How to Create The Perfect Wardrobe You’ll Love To Wear

Who are the best-dressed people you know? What’s their secret to effortless style? Most likely, they have learned to dress in ways that highlight their best features.

The perfect wardrobe makes you feel confident in your own skin. It’s full of carefully curated pieces that accentuate your unique beauty.

Defining your style may seem like it limits your fashion options, but it’s quite the opposite. In the wise words of Pablo Picasso, “Learn the rules like a pro so you can break them like an artist.”

In this post, we will cover the foundational concepts of good style and how to shop smarter for the wardrobe of your dreams.

Beware of the Comparison Trap

Have you ever been inspired by a beautiful outfit on social media, only to be disappointed with how it looks on you?

Well, my friend, you are not alone.

It’s easy to be enamored by people who have found their style and wear it well. Your style will inevitably look different and that’s ok.

Style is an art form, and as such, it’s unique to each person. There are no right answers, only possibilities. Take as much inspiration as you’d like from others and create something uniquely your own.

Trying outfits that don’t look as good on you as you hoped is part of the journey, but it’s no reason to doubt yourself. Keep your chin up and keep looking for the outfits that make you shine.

The Golden Rule of Style

All stylish people follow this one, simple rule:

Work with what you’ve got.

Your goal should be to own your unique beauty, not to look like someone else.

Focus on emphasizing your strengths. Place makeup on your favorite facial features. Wear clothes that accentuate the parts you love about your body.

There is nothing wrong with dressing strategically to cover flaws either. I am extremely petite and used to feel frustrated when people pointed it out. I learned how to balance my proportions from YouTubers who shared my experience and it did wonders for my confidence.

You are not alone in your insecurities. Look up advice from people who have been in your shoes and learned to work with what they’ve got.

How to Create a Wardrobe that Fits You Perfectly

1. Find your Body Type

People with impeccable style know how to dress for their body type. Understanding your unique shape can help you choose the most flattering clothes for your body.

You’re likely familiar with the fruit body type system (i.e. pear, apple, rectangle, etc). This provides a basic understanding of body types, but another system steals the show.

The Kibbe Body Type system is divided into 13 body types based on height, bone structure, and body proportions. It has specific styling insights for each type.

When determining your Kibbe Body Type, taking a quiz is a good place to start. The quiz from Our Fashion Garden has helpful visuals for each question. You may want to take a full-body picture of yourself in a natural posture to reference during the quiz.

Once you have an idea of your type, research it more. Take note of wardrobe suggestions. Are these styles you feel confident in? If so, you’ve likely found your body type!

This is perhaps the most fundamental concept to grasp when improving your style. Pair it with your optimal color palette and you’re well on your way to the perfect wardrobe.

2. Determine Your Seasonal Color Palette

Color can be tricky to navigate. The right colors can beautifully compliment your skin tone and features, but the wrong colors can make you look unwell.

Finding your color palette gives you the freedom to wear color with confidence. It also helps you choose neutrals with the right undertone for your skin, making your outfits look effortless on you.

This is where the Seasonal Color Analysis comes in. As the name suggests, there are four color seasons: Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter. Each season has three variations based on the hue and intensity of your features.

One of the best guides I’ve found on Seasonal Color Analysis is from The Concept Wardrobe. It covers the key concepts of seasonal color theory. From there, you can read the descriptions of each type to narrow your search.

Once you’ve found your color palette, use it to guide your shopping decisions, create unique outfit combos, and wear color fearlessly.

3. Create a Vision for Your Wardrobe

Now that you understand your body type and color palette, you can refine your vision. This is where your unique style starts to take form.

First, get clear on what kind of wardrobe you want to create. Ask yourself the following questions:

1. Which of my facial and body features do I want to accentuate?
2. What outfits have I felt most confident in over the years?
3. What colors do I feel best in?
4. Who do I take style inspiration from and why?
5. What accessory makes any outfit better?

From there, choose three words to describe your ideal wardrobe. They should be specific enough to guide your style choices without boxing you in. Below is a list of possible descriptors:

Visualize your dream wardrobe using the three words you chose. What pieces come to mind? What kind of outfit would you wear for a normal day? How about for a night out?

Write down each idea you have, regardless of practicality. We’ll get to that next.

Bonus Tip: Find Your Style Essense

Kitchner’s Style Essences is another tool to help define and guide your style.

The Style Essences use similar terminology to Kibbe’s Body Types. According to Our Fashion Garden, “Kibbe is more about who you are, and the essences more about how you’re perceived.”

There are seven style essences, each with unique facial features, personality traits, and style guidelines. You are likely a combination of 2-3 of the essences.

In my experience, understanding the style essences can be tricky. I am a Soft Gamine in the Kibbe body type system but do not score high for Gamine essence. Instead, I’m predominantly Classic Essense, even though I don’t fit the Kitcher description for it.

Your style is yours to define. Styling systems are just guidelines. As long as you are working with what you’ve got, you’re on the right track.

How to Make Your Ideal Wardrobe a Reality

Now that you have a vision for your wardrobe, it’s time to take action.

Time and money tend to be two common limitations when upgrading your wardrobe. For this reason, I recommend building your wardrobe slowly. This solves both limitations but requires added patience.

Finding your ideal pieces will take time. Choose to be a mindful shopper instead of a compulsive one. It’s ok to leave stores empty-handed if nothing speaks to you.

Have high standards for the clothes you buy. That way, you will end up with a closet full of items you love and fewer items will end up in the donation pile.

While you wait, get as clear as possible on what you’re looking for to aid your search.

7 Budget-Friendly Ways to Refresh Your Wardrobe

Strategy 1: Create a monthly budget for your wardrobe. Plan which pieces you want to purchase each month. If you are unsure about a piece, schedule it a few months away to give you time to think.

Strategy 2: Here’s a little trick for saving up for expensive pieces: Pick a healthy habit you want to develop. Each time you complete that habit, contribute $10 to your savings for that item.

Strategy 3: Research brands people recommend for your Kibbe Body Type. This will save you time trying on clothes that don’t fit.

Strategy 4: When planning your wardrobe, follow the 80/20 rule. 80% of your wardrobe should be staple pieces that form the foundation of your outfits. 20% is reserved for your statement pieces.

Strategy 5: Perhaps the best savvy shopper tip is to look out for end-of-season sales. You can buy quality items for a fraction of the price. In Fall, buy swimsuits and dresses for next year. In Spring, buy coats, sweaters, and tights.

Strategy 6: Be picky when shopping. If it’s not a definite yes, it’s a no. You can always come back and buy it if you regret your decision.

Strategy 7: Opt for quality if you see yourself wearing a piece multiple times per week. It will be more economical than replacing it frequently.

Final Thoughts

Changing your wardrobe doesn’t have to be stressful or a financial burden. Instead, it can be a wonderful way to embrace being yourself.

Finding your color pallet and body type can dramatically improve your style. Take your time researching these concepts and building your new wardrobe. Embrace the slow and steady change as much as you can.

If you are the do-it-yourself type, consider sewing your wardrobe. You can create pieces that fit you and your style perfectly with practice. If you are interested in sewing, this post will help you get started.

I would love to hear your style developments in the comments. Have you used the Kibbe body type or Seasonal Color Analysis in your journey? What are three words that describe your style?

I wish you warm sunshine in the days ahead.

Until next time,

O&K