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It’s a Monday morning. I open my wardrobe and see this shirt I haven’t worn in a while. I feel guilty, so I put it on to prove to myself that it wasn’t a waste of money. But within 5 seconds, I can already pick apart the things I hate about it. So I take it off and shove it back in the bursting wardrobe. I’ll keep it, just in case.
This was me, on repeat, day after day. That cliché—a wardrobe full of stuff but nothing to wear.
Since massively decluttering my clothes over the past year or so, I feel like I’m finally finding my true style. And getting dressed in the morning is so easy now.
Here are the 10 simple habits that have improved my style
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1. The 5-second rule
I choose an item from my wardrobe, put it on and give it 5 seconds. If, within those 5 seconds, I can already tell the things that annoy me about it—it’s too tight, doesn’t fit right or flatter my body, it’s too see-through, or I can’t exactly pinpoint what it is, but I just don’t feel comfortable in it—it’s a sign to let it go.
So if within 5 seconds of wearing an item you feel like taking it off and swapping it for something else, that’s usually a good sign that you don’t really like it. Give yourself permission to declutter it.
Paying attention to how an item makes us feel is a really good way to start improving our style—not just to have fashionable, trendy pieces in our wardrobe, but actually have stylish items that make us feel good.
2. Decluttering consistently
This is the second habit I have incorporated. I know this might not sound appealing if you clicked on this article thinking, “Oh, she’s going to give me ideas of where to shop for items.” But I have found that decluttering has made a huge difference to my style. It has really allowed me to be more intentional with the items I keep and have in my wardrobe.
Over the past year or so, I have decluttered over 80% of my clothes. I used to have hundreds of items in my wardrobe, under my bed, and in wardrobes in other rooms. My clothes were just everywhere.
My current autumn wardrobe, which includes jumpers, cardigans, coats, and shoes, has 44 items in total.
3. Digitally cataloguing clothes
I started cataloguing almost all of my items. I did autumn and winter, and I’m going to do spring and summer when the seasons come. Doing this has allowed me to see if there are any items I’m not fond of or I don’t even feel like putting up on my digital catalogue. Because if that’s the case, there must be a reason for it.
The items that I was the most excited about on there are really good items to keep. Those are, obviously, items I cherish and wear often.
Keeping track of my outfits has been really helpful. In fact, I have decluttered even more items since I started doing this. It has helped me, for example, to see if, in a category, I have duplicates that I am not wearing. Plus it felt like a fun way to find my style and help improve it.
4. Tracking daily outfits
Not only have I digitally catalogued all of the items, but I’ve also started tracking my daily outfits. I’ve been using the free Indyx app but you can also use a spreadsheet. You can also just take selfies on your phone and save them in an album like “Daily Outfits,” for example.
But tracking my outfits has really helped me see what items I am actually wearing every single day. It also gave me a bit of a nudge to wear something other than my black leggings—not that there’s anything wrong with that; I still wear them a lot. But sometimes I want just a bit of variety. I want to make myself feel put together, and this habit has helped with that.
5. Paying attention to the fit
My fifth tip for you is to pay attention to the fit of an item itself.
I used to think, ”Oh, a black cardigan—it’s such a staple; I could never get rid of it.” But whenever I put on that black cardigan, it felt like it was too big on me, it didn’t feel flattering and it just didn’t make me feel good.
Sometimes, the reason why an item doesn’t feel good when you put it on is because of the fit of the item. I’m not saying it has to be super fitted on your body. It should just be a fit that feels flattering and good on you, and that you feel comfortable in. When you step outside your door, you want to feel confident and ready to take on the day. That’s the whole goal of a wardrobe, isn’t it?
6. Considering the fabric
The next thing I’ve started doing is paying close attention to the fabric, how it feels and what’s it made of, whenever I buy a new item.
For example, when it comes to plain white T-shirts, you would think, “Well, it’s the same, right? It’s just a plain white T-shirt.” But having a 100% cotton T-shirt that’s a really good quality cotton actually makes a whole world of difference. It will fit you better, have a bit more structure, and it won’t be see-through.
So I’m really trying my best to pay more attention to the fabrics. Purchase items that feel nice and will last for longer as well.
7. Looking at the outfit proportions
I’ve also started to be more intentional about the proportions of the outfits. I don’t think there’s any right or wrong here. We’re all different with different body shapes and tastes when it comes to what feels comfortable on us.
For me, I noticed I feel the best when I’ve got either a more fitted top and flowy bottoms, or a kind of baggier top and tighter bottoms.
For example, if I’ve got a big sweatshirt, I will combine it with tight leggings and maybe a chunkier trainer. This feels balanced to me. If I’ve got a pair of really wide-leg trousers and an oversized jumper, I feel a bit frumpy. I just don’t feel like myself but like I’m a bit swallowed by my outfit.
Again, everybody’s different. I’m not saying that’s the wrong outfit to wear; it’s just not something that I feel suits me. But I do think the proportions of the outfit can make a big difference.
8. Keeping a wishlist
This is not as exciting as, “Oh, I’m just going to go out on a shopping spree and find the best bargain.” But, in the long run, it might be the best thing you can do for your wardrobe, style, and confidence levels.
I have found that when I go out shopping and I don’t have a specific item in mind—I’m just browsing around and grabbing a bargain or what feels like a staple item—I just throw items in my basket, I end up with clothes that I don’t wear that much.
I happened to get home and realize I had duplicates of items that I didn’t really need. That’s how I ended up with this massive wardrobe overstuffed with things that didn’t make me feel good.
Nowadays, if I’m scrolling on Instagram, for example, and I see an item that draws my attention, I give myself a cool-down period by adding it to my wish list.
I know we’ve gotten used to having everything delivered to our doorstep the next or the same day. What I have found helpful is to slow down by putting items on a wish list.
I have a list in the Notes app on my phone and a photo album called “My Wish List”. Sometimes, if I’m in a shop, I take a picture of an item and keep it in the album on my phone. Afterwards, I will give myself at least a few weeks to sit on that and see if I still want it.
I can’t even tell you how much this has helped curb those impulse buys. I now buy items that complement my current wardrobe and will be a good buy. I’m no longer impulse-buying items that I will declutter in a few months.
9. Shopping less, but better
Since going on this minimalism journey, I have started buying way fewer items than I used to. And when I do buy, I use the wish list and try to be really intentional. Is this item filling a gap in my wardrobe? Is this an item I see myself wearing a lot? Or is it just a trendy item that I like the look of on the model, but realistically, in my lifestyle—running around after a toddler—I’m never going to wear it, or maybe I’ll wear it once and then that’s it?
Being more intentional with your purchases can make a huge difference to your style too.
10. Taking care of items
This one’s really simple, but I think it’s really important: use a lint roller and an electric fabric shaver.
I think we got so used to—myself included, I used to do this too—just decluttering items because they no longer look good, they’re a bit old, or they’ve been worn a lot.
I’m not saying hold on to items that have holes in them. But if there’s anything that has a bit of bubbling or just doesn’t look that great, try a lint roller and the fabric shaver. Sometimes that’s all the fabric needs to freshen it up and make it look almost like new again.
I’ve done this with some of my sweatshirts, and some knitwear, and it really, really helps prolong the life of these items. And if it’s in my wardrobe and it’s been worn a lot, it probably means it’s a really good item and fit for me and it’s something that I cherish a lot.
So by taking care of our items we can prolong their life and enjoy wearing them a bit more.
Our style and the clothes we wear can have a massive impact on our confidence levels. This is why having a curated closet of items we truly love is super important in my book. Here’s to feeling confident in every piece you wear!
