Recently lost weight, lost your clothing, discovered an allergy to a material or generally had a clothing catastrophe? Rescu. is here to help!
Rebuilding a wardrobe from the botttom up is traumatic rather than fun for most women. It should be a fun experience, but – particularly if we’re in the middle of some kind of drastic change, like weight loss – it becomes fraught and stressful.
Number One: Identify the shapes that suit you.
This is the key to building up a wardrobe – a series of silhouettes you love and can work together. If you’re newly curvy, emphasise your waist and look into 1950s silhouettes which pinch it in, and invest in some proper lingerie; if you’re suddenly thin, explore looser shapes, straight-leg pants, and other possibilities. This can be a long learning process which requires a bit of experimentation, so don’t worry if you feel uncomfortable at the start. Be prepared to look into new things and draw inspiration from lots of places.
Number Two: Do the same for colours.
There’s no woman in the world who suits every colour palette, no matter what models attempt to do. Rebuilding a wardrobe should be fun, so look for colours you really love, which make you pop. Black is always good, but don’t be afraid of brighter colours, patterns or textures. Identify what you’d really love to wear and keep it firmly in your mind.
Number Three: Determine your budget, and how you’d like to shop.
If you’re all about the cheap fashions, prep yourself to grab three of the same skirt at a sale and be prepared to replace and switch often. If you’d rather buy less but better quality, make a conscious decision not to impulse-buy unless you’re absolutely sure it works in your wardrobe.
Number Four: Plan ahead.
Nobody who’s just experienced a radical wardrobe change likes shopping without some direction. If you can, make specific shopping trips for pieces – one for patterned dresses, for instance, or for a glamourous jacket – and have some firm design ideas in your head before you go. This helps fight the overwhelming feeling of shopping without direction. Take along a friend or three – honest ones, who’ll give you proper feedback on how your options look. Support is a good thing if you’re venturing into new areas.
Also consider online shopping – for ‘research’ purposes, of course.
Number Five: Have a wardrobe shape in mind.
Heavy on the blouses with a few different pieces on the bottom? Lots of dresses with varieties of shoes? Boots and jackets? Always know what you’ve got and what you need. There are a few apps online which help you to keep track of purchases nowadays.
Have fun, and don’t stress out – you’ll have an overflowing and beautiful new wardrobe soon.
Image: Jonathan Saunders 2011 dress.
