Revamp Your Style: 12 New Year Fashion Goals
A stylist's guide to crafting 2024 style resolutions worth keeping
Is your wardrobe on your 2023 list of goals and resolutions? Here are 12 ways you can update your wardrobe and have FUN at the same time!
EDIT YOUR WARDROBE
If you do nothing else, start the year fresh by editing your wardrobe...AKA a closet cleanse. Getting rid of clothes that don’t fit, you no longer wear, are worn out or are damaged is truly therapeutic. You feel lighter and like you have MORE clothes not less because what is left are your strongest and hardest-working pieces.
Download my mini-closet cleanse worksheet or contact me about my virtual closet edit services
2. ORGANIZE + MERCHANDISE
Now that you have a little more breathing room in your closet, organize everything in a way that reduces clutter but also allows you to see your wardrobe items. I call this “merchandising” your wardrobe.
Think of it like a retail store. You won’t consider wearing that fun scarf if it’s buried in a box on the top shelf out of site. Stores merchandise pieces so customers can combine multiple items. You should do the same.
Use my space-saving hacks and organizational tips.
3. UPCYCLE + REPAIR
Did you discover some items during your closet edit that would be usable if they were changed just a bit? Make alterations to change the length of a pair of pants. Cut jeans to have a raw hem or distress an old denim jacket. Fix broken jewelry. Repair quality shoes that need new heels and a good polish. You’ll feel like you got an influx of new things! Who wouldn’t love that?!
See how to cut jeans. It’s easy...I promise!
4. STRATEGIZE
What core items are missing from your wardrobe? Identify them and make a list. You don’t have to buy everything at once, but once you’re ready, you’ll shop with intention.
See my round-up of essential layering pieces for winter.
5. KNOW THYSELF
Understanding your style personality, color season and body type is essential to dressing in a way that reflects the image you want to portray and feeling fabulous in your clothes.
Take my quiz to identify your dominant style personality, or ask me about my Ultimate Style Toolkit that will define and teach you how to use them all.
6. LOVE THYSELF
Vow to dress the body you have, not the body you used to have or want to have. If you’re like me, your body may not be quite the same as before the pandemic. Create a “temporarily too small” bin (or area in your closet if you have enough space).
I’m being choosy about what I buy right now--focusing on things like sweaters, tops and shoes that will fit regardless. Bottoms like stretchy jeans, leggings, joggers and some skirts are also items that will transition just fine when you’re back to “normal!” ;-)
Take your measurements so you can shop smartly online and reduce returns.
7. INVEST IN QUALITY
For classic pieces that every woman should have in her closet, make a promise to yourself to buy the highest quality your budget will allow. Basics are a place NOT to scrimp. And why not start off the year with one fabulous new piece--like a cashmere sweater--that you’ll wear on repeat?!
Take advantage of the uber sales right now!
8. EMBRACE OUTFIT PLANNING
This changed my world during my single-momming and office work days. Plan your outfits for the week, or at least the next day. It’ll eliminate the frenzy of trying on three tops and two pairs of shoes with those pants before running out the door in the morning, leaving a mess behind you.
When you think through your outfits in advance, you’ll feel more put together and create the strongest, most polished looks for you.
I can set up and host your digital wardrobe for a one-time fee of $99. You’ll have ongoing access to it so you can plan and play with mixing different items in your wardrobe for new looks.
9. SHOP YOUR CLOSET
This has been one of my favorite things to do during the pandemic! How can you use items in your wardrobe in different ways? Pin grandma’s brooch to a denim jacket. Mix prints together. Wear that old neck scarf around your wrist and stack bracelets with it. You’ll have a lot of fun creating new looks without going shopping!
Download my Shop Your Closet Challenge and watch for my Shop Your Closet Instagram posts over the next few weeks.
10. WEAR MORE COLOR
Are you stuck in a rut of grabbing black, gray and camel because they go with everything? Wearing color is such a pick-me-up during these cold, dreary winter days. If you know your color season, refer to your palette and pick the optimal colors to wear or add to your wardrobe.
Take my quick What’s Your Color Season quiz.
11. SHOP SMALL
I know shopping online is not only a necessity these days, it can be so much easier. But our local stores need your support now more than ever. Many are open for in-person shopping. Others offer appointments to control the volume of people in their small spaces. Still others feature items on Instagram and you can order via DM. (This even allows you to buy from non-local shops.)
I’ll be hitting a different local boutique each Saturday during the first few months of the year so stay tuned!
See a list of local clothing stores you can support.
12. EXPERIMENT + HAVE FUN!
Just because you’re in your 40s, 50s or 60s doesn’t mean that you have to play it safe with your outfits. Push yourself out of your comfort zone and try some styles that you’ve been afraid to wear. And NEVER think you're too old to wear a trend. You’re not! My biggest tip for venturing into a new area: Stick to one trend in your outfit and keep the rest grounded in classics or your dominant style personality.
With love and style,
