone? Probably not. Take influencer’s guides and must-have lists with a grain of salt in remembering there is no one list that’s perfect for all. Find your personal style that embodies how you want to feel and works for your everyday.
If you need a helping hand along the way, I’m always here to support. Connect with me here or via Instagram to learn how we can work together. //
