Imagine this: you've decided it's time for a wardrobe refresh. You're eager to start but not quite ready (or able) to overhaul everything at once. Your budget is limited, but your enthusiasm is boundless. Sound familiar?
Maybe you don't have a clear vision of what you want your wardrobe to become. Maybe your budget doesn't allow you to buy lots of clothes right away. But that's okay; usually, no one can afford to completely change their entire wardrobe quickly.
We're working with two key factors here:
- A desire for a new wardrobe
- A modest budget to work with right now
That's a perfect starting point, and we can absolutely work with that!
Note: If you're looking to build an entirely new wardrobe from scratch at a slower pace, check out our guide on How to Build a Functional Wardrobe - A Guide for Beginners.
Getting Started: The One-Outfit Strategy
To start, we should choose one outfit to build: bottoms (preferably pants!), a top, shoes, a bag, and accessories. As you might notice, this is a full outfit: you will be dressed in completely new clothes from head to toe, and this look will be fully accessorized. If you love challenges or the weather calls for it, you might add an extra layer to this outfit like a jacket, blazer, or cardigan. But remember, this step is optional!
IMPORTANT: The Wardrobe Makeover Pact
Before we dive in, let's make a pact:
- Quality over quantity: When buying every single new item, do your best to find a piece that fits and looks great on your body! We don't want "okay" pieces; we're aiming for "great," "terrific," and "super versatile" pieces in your wardrobe and your life.
- Lifestyle compatibility: Choose clothes that actually fit your day-to-day life. If you live in denim and sweatpants, don't even waste your time looking for a perfect pantsuit. Instead, opt for nicer, elevated versions of jeans, because you know for sure that you're actually going to wear them.
Building Your First Outfit
Let's break down what we need:
- Pants that flatter your body and will see frequent wear
- A top that complements the pants and fits you perfectly
- Comfortable shoes that match your outfit and can be worn all day
- A bag that suits your new look and meets your lifestyle needs
- Accessories of your choice. The only requirements are: to look good in your ensemble and on you.
Let's start with the most basic pieces: they are the cornerstone of your future wardrobe. Classic cuts, neutral colors, and minimal details make any piece much easier in terms of compatibility with other clothes.
Some Good Examples of Your First Outfit:
- Workwear: Dark pants, neutral shirt, and ballet flats
- Casual: Chino pants, white T-shirt, and Birkenstock sandals
- Casual yet chic: Wide-leg linen pants, linen shirt, and thong sandals
Bad Example: A dress or a jumpsuit. It's a one-and-done kind of look and will never give as much versatility as separates. In a perfect world, I want you to wear your new outfit regularly, maybe once a week, and also some days you will wear your bottoms with some tops from your existing wardrobe, and sometimes you will pair your new top with older pants that you already own. Versatility is key.
Choosing Your Pieces
The easiest way to start creating your new outfit is to buy jeans or a white top. However, you can choose any item you like—the world is your oyster!
Let's say you've decided on wide-leg pants, a button-down, and some chic shoes—everything in neutral colors. So, what type of trousers looks best on you? You might not have an answer right away, and this is completely okay; that just means you might want to schedule a trip to the store to try different kinds of pants. Wide-leg, straight, slim, flared, bootcut, cargo, joggers—there are lots of styles, and each one suits some particular body shapes. If you think nothing fits great on you, the problem is the pants, not you. You just haven't found your best cut yet!
Also, it's always good to consider the length and the rise of trousers. Fabric is important, too, but let's not overcomplicate it for now.
So, let's imagine you found and purchased the first ingredient of your future outfit—the pants. They fit nicely, the color is versatile, and you know that you are going to wear them to work, for brunch, and to have coffee with your girlfriends. Let's take these tailored, wide-leg, high-rise wool pants in Navy Blue as an example.
Basic wide-leg pants. Stretchy wool. These are from Banana Republic
Once you have your pants, it's time to start a hunt for the perfect top. Based on what you already have (tailored classic pants), your options include button-downs, blouses, sweaters of all kinds, cardigans, T-shirts, vests, etc. For our example, let's go with a white cotton button-down.
Pro Tip: If you're not sure which shade flatters your complexion best, go for off-white, cream, and everything that can be called "winter whites." They suit most people. For more insights on choosing the right colors for your complexion, check out our guide on Color Analysis 101: Everything You Need to Know.
Here is our theoretical shirt:
Basic white collared button-down. I took a picture on Mango website
Congratulations: now you have the base of your outfit and can style it in different ways! This is a perfect moment to think about shoes, a bag, and accessories.
In real life, your next purchases might look like these:
Pointed-toe slingback shoes. Zara
Leather shoulder bag in neutral color. St. Agni
Dark leather belt with metallic buckle. This one has a double buckle, but yours can be of any type! Just try to keep it simple. The belt shown in the picture is from Massimo Dutti
Chunky hoops. These are in silver, but you don't have to match all the metals in your look. Feel free to mix gold and silver together! Jenny Bird
Now, when you put on all your new shiny purchases, you will get a cohesive and stylish look. Like this one:
The culmination of our efforts: the first outfit!
When you put on your new outfit, you'll experience what I call "style synergy." Synergy happens when each piece enhances the others, and together they enhance YOU and the natural beauty you already possess.
Next Steps: Expanding Your Wardrobe
Now that you have one terrific outfit, you can wear it as shown in the collage above or mix your new separates with old favorites from your closet. So, what to do next?
Next, you add another "bottom + top" combination to your collection. This time, you choose something completely different from what you already have. If your first bottom piece was wide-leg pants, now you can opt for jeans, or tapered dressy pants, or a satin skirt.
The same applies to tops: we want to enrich your wardrobe with a completely different category. But your new pieces should still be basic!
Denim midi skirt. Levi's
Brushed cashmere crewneck sweater. J.Crew
If you have a budget to throw in a new pair of shoes, or a jacket, or some jewelry, feel free to do so. If not, it's okay; you should be able to style this new ensemble with the shoes and accessories you bought the first time.
Let's say you were able to purchase one more pair of shoes. Remember: we don't focus exclusively on clothes; we need to update every category that exists in your wardrobe: shoes, underwear, accessories, jewelry, tights, socks and so on.
Ankle boots instead of slingbacks, rounded toe instead of a pointed one, a block heel instead of a kitten heel. Also, the color is different: licorice instead of black. Zara
Also, don't be afraid to mix in different shades of dark. If you don't feel confident enough in the color game, there's a safe option: just choose your core basic dark color—black or brown—and collect all your darker items inside this hue. However, brown and black can be worn together, just as gold and silver jewelry can be mixed. For more tips on mixing colors and patterns, check out our guide on Mixing Patterns Like a Pro: Tips and Tricks for Bold Style.
Our outfit #2 might look like this
Here's a fun fact. If you bought one outfit first, and one more outfit later, how many outfits do you have?
Let me tell you the answer: six! You have six outfits! Okay, if your tops cannot be layered, for now you'll have only four outfit options, but four is still much better than two. And six is even better than four!
We have 3 outfit options with pants
And 3 outfit options with skirt
I don't even take into consideration the shoes versatility. Add in different shoes and accessories, and your options multiply even further.
For the sake of simplicity, let's agree on six outfits. You bought:
- One pair of pants
- One skirt
- Classic button-down
- Basic sweater
- Two pairs of shoes: slingbacks for summer and ankle boots for fall
- A belt
- A bag
- A pair of earrings
And you've cooked six dishes from these simple ingredients!
Continuing Your Wardrobe Journey
Next time, when you are going to add more pieces to your collection, you can get one more "bottom + top" combo or invest in outerwear. Stick to simple, versatile pieces for your essentials: clean cuts, solid colors, no intricate details. If you are ready to infuse some patterns into your wardrobe, opt for timeless ones: pinstripe, plaid, polka dot, houndstooth, animal prints, and treat them as neutrals.
This is how your next purchases can look:
Double-breasted wool coat from Cos, leather Veja sneakers, basic white T-shirt from GAP, cashmere cardigan from J.Crew. There might be any brands and any styles you like
There are no accessories in this picture; however, it would be great to invest in some jewelry, belts, cold-weather accessories—any items that would feel at home in your newly elevated wardrobe.
Just Take the First Step
Slightly expanded version of our wardrobe
Building a new wardrobe might seem overwhelming at first, but remember: every style journey begins with a single step (or in this case, a single outfit). By starting small and choosing wisely, you're laying the foundation for a versatile, stylish wardrobe that truly reflects you.
With each carefully selected piece, you're not just filling gaps in your closetᾰ you're crafting a personal style that makes getting dressed easier and more enjoyable every day. So go ahead, take that first step, and watch your style evolve! And if you need more guidance, don't hesitate to consult with an image consultant, your personal style ally in the modern world.
