How to build a wardrobe you never get bored of
Create a versatile closet without constantly buying more
As I went to photograph today’s outfit ready to share in our subscriber chat, I felt really good. I felt the joy of putting together an outfit I felt great in, using pieces i’d had for ages. It was after this I found myself realising something very exciting… even after a year of not buying anything for my wardrobe, I am still making brand new outfit combinations using what I have on a regular basis.
I am never bored in my wardrobe, at least I haven’t been since I did my no buy! Some of my favorite outfits to date have been created either during my No Buy or after using the same pieces that had been in my wardrobe for years. I truly, genuinely love my wardrobe, and it’s proven to be incredibly versatile. So how do you build a versatile wardrobe you never get bored of, without constantly buying more?
*All photos are outfits I’ve made using inspiration from The Wardrobe Playdate. Become a paid subscriber and join us!
Think in outfits, not individual items
I used to be a magpie. I’d see something that excited me and buy it based on that individual item, vs asking myself: What outfits could I make with this? How many outfits could I make with this? Instead of focusing on a number of items, or particular size of wardrobe, instead of buying items based on their own merit, I buy them based on how they will interact with the rest of my closet. There are the rare exceptions, but generally speaking this line of thinking is why i’m able to create so many new outfits using what I have.
Become a proud outfit repeater
One of the biggest takeaways from my year long no buy is how freeing it is to wear the same things over and over again, especially when it’s an outfit you feel amazing in. Outfit repeating is the true definition of someone who knows their style. When you embrace outfit repeating all you need is a little tweak here and there, a substitution or an addition and you can make the same outfit feel completely new again. The exact same outfit can also feel completely different depending on how you wear your hair and makeup.
Use past patterns & behaviors to make buying decisions
My no buy helped me reflect on my past buying patterns and shopping behaviors that had resulted in more stuff, but less sense of self. I’m no minimalist, but having more items in the past didn’t make it any easier to get dressed. I started to take note of what pieces consistently ended up in the back of my wardrobe, unworn with the tag still on? What pieces did I repeatedly buy only to donate a few months later? Why did I keep repurchasing the same things, but not wearing them? Some of the answers will surprise you, and there is so much helpful information there, when you are willing to confront why you buy them and acknowledge your patterns.
For example, for the longest time I kept trying to make Agolde jeans work for me. I loved them on other people, but each time I bought a pair I felt like I was being cut in half. In total over the past 5 years I bought two pairs of Agolde jeans, and two pairs of Agolde shorts, and I didn’t wear them beyond a mirror selfie once. What I realized is I still associated stiff rigid denim with a version of me who was willing to suffer for style. A past version of myself who was willing to squeeze myself into something that was a certain style/size because that number or style had a lot of power over me. I wanted to be one of the cool girls wearing those jeans. I gave those Agolde jeans a lot of meaning. Now, if it doesn’t fit in a way I feel good in, and is physically comfortable, it doesn’t come home with me.
Break up with trend chasing
Take a break from ‘what’s hot and what’s not’ content. If you like it, wear it! If you find yourself chasing trends and buying the latest ‘it’ thing every single month it’s time to stop relying on buying ‘newness’ to make your wardrobe feel new again. Learn how to style the pieces you do have, irrelevant of the size your wardrobe is now and build from that lens. I made a entire styling vault in my No Buy Styling Course that will show you a plethora of ideas to make what you have feel new and exciting again without having to shop. The biggest flex you can master when it comes to personal style is to make the most of what you do have, and let go of the belief that being ‘on trend’ is what makes a person stylish. It isn’t. Even if you have no intention of doing a no buy, the course is full to the brim with tips and tricks that are easy to implement, and are customizable to you and your preferences/lifestyle etc.
Stop saving your clothes for ‘best’
Giving myself permission to wear EVERYTHING in my wardrobe was life changing. Instead of seeing pieces as ‘casual’/ ‘formal’, or ‘saving certain things for best’, I embraced the art of mixing and matching. This is a big part of why my wardrobe keeps giving and i’m always able to come up with new ways to wear what I already own. Instead of chasing the dopamine hit of a ‘new in’ item, I seek out the dopamine hit of making an outfit I would never have put together before because certain pieces had previously been off limits for everyday use. Some of my favorite outfits created during my no buy were a result of breaking out the ‘special occasion’ pieces or pieces I had been too scared to wear for every day because of what they cost. I remind myself now, my clothes are meant to be worn and enjoyed. I don’t need to wait for a reason or occasion. I am the occasion, and so are you!
Don’t shop the sales
*Unless it’s something you would be willing to pay full price for. I’ve shared this before but it bears repeating. Buying something because it ‘a good deal’ is a sure fire way to end up with a closet full of stuff you never wear, ask me how I know lol?! I genuinely think this is another thing that helped me build a wardrobe that keeps on giving. When I shopped the sales with no consideration for why I was shopping, (other than there was a sale), I ended up with a lot of pieces I didn’t wear. They were more often than not the ones I left the tag in because I know I had been unsure if I wanted the item outside of the fact it had been on sale. There’s also the added urgency of a sale that is unconducive to building a wardrobe you’ll enjoy shopping at home. Building a wardrobe that works really hard for you has nothing to do with speed. Slow and steady wins the race.
You have enough clothes, work with what you have
I will buy more clothes, as will you, but I didn’t wait until I had ‘enough’ clothes to get creative and experiment. My wardrobe definitely feels big enough for me (and it may seem very large or very small to others), but it’s actually probably the smallest it’s ever been. The presumption being that more clothes equals more options to create outfits with, but this hasn’t been true for me. When I had a wardrobe full to the brim I found myself more confused than ever, and it was hard to know where to start. I think this is where a lot of people get caught up in their wardrobe, a belief they need more in order to get creative. You don’t. It was during a wardrobe playdate that I realized how exciting it is that I’m never bored in my wardrobe and what i’ve built is incredibly versatile. Using these fortnightly themes gives me a new stimulus to create from and a deeper way to connect with, and appreciate what I already have. More ideas will always trump more stuff. I am always playing in my closet.
I prioritise quality but that doesn’t always mean designer
I love Toteme, I love real leather, but I also love a great cotton tee from & Other stories. I love Marks and Spencers knickers. I love Abercrombie curve love jeans. Quality is incredibly subjective, especially when you take into consideration we each have our own values we also make shopping decisions from. I’d happily spend more money on a quality pair of jeans that aren’t made by a fast fashion brand, but i’ve yet to find them that fit me. I love my curve love jeans and unless something better comes along, well ‘if it ain’t broken, don’t fix it’. I shop for my budget. Sometimes I have more, sometimes I have less. I also believe shopping preloved/second hand can be a great way to add quality pieces into your wardrobe that make it work hard for you. You might have to keep looking to find the thing you want at a price you want, but that’s not a bad thing. There’s no rush.
You don’t need to have your personal style ‘figured out’
Personal style isn’t something you finalize, it’s always a case of warmer warmer. Think of it similar to being on a treasure hunt, but rather than finding the treasure at the end, you find it along the way. It isn’t linear, it’s fluid and it’s intuitive to where you’re at in this particular moment in your life, however there are always clues hidden in the past that can gently guide us towards what has felt good and what hasn’t. Getting dressed and building a wardrobe you’re never bored of doesn’t have to be difficult or stressful.
If you need help building a wardrobe you love, or want infinitely more ideas on how to use what you already have, join The No Buy Styling Course here.
I’d love to hear from you, if you’ve built a wardrobe you love, what do you think has been the biggest contributor?
Speak soon
Harry x
*Some links contain affiliates and you can see my entire wardrobe here
This is all such helpful and practical advice—thank you! I am really resisting the urge to buy the boat shoes that are everywhere right now. I keep telling myself, “You don’t need boat shoes. Stop chasing the trend!”
Also, I recently gave up on Agolde jeans too. I have so many pairs, and they’re either too big or too tight in the waist. For some reason, I really wanted them to work, but they just don’t.
So many great points here! Well
Done! ✨