Tips for Planning Your Fall/Winter Wardrobe
You may be in denial, but there’s no changing the facts; autumn has arrived. Which means that winter is just around the corner. Let’s face it, you don’t want to say goodbye to your bikinis, floral skirts, sundresses and of course the beach parties. But, the cold nights and dark mornings of winter have a charm all their own.
Follow a color story when choosing items for your fall/winter wardrobe. (Photo: Shutterstock)
A hot mug of coffee and snuggling under a blanket are just some of the perks of winter. However, the arrival of the new season means that your wardrobe also needs some adjustments. Sure, you might still be able to use some pieces, but not all. You’ll need your winter wardrobe essentials to get through the season.
If you haven’t already started stocking up and don’t know how to start, you can follow these simple tips to have your wardrobe tuned in for autumn and winter.
1. Do a wardrobe cleanup
First and foremost, you need to make space for your winter things. How do you do that? You need to clean out your wardrobe. This means you have to evaluate the things you already have and then go through everything piece by piece. Culling is the word of the day, and be methodical about it. Anything that doesn’t fit you anymore or you haven’t worn in the last 12 months needs to go. You can donate it to charity or sell it on eBay.
2. Identify gaps in your wardrobe
Make a list of the things you do own because this will aid you in identifying the gaps in your wardrobe that need to be filled. These could be items you should update or you don’t have enough of. Important investment pieces should be highlighted such as coats, knits, gloves, shoes and bags that need replacing and allocate a budget for them. Are there any special occasions coming up? You may have to shop for those, too.
3. Research to save time and money
The internet has made everything easier. You can simply go online and visit your favorite designers’ websites to see what they have introduced for their autumn/winter collections. Check out the trends and styles of this season and start scouting for the most cost-effective and best version of everything you see online. You can save time and money in the long run if you put some effort into figuring out the key pieces that can make a huge difference to your winter wardrobe.
4. Consider your preferences
Use your favorite blogs, catalogs, look-books and Pinterest to curate your style inspirations. This will assist you in figuring out the overall look you want for the season. What materials, styles and silhouettes appeal to you? Collect outfit ideas that you can use and save images that are inspirational. You can make your own adjustments and tweaks to style your own outfits.
5. Think about your lifestyle
When you’re designing your wardrobe, you don’t only have your personal tastes to consider, you also need to think about your lifestyle. For instance, heels or corporate attire isn’t going to be the right choice if you do a job that keeps you on your feet most of the time. What you wear is a reflection of how you live, and you should make your fashion choices accordingly.
Also, it’s important to think of your social calendar. What events are coming up? What activities do you usually do? You need outfits for various occasions. As far as winter is concerned, social gatherings are less likely because people don’t like being very dressy during this time.
6. Follow a color story
It is both practical and convenient if you go for a neutral color palette that comprises of blacks, nudes, whites and grays. These shades promote optimal mixing and matching, and you can keep your winter wardrobe fresh in this manner. Use texture and structure for adding some excitement.
While there aren’t much color choices in the autumn/winter season, you can spice things up a bit by using tones of maroon, magenta, khaki, vivid red and navy. Pastels can also work and you can also go for jewel tones such as sapphire blue, emerald green and bright orange.
7. Quality is crucial
Don’t think about the quantity, it’s the quality that matters. The best autumn/winter wardrobe is a small one and includes some low cost essentials and a few high quality pieces that work beautifully together and enable you to have a unique style. Bear in mind that less is always more, and there are some pieces that you should have in this season’s wardrobe such as a long sleeve dress, sweaters, a blazer, coat, a pair of jeans and a blouse.
Keep trend pieces, like these graphic prints, to a minimum. (Photos: Style.com)
8. Incorporate seasonal trends
You don’t have to go all out with buying on-trend; as a matter of fact, it’s best kept to a minimum. The key is to carry your wardrobe through the season by purchasing a couple of trendy pieces that will provide your wardrobe with the refreshing and beautiful lift it needs. There are various trends that have been introduced for the autumn/winter season 2015, such as masculine, minimalism, sports luxe and graphic prints.
9. Get only what you love
It’s time to start your shopping once you are aware of the direction you wish to take. You can avoid overspending and impulse buying if you’ve really put some thought into what you need for this season’s wardrobe. Buy only the things that you love, and they all should complement your wardrobe and your sense of style.
10. Come up with some go-to looks
Once you have completed your shopping, you need to become familiar with every piece in your wardrobe. Take some time and put together some outfits for a number of occasions and scenarios. Pay close attention to details such as styling and accessories and do some experiments. Take pictures of the outfits so you can use them in emergencies.
Article by Sandra Queen
