Wardrobe planning according to the ‘experts’ is one of those odd things where the list comes before real life. You all know what lists I am talking about. The ones that start ‘every closet should have a coloured blazer, white pants and this printed blouse. Or two tops, two bottoms in colour, the same in colour b, then mix and match prints. I’m not saying mix and match is bad; I just think that starting with a generic must have list misses the point. The way to plan a functional wardrobe is not to blindly follow a random list some dude came up with that has nothing to do with you, your life, your style and your current reality.
Realistic wardrobe planning comes down to one question: What do you really wear?
What do you put on at o’dark o’clock when you are stumbling for the coffee and then out the door? Is it the silk blouse with the wool and cashmere skirt or the comfortable but slightly dressy tee with the nice pants? Are you putting on a uniform? A suit? Sweats and a tee as your kids run for the bus? I have spent years researching wardrobe planning. I am going to say this right out: there is not a magic formula. No perfect number of items or perfect list someone else came up with. You need to make the things you want to wear for the life you have.
A perfect wardrobe plan is the one that helps you stand blearily in front of you closet and walk away ready for the day, day in and day out. If you are a CEO, your closet is going to be full of suits. If you are a park ranger, your closet is going to be full of clothing suitable for the rugged outdoors. If you are a teacher, you are going to have that soft creative look at me twist so your job is easier. If you live in Canada where there is snow and rain and sleet, you are going to need more coats than someone who lives on the sunny coast of Australia.
SWAP, sewing with a plan, started on the sunny coast of Australia, where multiple layers are not needed for a dressy office life. A winter coat suitable for -30c was never on the formula list. My life and the climate I live in changes the lists that would make the perfect wardrobe formula.
If you are new to wardrobe planning, start with where you are now.
First, take a picture of what you are wearing every day for a month. Make a list of all the things you do-the every day regular and the not so regular (funeral? Black tie awards ceremony?). Figure out your comfortable ideal- what outfits and proportions make you forget your clothing and focus on the tasks?
Then figure out what is missing. What are your wardrobe holes? The funeral dress? The nice suit for an interview? Jeans that do not have holes? Dressier tops for those endless zoom meetings? Those are where you should start when you plan your sewing.
Sewing, when done well, slides effortlessly into the life you have right now.
