Learn how to “edit” your wardrobe by looking
through photos in your phone or social media 

Source: Pixels

Someone fashionable and famous once said that fashion something you buy, but style is what you do with what you buy. The simple truth is that no two people share the same style. You can put two women in the same dress to style themselves, and you’ll end up with two very different looks after they’re finished. Your personal style is one of the most personal things about you. Your style is how you present yourself to the world. It’s what you say about yourself without saying a word. Does your personal style tell the story you want it to tell, or are you telling a story that jumps from chapter to chapter with no clear indication or where the story is going? If you feel like the latter, it’s time to edit your wardrobe efficiently.

Go Through Old Photos of Yourself

This might be the most important part of your wardrobe edit. You need to take some time to sit down and go through old photos of yourself. Whether it’s photos on your phone or that you’ve posted to social media accounts, go through them and make notes. You know which photos of you are your favorite. What do you love about those photos so much? It’s not about who it is in the photos with you or where you are, it’s about what made you decide that photo of you was good enough to post on the internet for people to see.

Most of the time, you’ll find that it was something you were wearing. Once you’re done making your notes, go through them and see if there is anything that stands out to you. What does each of the photos have in common? Perhaps you are wearing a fitted wrap dress in most of them. Maybe you have high-waist skinny jeans on in most of them. You may be wearing heels and classic pieces in each of them. Find the connection, and ask yourself how you feel in those items.

The point of this process is to get to know your personal style. Some people don’t know it. You can ask your mom, friends, sisters, and even coworkers how they’d describe your style if you want, but it’s figuring out what you feel good in that matters most. You know what fits you well, what makes you feel the most confidence, and what makes you feel gorgeous when you put it on. Now you know what to keep and what to get rid of when you clean out your wardrobe.

Go Through Your Closet

You cannot edit your wardrobe without going through your closet, but this doesn’t mean simply standing inside and looking around. This means spending the proper time going through every piece of clothing you own. You must take everything out of your closet to do this correctly. You can find a system that works for you, whether it’s going through one section at a time or pulling out all your dresses at once followed by skirts and so on. The point is that you must go through every piece of clothing you own if you want to edit completely.

Now it’s time to create boxes. You want a box of items to donate because they are in beautiful condition. You want a second box of items to throw out because they’re stained, ripped, torn, or worn to the point of no return.

Try On Everything You Own

The next step in the editing process is to try on everything you own. From gingham and heels to formal gowns and jeans, you cannot leave anything out of this try on session. If it’s an item you have not worn in at least one year, either throw it out or donate it. If it’s not something that fits anymore, get rid of it. If you have items that don’t go with anything else, get rid of them. They don’t belong in your closet because you’ll never wear them again. If they still have tags on them from years ago when you bought them, donate them.

Maintain a Capsule Wardrobe

Every woman needs a capsule wardrobe with certain pieces, even if you have a distinctly different style than other women. Basic tee shirts, dark wash jeans that fit well, tailored pants, and a little black dress are a great place to start. Your capsule wardrobe is the one that’s basic and to the point. It’s the pieces that are well-made enough you can wear them forever. It’s beautiful winter coats, a great blazer, and that one dress you can wear to work, to a wedding, or to church. This is where you start putting things back in your closet.

Capsule wardrobe pieces are basics, and they don’t have to be expensive. However, they should be high-quality items, and they are typically timeless. This means pieces you can wear today that you also wore a decade ago that you can still wear in a decade because they never go out of style. If your missing certain basics, it’s time to make a shopping list.

Organize What You Keep

Now that you know what you’re keeping, it’s time to organize your closet. There is no right or wrong way to do this, but there are some suggestions that might give you a good place to start. Start by organizing clothing by items. Try organizing all pants in one area, dresses in another area, and tops in another section. You can take that a step further by organizing those items by color. Another helpful tip is to organize them by season. For example, winter dresses, long sleeve tops, and sweaters go in the winter section. Your summer dresses and summer tops go in another section. The beauty of this process is you get to do this your way.

Editing your wardrobe might seem intimidating at first, but it’s essentially a chance to play dress up as an adult. You get to see what you love and what you don’t love, and you get a chance to get to know yourself all over again. You can cultivate the kind of style you want, and you can do it in the comfort of your own home. This is your story to tell, and your wardrobe is an important supporting character.

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Related:
A Wardrobe Detox Guide for More Mindful Fashion
Combining Style and Comfort in Your Everyday Fashion
4 Tips For Keeping Your Wardrobe in Season