Bulding My Perfect Wardrobe

Getting dressed in the morning when I have somewhere to go has become a very daunting task. I dread every time I have to do it. My wardrobe, or lack thereof, consists entirely of yoga pants and sweatpants that should probably be used as dish rags at this point. The designer jeans that I still have in my closet might as well be put in my six-year-old's drawer because there is no way they are going to fit my post-pregnancy, post-binge eating physique.

When I look at how my shamefully mix-matched wardrobe came into fruition, I realize that I have sacrificed style and fashion for what I perceived to be comfort. I wanted sweatpants so I could run around behind my son also known as the Tasmanian devil. I wanted black because it is said to be slimming*. This lead to my absolutely non-functional, abysmal, collection of disposable hobo chic wear.

I've decided that part of my lifestyle makeover will be developing a new wardrobe from scratch, that will reflect me. I feel there is a disconnect between my outward appearance and my personality. A new wardrobe will boost my confidence and improve the way I carry myself.

Now to the task. How does one go about building a new wardrobe from scratch? I've never done it before which is how at one point I came to own 3 or 4 sequin tank tops of varying lengths that I never got to wear anywhere. I've been doing some research online about how to go about wardrobe building and came up with some questions to ask myself that will help make sure my wardrobe reflects me.

1. What are your lifestyle needs?
My lifestyle needs are pretty much the same during the week and on the weekends. I need functional outfits that won't get in the way of parenting. I need to be able to get dressed quickly while looking like I spent a lot of time and effort on my look.

2. What is your style aesthetic?
To determine my lifestyle aesthetic I hit my Pinterest boards. I went through my outfits and determined that although my current wardrobe consists of varying shades of black and dingy gray, I am actually quite fond of patterns. Stripes and polka dots and animal print OH MY! I love the layered look with jeans and accessories as completer pieces. These looks fit into my lifestyle because layering can create a  put together look that is still comfortable and functional.

3. What common pieces do you see in your style aesthetic?
The most common piece I found amongst my wardrobe pins was denim. I love denim of all styles and colors. I also pinned button up shirts and crew neck sweaters and cardigans. Embellished T-shirts were also a favorite of mine.



Below are some of my favorite options from my Pinterest board. Everything else, pretty much, falls into similar style categories. After looking at all of these beautiful clothes online, I had to pump my breaks and realize that the actual first step towards getting the wardrobe of my dreams is to meet my health and fitness goals. Wish me luck!

 -Paige

*There is a limit to how much slimming black can do. Trust me I've pushed the limits of black.