Building Beyond the Basics

As we move firmly past the pandemic and begin to rebuild our lives, I've found myself reflecting on my current wardrobe. The past few years have reshaped how I view fashion, comfort, and versatility within my life and wardrobe. While I have a solid collection of staple pieces, I've now ready to build my closet beyond a neutral capsule collection.

The Comfort of Uniforms

Coming out of the pandemic, my daily outfits revolved around a uniform of reliable staples: classic jeans, simple tees and white button downs, crew neck sweaters and trendy sneakers. These stables provided comfort and ease, but it also left me feeling somewhat uninspired. The pandemic taught us the importance of comfort, yet I realized that it’s also essential to embrace creativity and self-expression through our clothing choices.

Rethinking My Wardrobe

This year, I'm striving to return to myself and the authentic displays of my unique personality. My goal is to lean into personal style. When I was younger I loved cheap pieces from my favorite stores. They were high-quality, but were a completely random collections of tops and bottoms that made every day a joyful, but labor intensive process to get dressed in the morning. Getting older, I realized my fun fits were reflective of the career growth I wanted, so I started "dressing for the job I wanted" and become a capsule closet loyalists. Simple. Easy. Boring.

Now I stand at the beginning of a new year ready for a refresh. I’ve come to understand that it’s time to build on my existing core pieces with a focus on scalability and versatility. Here are a few strategies I’m considering to revitalize my style sustainably:

• Investing in Versatile Pieces: I’m looking for items that can be dressed up or down, ensuring they can be worn on multiple occasions. I'm thinking blazers that can go from work to late night lounges.

• Sharpening the Capsule Collections: I want to get more variety on the specific pieces in my wardrobe that always end up on heavy rotation. The first thing that comes to mind is a silk blouse. I'm thinking more prints and more colors.

• Incorporating Statement Pieces: While focusing on a basics, I complete neglected my statement pieces that reflect my taste and personality. I’m searching distinct necklaces and belts that will elevate and customize my basic looks..

• Thrifting and Secondhand Shopping: I’m committed to exploring thrift stores and online secondhand platforms. This not only helps reduce waste but also provides an opportunity to find unique pieces that tell a story, adding character to my scalable wardrobe.

As I reflect on my wardrobe and the journey ahead, I’m excited about the possibilities that lie in building beyond my staples. With a focus on sustainability and a willingness to explore new styles, I’m ready to embrace a wardrobe that more fully reflects who I am with a renewed sense of self-expression!

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