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Life is busy, and getting busier all the time. So it only makes sense to free up some headspace by streamlining your personal style. Who needs the headache of trying to decide to wear all the time – how to suit the occasion, the weather and still try to look a little on trend?
Streamlining your wardrobe choices is the smarter option. With a capsule wardrobe, you can build an outfit out of classic pieces that all work well together. And buying less but better quality is appealing to those of us who think about the impact of fast fashion on the environment and our wallets – if you have the right pieces in the first place, you don’t need to constantly update them.
The benefits of cutting down are enormous – there’s a reason so many business icons choose a ‘uniform’ that they wear every day (a la Steve Jobs) – it allows them to focus on what’s actually important. So, how can you achieve sartorial zen? Follow these top tips, and you’ll soon be on your way:
Be Functional
A lot of us are guilty of associating emotions and memories with the clothes we wear – and we end up hanging onto stuff that’s old, bad quality or just plain doesn’t fit because of it. If you’re not a college student anymore, there’s no use hanging on to those faded old band tees you never have an occasion to wear. Dress for the life you lead now. If the item isn’t functional – leave it behind. Try to keep memories in other forms, such as photographs rather than through physical objects.
Figure Out Your Style Now
Once you’ve cleared out the wardrobe clutter, you should be able to assess more clearly any gaps in your existing clothing. Sometimes we find that our lives have changed but our style hasn’t, and perhaps you’re not sure what direction you should be taking your style in. If that’s the case, a men’s clothing subscription could help. You’ll have a consultation with a stylist, who will help to figure out your tastes and preferences, and the occasions you need to dress for. Then you’ll receive a curated selection of garments on a regular basis until you have a fully-built wardrobe.
Where to Spend Your Money
With the basics sorted, what are the items where you should really invest? You’ll find that shoes, jackets and knitwear are generally where you should be spending most of your money. Investing in merino wool or cashmere sweaters for men is always a good idea – with proper care, they will maintain their shape and colour for decades to come – just make sure you go for classic colours and styles. Well tailored jackets and coats are an investment that will last forever, and if you can afford the upfront cost, hand-lasted shoes will stand up to decades of wear and look better as the leather ages. Good denim and t-shirts can be found on the high-street easily, so it’s okay to buy a bit cheaper – but look for quality materials such as a thick cotton that will wash and wear better.
Narrow Down The Options
Try not to fall into the trap of amassing stacks of near identical t-shirts and pairs of jeans – you only need a handful of basics on rotation. Six or seven t-shirts is more than enough – anymore just leads to wardrobe clutter.Again, if you have fewer, you can probably afford to spend a little more on better quality pieces. Once they’re tired, give them to a charity store or recycle them and move on. Eliminating the ‘just in case’ that you usually don’t need saves space and decision-making time in the mornings.
Resist the Lure of Sales
The flurry of advertising around Black Friday, Cyber Monday and the New Year sales can tempt us into buying items that we don’t need and often don’t really like. Those lurid patterned shirts and awkward cut off shorts and not good additions to your wardrobe, no matter how little the sale price. If you buy something only to relegate it to the back of a drawer, it wasn’t a bargain, it was a mistake. Use sales only to purchase items you already had on your list or classic pieces that will always be a good investment. Anything else is a mistake waiting to happen. Showing a little restraint is not only much better for your bank balance, but it stops your newly streamlined wardrobe being infiltrated with useless items that aren’t going to add value to your life or help you in your style journey,
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