In 2020, I did a wardrobe overhaul with Lani of Real Life Style, and it was great. I have since gotten progressively lazier about wardrobe upkeep. I have also seen my clothing needs change, since I started wearing (decent-looking, FIGS) scrubs to work mid-2022 and haven’t looked back.
Most of the time, on my non-clinical days I wear jeans and a T-shirt. I have 1-2 nicer (but aging) shirts and even my tees are not the crispest at this point. I am down to one pair of somewhat respectable looking jeans (these) as the only other pair I like has developed holes to the point of embarrassment.
I never feel like I have anything cute to wear when Josh and I go out (I have a few dresses but feel like I’ve worn them all 38734 times at this point) and I seem to have LOST most of my jewelry so my accessory game is also bad. I have noted that the older you get, the more accessories help in making it look like you didn’t just roll out of bed.
I’m not going for style awards but I absolutely want to look more put-together than I currently am.
I did some budget auditing of how I spent $$$ in 2024 and want to shift more towards clothing this year. Fewer supershoes (fine) and more non-athletic outfits.
2025 Wardrobe Goals:
#1- Go through entire closet and get rid of things I haven’t worn for years. There are a LOT of items that fit this category. It’s time.
#2- Procure the following list of items:
- 2 pairs of respectable looking jeans or casual pants (for non-clinical days and weekends). Maybe one denim, one cream or white.
- 2 outfits that could conceivably work for a date night
- T shirt replacements. Like ~4 new ones, maybe 2 long-sleeved. The Marine Layer tees I like are actually very durable and have lasted years, but not forever.
- 1 speaking outfit that invokes confidence (I have at least two speaking engagements this spring). I’m thinking a blazer will be involved.
- 1-2 pairs of non-athletic shoes (one casual, one more professional).
- ACCESSORIES – 1-2 necklaces, replenish earrings (I get mine here because my ears are very allergic to most earrings!)
Also, I need to find that necklace.
Happy FRIDAY! Last clinical day for a while and we have an office party in the afternoon! In other news, Josh has the flu. WILL WE ALL GET IT?! We leave for Montana on Sunday so . . . just hoping not. He is several days in and so far everyone else is okay. (We did all get flu shots, but then again so did he . . .)
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Huh. I’d never thought of my wardrobe as something to list as a goal before, but I suppose from a wardrobe perspective this past year maybe it was. I bought a bunch of wide leg work pants that are comfortable and that I’m not likely to grow out of soon. This year I’d like to avoid buying *any* new clothes and fully embrace hagdom. I plan to stop wearing makeup and lean into sweatpants, even if — no *especially* if — I am doing something in public where I’m expected to look hot. And let’s face it: “hot” is really not doable anymore anyway. I am tired of fighting the inevitable decline which I have to witness every day I look at myself in a mirror. Maybe I’ll get rid of all the mirrors in my house. That actually sounds like a fantastic idea.
Not aiming for hot, have def passed the “hot baton” (love that phrase). But I feel like “put together” is doable at any age, my husband’s grandmother was a great example of that!
Not invalidating your goal either – comfort and not worrying about this makes sense too!
Thx Sarah. If you do want a blazer I found a couple by rag and bone that I can pair with my wide legged comfortable dress pants. They look cute AND are comfortable, and if you don’t want to pay $400 are sometimes on sale too. 🙂
Ooh will keep an eye out, I have heard of that brand for blazers before.
Yes. The Rag and Bone Slade blazer is fantastic and so comfortable.
Yes! I have two. 🙂
As someone who presents quite often for events, I want to give you permission to not get a blazer outfit for that IF it’s something you really don’t think you will wear otherwise and don’t feel excited about/confortable and confident in. I exclusively wear dresses when traveling and presenting. Recently I bought some some Maggie London that I really like and have also gotten some from Boden. I finally got rid of all the suits I used to wear and do not miss them. That said a fun blazer can be great so you can stick to that plan, too! Just chiming in to say blazers aren’t necessary if it’s not your thing (most of mg company’s female leaders don’t wear them!).
I want to focus a bit more on my wardrobe too. I need to find a few more statement necklaces. I tend to wear black when traveling and presenting but I only have one statement necklace and feel weird wearing it multiple days in a row when traveling with a sales rep. I also need more casual tops for the weekend, too.
I just see people with a cute little structured jacket/overlayer and think – I want that 🙂 Maybe I don’t even mean blazer?
Yes there are lots of fashionable options. Kae has some cute jackets. So there are fun options. I mostly wanted to give you an out to wear a non-jacket option in case you felt like you had to wear a jacket and wasn’t feeling that look.
Oooh I love a wardrobe overhaul. I am in the midst of one myself, mainly because my perimenopausal body has changed and many of my old favourite black dresses no longer suit me. I have had to let it go, let it go, let it go. I’ll look forward to reading about this!
Hope you all escape the flu!
I love that goal! I have a similar one to try to make sure my clothes make me feel good. I do love the jeans you have! What brand are they? They look cute and comfy.
They are the AYR secret sauce. Totally a splurge but I wear them all the time.
I also have AYR secret sauce and find that they don’t hold any stretch, have you found that as well? Wish I would have sized down!
I don’t mind too much but I agree they get much baggier as they are reworn. They snap back for a day or two when washed though!
Great goals. It’s funny because I feel the same way- I never have anything cute to wear and every time I do try to wear something nicer, I can’t find any of my jewelry. How did we LOSE necklaces??? I’m pretty sure my situation is more dire than yours, but I should follow your example and figure out what’s going on with my wardrobe.
Are you familiar with Evereve? I find they have cute and modern attire that can work for both professional/personal purposes and are moderately priced.
I’ve never checked it out but good to know for the speaking-wear category!!
Some great goals! I do this seasonally but I want to go through my wardrobe again to declutter things I’m just not into (If I’ve avoided stuff for months, it’s time to go).
A consideration too – I work 3 days a week in office so my wardrobe needs to be only 43% workwear. And even that can these days be more casual on the bottom due to the endless Teams meetings.
Love these– s practical. I also need jeans and t-shirts and nicer athleisure. Also, I only have Birks, heels, and Uggs– I feel like I am missing a whole range of shoes in the middle of those…
Two things have helped me immensely with wardrobe management and confidence. The first one is learning how to dress for my body type with Fashion Fix (@fashionfixmn on Insta). Lindsey has GREAT content about dressing by shape, curating a wardrobe you love (in a minimalish way), and is a jolt of good cheer. The other thing I did was get my “colors” done with Created Colorful. Between these two things (which I did in two separate years) I have a much better sense of what to look for when I’m shopping to look and feel confident. I especially appreciate Lindsey’s content on cleaning and curating your closet. (I have no relationship with either of these people/services other than being a happy customer!)
Can’t wait to go shopping!!!
This is a major goal for me this year too as I’m finally done having babies! I’m not quite back to my goal size but am close and am so looking forward to getting rid of all maternity and nursing clothes and creating a wardrobe that I’m excited to wear (or at least one that doesn’t make me think “ugh” when I walk in my closet.
I’ve recently discovered a love of skorts from Athleta. They do well in humid/hot temps, think they’d look cute on you. Also a big fan of a “dad sandal”. Sort of slightly nicer birkenstock (I love birks). I have a pair from Alohas — the Harper black sandal. They have a couple of variations on trims/colors. Have had them for two years and they still look new. For long sleeve t-shirt, its a looser fit which may or may not work for you, the Lululemon All Yours long sleeve t-shirt. (sorry for the unsolicited recs but just happens that I had some great pieces recently)
Sorry, one more: for conference wear look at MM Lafleur. Tailored but not too stuffy.
The one conference dress I do have is from there!
For speaking engagements/conference wear, check out Tuckernuck. I went to a talk a few weeks ago and the speaker was wearing the cutest shift dress from there. Their house brand has some elevated looks for not too much $!
Also, for date night, I love getting gently-used statement dresses and blouses from more expensive brands (Ulla Johnson, Sea) on Poshmark or TheRealReal. I also have a pair of faux leather wide leg pants from J.Crew that I love for date night! They happen to be on mega-sale right now: https://www.jcrew.com/p/womens/categories/clothing/pants/flare/slim-wide-leg-pant-in-faux-leather/BU138?display=standard&fit=Classic&color_name=black&colorProductCode=BU138
I am totally into the idea of faux leather pants . . . luxe/party type look I feel like!
I had a very similar goal this year – only owning clothes I wear and look good on me by December 2025. It’s been a really fun project, I have had to get rid of a lot of things I realize I don’t wear, and buy new things, but I found there was A LOT in my wardrobe I just don’t wear now and probably wont wear again.
Out of curiosity – when you buy clothes does it come from your own personal budget? My husband and I have a clothing budget that we both use to improve our wardrobe, however my sports clothes come from my own budget. I think we spend quite similarly on clothes (ie, not very much) so it’s never been a problem. I know you use YNAB so curious if all your kids have a shared “kids clothes” budget or if that falls into general kids budget…?
Definitely we use personal allowance, and kids are another category!
I also felt like I needed to update my wardrobe last year and the best thing I did was subscribe to Nuuly. You get to rent six pieces of clothes per month for about $99 and it was so fun to experiment with different styles and try more trendy items that I normally would not spend money on (and then send back at the end of the month when I was pretty much sick of everything). It also gives you the option to buy any of the pieces too if you happen to fall in love with it. Sometimes everything works in the package and other months, only a few pieces of clothes work out but I feel much more updated than I have in years and definitely have gotten to experiment with new styles with zero long term commitment. Maybe worth trying for a month (and I think its cheaper for your first month!)
Have you tried using a free online tool to find your colors? I found it fun and it’s a nice jumping off point too for finding new clothes. I shop by color in person and it helps with every piece you buy *mostly* going together.
I really like https://www.createdcolorful.com/blog. She posts capsule wardrobes for every palette each season with high / low cost options.