Megan Kristel

Megan Kristel is an entrepreneur, working mom, and former personal stylist. Tired of the one-dimensional portrayal of women online, she founded The Well Dressed Life as a resource for other professional women.

The Best Products to Organize Your Closet

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The Best Products to Organize Your Closet

Discover the BEST products to organize your closet and create a custom look without the custom price tag. 

Fact: having an organized closet makes everything better. 

Well, maybe not everything, but in a year filled with nothing but insanity, the smallest sense of order can make all the difference in how we go about our day. 

In our Private Facebook Group, we are in Week 3 of our Wardrobe Challenge, which focuses on setting up your closet to function for your needs. 

After receiving a few questions about the organization products I use, I thought I would round-up my favorites as a reference. 

Today, I’m sharing the best products to organize your closet so you can get a fresh start and reap the benefit of an organized space in this new year. 

I’ve long been an advocate for a neat and tidy space to keep and store your clothing. It makes getting dressed in the morning easier, helps you see everything you have so you can create outfits you love and protects the items you’ve spent your hard-earned money on. 

I can tell you, after working with hundreds of women and standing in their closets for hours on end, most women’s wardrobes are limited in space. 

My closet is relatively basic. It’s a “walk-in” by definition, but that’s about all I can do in it. It features a simple rod for hanging and a series of shelves. This is how it looked when we bought the house six years ago, and it has remained unchanged. 

Last January, I finally invested in a few simple yet game-changing products to help pull the space together. Before that, I took a use-what-you-have philosophy.

But the difference these few products made has allowed me to keep the area in order (for the most part), and when it does get a little out of sorts, it only takes a few minutes to pull it back together. I also haven’t had to purchase any other products for the space in a year. 

The Best Products to Organize Your Closet

The Best Products to Organize Your Closet

If you only purchase one product for your closet to help create order and save you space, buy these slim flocked hangers. They are the best. I use them in every closet in our house except our front hall closet where we keep heavy coats – there, I use wooden hangers. 

The uniformity the slimline hanger creates helps your eyes settle so you can see (and therefore use!) everything you have. 

Next, I was not expecting it, but these acrylic shelf dividers make such an impact. Before I bought them I would have told you they were a waste of money, but they have transformed the space. Because my closet is almost all shelving, I needed to categorize items, so there was a place for everything. These dividers do just that. I can stack my jeans without them falling over and sort my sweaters by color, again, without them toppling down. 

I take advantage of the vertical space by using these “sweater drawers” to store scarves and bathing suits. 

How to Organize Shoes and Bags in Your Closet 

Organize Shoes and Bags in Your Closet

The most popular question I receive about how I store my shoes. I use shoe drawers from The Container Store. They are stackable, so I’m able to take advantage of all the otherwise wasted shelve space. You can purchase a case of 4 for $50; I’m using the large size. 

Another product I’m thrilled with is this purse organizer (pictured on the top shelf). Here, I can easily slip my various clutches in so I can quickly grab whatever I need when running out. It’s practical, and it creates a fun, boutique vibe, making my old retail heart happy. They are also from The Container Store, for $40 each, above I am using two. 

Organize and Display Jewelry 

Finally, let’s talk about how to store and display jewelry. If you don’t see your accessories, you won’t wear them, so I designated space on the center shelf to keep it all together. 

How to Create a Classic Jewelry Capsule

I’ve mentioned this jewelry box before – it’s a stackable trays system that you can customize to meet your needs. It also keeps your pieces from tarnishing. 

If your jewelry is scattered in tiny boxes or stuffed in a drawer in your dresser, get them out of there! 

For bracelets, I use two of these stands I found on Amazon. They not only keep you organized, but they make the space look pretty. 

If you have room, add a few personal touches like faux flowers and a few framed pictures and that’s it! These simple products create a custom feel without the custom price tag. 

 

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The Well Dressed Life Wardrobe Challenge 2021: Week 3

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The Best Products to Organize Your Closet
Four Weeks to a Better Wardrobe - Week 3 - The Well Dressed Life4 Weeks to a Better Wardrobe: Step 3

This week’s challenge is all about getting your space organized! I am a big believer in organization. It makes life easier, saves money, and allows you to manage your time and energy better.

I worked with private clients for over a decade. I know this for sure: a messy, unorganized closet space is one of the biggest reasons women feel overwhelmed (or underwhelmed) by their wardrobes. The good news is it’s the easiest issue to fix.

Week 3: Getting Organized

Your closet space should be lovely or, at the very least, tidy. It should bring a sense of calm, not craziness. It doesn’t matter what kind of closet you have. You could have a huge, custom walk-in or a simple bar and shelf. Either way, your experience can be blissful.

Challenge #1: Finish your edit

Last week, I challenged you to perform a QUICK edit. This is my clever way of easing you into a more in-depth edit, especially if you have a hard time letting go of things or have a lot of stuff. 

If you still have an undecided pile, now is the time to be ruthless. Get rid of anything you don’t love or need. Be honest with yourself.

Are you going to wear it?

The only exception is if you NEED to wear the piece until you replace it with a better version. Make a note of it. You’ll need it next week when we create a shopping list.

If you are on a weight loss journey and have some pieces that don’t fit well, you can keep them, but remove them from your closet and store them elsewhere.

I don’t want you waking up to a closet full of clothes that don’t fit. It’s not a great way to start your day.

Be sure the items you decide to keep are modern, fit your style, and are things that you look forward to wearing when you hit your goals.

If a piece is sentimental, give it the respect it deserves. Have it professionally cleaned, remove it from the plastic dry-cleaning bag, wrap it in acid-free tissue, and store it with the rest of your keepsakes. 

I love these cedar trunks. I have one for each of my girls and myself and store special pieces that are either memories or garments I want my kids to have when they get older.

Challenge #2: Improve Organization

Take some time to find a place for everything. I know, I know; this was supposed to be fun!

I promise that an organized and clean space will help with your creativity. The process of creating outfits will not seem so daunting when you see what you have. A few quick tips:

Remove everything from your closet.

Give it a quick clean. I have seen enough closets in my day to know you have pieces hidden in the back, covered in dust. Dust will destroy your clothes. Take 15 minutes to wipe off your shelves, vacuum, throw away old hangers and miscellaneous items.

Only put back your wardrobe.

I once found a toaster in a client’s closet that she’d forgotten she’d bought. Find another place for everything else (if you can). Remember to keep your Pinterest board close by so that you can continue to use it as a guide for what to keep and what to “toss.”

Upgrade your hangers.

We love these flocked hangers, which are available on Amazon. I use them all over my house.

Look at what you have before you buy any organizational tools. 

Before you run to The Container Store, see what you have laying around your house. As you go through the items you plan on keeping; it’s helpful to put them into piles to see how many you have. Have a pile of handbags, belts, sweaters, etc. Then, reuse and repurpose bins, hooks, and baskets to help store them.

Last year, I did end up at The Container Store and found some fantastic items that made a big difference in my space. But I was super specific about precisely what I needed and didn’t waste money on unnecessary gadgets. 

A Peek at My Closet

 

 

You can see the full “transformation” from the overwhelmed closet after the holidays to the tidy space it is now on my Instagram Stories here. You’ll know that I don’t have a fancy, custom space, but it’s clean, organized, and functional. 

And stay tuned for a formal closet “tour” post next week!

Need to catch up on previous challenges? 

You can view Week One and Week Two here.

Are you following along in our private Facebook Group? If so, post some pictures of your space once you get it organized and share the inspiration!

Our Style Content is Inspired by Our Readers

Our readership inspires all of our posts and is not sponsored or paid for by brands or retailers. 

Recommendations are based on my experience as a personal stylist and wardrobe consultant for over a decade. I worked with busy, down-to-earth women who wanted to look chic and feel confident but were often confused by so much of retail. 

Some links are affiliate links, which means if you purchase via our site, we receive a small commission.

If you enjoy our content and would like to help us grow, please  follow on Instagram and join our Private Facebook Group to access more advice and exclusive in-depth conversations with other like-minded women.

 

 

The Benefits of Daily Face Rolling

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The Skin Changing Sacheu Stainless Steel Face roller

Let’s talk about the benefits of face rolling. 

There are so many gadgets available in the beauty market these days. While some are nothing but gimmicks, others can work wonders. Thanks to technology, science and research, we can maintain a youthful appearance as we age in a few simple, daily steps.

Half the challenge is figuring out what you need, specifically for your skin type, then staying consistent.

For me, the real game-changers have been using an SPF every single day, double cleansing at night, and learning how to incorporate different topical treatments like serums, Vitamin C, and retinol into my routines correctly.

Then there are the “extras.” Those little things you can do to kick everything up a notch. I use a dermaroller a few times a week and my face roller twice daily.

This all sounds like a lot, but, I promise, it’s not. The most significant time investment was researching the best practices, and I get to share what I learn with you here!

Today, we’re talking about the Benefits of Daily Face Rolling.

Face Rolling has been a beauty trend for several years. It started with Jade Rollers, little wands with a jade stone on either end designed to roll across your face. But after some reading, I learned that while jade is cooling to the skin, it’s also porous, so it traps bacteria.

The last thing you want to do is haphazardly roll bacteria up and down your face. So I swapped my jade roller out for this stainless steel version from Sacheu Beauty.

The stainless steel in nonporous, so it stay clean AND has a nice weight to it so you get good, even pressure. 

Benefits of Daily Face Rolling

The Skin Changing Sacheu Stainless Steel Face roller

 

Stainless Steel Face Roller, $35

Face rolling is a form of massage. By rolling your face for a minute or two a day (in an up and out motion), you promote circulation and lymphatic drainage.

What does that mean?

Increased circulation helps your skin look brighter and firmer. That’s why as we age, we start to lose that fresh faced “glow,” so we have to increase our circulation manually. Immediately after use, you’ll look rosier, but with long term use, you’ll also start to see a reduction in lines and wrinkles.

Then there is the benefit of promoting lymphatic drainage, which is just a fancy term for moving excess fluid off your face. So if you wake up puffy or have dark under-eye bags, this will help remove fluid from your face. This is what I find to be the most helpful.

Because you are moving the fluid off your face, you’ll start to bring back your jawline and cheekbones. 

Some research suggests that face rolling can also help with sinuses, but there is not enough to be definitive. I have terrible sinuses and can say that this makes my face feel better at a minimum.

You can also keep it in the fridge to get an extra cooling effect. However, I keep this in my freezer instead for mornings I need a little more help with the puffiness. 

Finally, beauty influencers will tell you that the roller helps distribute your products more evenly, but real beauty experts disagree, going so far as to saying that using rollers to apply skincare products actually pushes the product off your face.This makes sense since it’s important when you apply topical products to give them all to second or two to absorb into your skin.

Best Way to Use a Face Roller

Incorporating a face roller into your routine couldn’t be easier, but like everything in skincare, you have to use it the right way; otherwise, you’re wasting money and possibly doing more harm than good.

I roll my face in the morning and evening at the beginning of my routine.

You want to make sure that the roller as some “slip” to it, so it glides smoothly across your face. You can do it with some face oil; I simply use my oil cleanser.

* Start with the larger side of the roller and place it at the center of your jawline. Then quickly roll up and out toward your ear five times.
* Gradually move up your face, then switch sides.
* For your forehead, still with the larger side of the roller, move from your eyebrow line up toward your hairline.
* Take the small side and glide it under and over your eyes toward your ear.
* Finally, flip back to the large side, place it under your chin, and roll down your neck.

The motion is up and out; you don’t want to roll back on forth on your skin, and use gentle pressure. Everything we do manually to our skin should be as gentle as possible.

Because I use my cleanser, I wash my face and finish my routine. 

That’s it!

Not only does it feel great and give lasting results, but it’s two extra minutes to give back to yourself before you go on with your crazy day. 

How to Video

 

 
 
 
 
 
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Our Style Content is Inspired by Our Readers

Our readership inspires all of our posts and is not sponsored or paid for by brands or retailers. 

Recommendations are based on my experience as a personal stylist and wardrobe consultant for over a decade. I worked with busy, down-to-earth women who wanted to look chic and feel confident but were often confused by so much of retail. 

Some links are affiliate links, which means if you purchase via our site, we receive a small commission.

If you enjoy our content and would like to help us grow, please  follow on Instagram and join our Private Facebook Group to access more advice and exclusive in-depth conversations with other like-minded women.

 

 

Incredible Under $30 Satin Pajamas

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In September, my oldest, Maddie, started 8th grade, and we began a few whirlwind weeks of figuring out where she would go to high school. There were open houses, campus tours, entrance exams, and all the prep that accompanies it.

She had her heart set on one school in particular for years, and here we were, actually committing to it. I had that moment all moms know well, where your heart simultaneously soars and aches as you watch your baby leave behind one chapter and enter another.

Maybe I’m in the in the minority here, but I think teenage girls are the best. My daughter and her friends are lovely, smart, confident young women. They are eons more emotionally mature than I was at that age, don’t take themselves so seriously, and have great senses of humor. 

Here we are on New Years Eve:

 

 
 
 
 
 
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Watching her come into her own, especially in such a challenging year, has been pure joy. But I realized that the next few years are about to fly by even more, so I suggested we find something to do together, every week, like a standing date.

Since we both love true crime and murder mysteries, we decided to watch something in that genre every Monday night, and because her sense of humor is as dark as mine, she started to call it “Murder Monday.”

Over the last several months, we watched everything Netflix and On-Demand had to offer. But by the time the holidays came around, we weren’t, as Maddie says, “feeling very murder-y.”

So now, we’re watching The Crown. lol. 

We look forward to our time together all week. One morning, she was heading out to school, lamenting about how boring it was going to be and how Mondays “are the worst,” but then turned, did a little dance and said, “Oh! Murder Monday!!”

Keep Them Talking

One of the best pieces of advice I ever received for raising teenage girls, was, “Just keep them talking.”

And that’s what we do on our Monday nights. She’ll talk for hours about anything and everything. I get all the “tea,” and I soak up every minute of it.

Like clockwork, at 8pm last Monday, I changed into my pajamas and headed to her bedroom. When she saw me, she said, “Um, I LOVE your pajamas! Can you get me a pair?”

— Record screeches. —

“You want a pair of MY pajamas?” I asked, flattered and stunned.

It’s important to understand that we are style opposites.  She is painfully cooler than me. 

She wears Doc Martins and band tee shirts, and I’m in … J.Crew and LOFT. She thinks I have great style “for a mom.”

So, of course, I immediately pulled out my phone and ordered her a few pairs because, THESE ARE THE GREATEST PAJAMAS EVER! And, I can’t remember the last time she actually liked something I was wearing for herself. 

Silk Satin Pajamas: Under $30 XS – XXL 

They feel indulgent but are under $30. I’m super impressed with how they wear and wash. Their quality for the price is incredible.  And I’m not alone in my love for them, they have thousands of 5 Star Reviews on Amazon. 

When I like something, I tend to go all in, so I ordered multiples.

I have pink (above), white and navy. Maddie is wearing the teal (you can’t tell in the picture, but it’s a gorgeous color) and has a black pair.

I’m wearing a large, and Maddie is a small. We are both about 5’10. 

Under $30 Silk Satin Pajamas

Incredible satin Pajamas under $30 at Amazon

 

Pajamas, $20 – $26

Available in XS – XXL in dozens of pretty colors. Order these for yourself to up your pajama game in the New Year!

Our Style Content is Inspired by Our Readers

Our readership inspires all of our posts and is not sponsored or paid for by brands or retailers. 

Recommendations are based on my experience as a personal stylist and wardrobe consultant for over a decade. I worked with busy, down-to-earth women who wanted to look chic and feel confident but were often confused by so much of retail. 

Some links are affiliate links, which means if you purchase via our site, we receive a small commission.

If you enjoy our content and would like to help us grow, please  follow on Instagram and join our Private Facebook Group to access more advice and exclusive in-depth conversations with other like-minded women.

7 Ways to Have Great Style on a Budget

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7 ways to have style on a budget
7 Ways You’ve Never Heard of Before to Look Stylish on a Budget

A budget is subjective. One person’s “save” is another person’s “splurge,” but everyone works within some financial parameters. Today, I’m sharing some of my best tips to have great style on any budget. 

Creating a classic wardrobe that feels sophisticated yet comfortable is a lesson in nuances and simplicity. It’s also ever-changing. You will forever be editing and updating your wardrobe.

Keeping your wardrobe modern is my goal.

Most of our readers aren’t looking for crazy trends or head-to-toe designer looks.

Instead, they want to keep it simple and classic with the occasional trend thrown in, and most of all, easy to pull together.

Looking fabulous while being smart with your money is more about exercising a deft hand in how you dress and what you buy rather than bringing more into your closet.

If we were chatting over a glass of wine, this is what I would tell you to do to look stylish on a budget.

How to Have Great Style on a Budget

7 ways to have style on a budget

BONUS: Download our FREE Wardrobe Building Checklist to See Everything you Need for a Classic and Chic Closet Full of Clothes.

Stop Wearing Old Crap

Perhaps the best piece of advice I can give you so you can build a modern, chic style on a budget is to get rid of your old stuff. 

Inevitably, every time I say this, I am flooded with emails telling me about this one fantastic garment that someone is still wearing after 20 or 30 years. So let me say this, yes, fair enough, there can be a handful of things with real staying power.

These are exceptions, not the norm. 

And, of course, you will wear your Burberry trench or your grandmother’s Chanel jacket for a lifetime because you’re supposed to. You’re paying for their quality, craftsmanship, and enduring style upfront.

I spent ten years as a personal stylist for very normal people with very normal budgets. I have stood in thousands of closets, and the one common thread (pun intended) is that too many women are holding onto and wearing their old crap.

– An astonishing number of clients would try to keep stained and damaged pieces because they could “put something over it.”

– Even more, they would be physically uncomfortable in clothes too small because they refused to buy the next size up.

– But the most common offense, the real reason I was there, was that they didn’t see when items were becoming dated. 

For Great Style on a Budget Remove Your Dated Pieces

Styles and fashions evolve. It’s why it is so easy to throw an 80s costume party. The older a piece is, the further we get away from a decade, the look becomes more specific. 

So hop in your closet and give it a good edit. 

Define Your Personal Style

If you want to have an enviable style on a budget, knowing what you like and what you don’t will save you so much time and money and help you make better choices when shopping.

Our preferences and needs change drastically over the years, yet we tend to stay stuck in a particular time when it comes to our clothing.

The best way to maximize your budget is to create a framework for your style.

I used to have new clients create style inspiration boards with pictures from magazines and categories and, as time went by, on Pinterest. (You can see my Pinterest boards here.)

Having a visual of what you like is the most efficient way to make the most of your budget because it gives you a structure through which to filter your choices.

When you get clear on what you like, you start to see those things in other places. 

For example, I’ve always loved the look of Theory. I love monochromatic outfits, mixing neutrals and textures, and I love fitted blazers with jeans. But I can’t wear head-to-toe Theory because I have to put three kids through college. 

Once I broke down the style elements, I started to see it in other places, and now I can easily recreate those looks with pieces from stores like H&M and Zara. 

Here’s an example of a texture-rich, monochromatic outfit I recently wore with an inexpensive sweater from H&M and a clearance skirt from J.Crew Factory.

High Style, Low Cost

 
 
 
 
 
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🎉How many unknown outfits are hanging in your closet?? . đŸ„‚For date night I gave myself 2 challenges: . 1. Find an outfit I didn’t know I had, . 2. No jeans! . đŸ€šđŸŒSo many of us go to jeans all the time. . I know I do because my life is super casual and jeans just fit me better. . I’m THRILLED with this outfit. . I had both pieces in my closet and never thought to put them together – and this is what I do for a living! . It shows how important it is to have an organized closet (you have to see your stuff!) and you have to give yourself a minute to look through what you have. . I love a monochromatic moment that combines various textures like the knobbiness of the sweater and the shine of the silk skirt💕 . And, this outfit was so affordable. The sweater was under $30 and the skirt was on clearance for $20. . So carve out some time and see if you can find the hidden looks in your wardrobe! . Swipe to see tagged retailers in picture. . đŸ‘ŒPhoto-bomber just turned 14 months and is fresh out of the bath💕

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Figure out what you like and those items will start to jump off the rack at you!

Related: How to Define Your Personal Style

Keep Your Nails Polished with this Hack

How to give yourself a salon manicure at home

There’s no doubt that polished nails elevate your look in a big way, but weekly manicures add up and are total time killers. While I try to get a manicure every couple of weeks, I can’t always sneak out for one (especially these days).

When I am out of time, I do it myself using this quick hack, and my nails look like I just walked out of the salon. You can see my step-by-step guide here.

Match Your Hardware

“Hardware” is anything extra on an item like a belt or shoe buckle, buttons, zippers, chains on a bag; you get the idea. By coordinating your metal color, you create a cohesive look. It’s subtle but has a significant impact.

This means that if you are wearing a navy blazer with gold buttons, don’t wear a shoe with a silver buckle. Instead, wear one with gold, or skip altogether.

Along with keeping your hardware the same, be careful not to wear too much. Hardware will weigh down your look, and it doesn’t look sophisticated when there is too much.

For example, if you are wearing a zipper-heavy moto jacket, avoid pairing it with pieces that have additional hardware. Also, be careful of pairing heavy hardware with busy patterns.  

Work with Neutrals, Texture, and Basics

style on a budget
H&M tweed jacket paired with better basics

 

For a hight style look within a budget, focus your resources on basics, neutrals and pieces with texture, (like the tweed jacket above paired with black basics).

You’ll get more use out of your pieces, but you’ll also look more pulled together. When neutrals are paired together, they create a richness to your look, regardless of how much you spent.

Neutrals are more than just white, tan, brown, and black. Navy, gray, and burgundy are also give the same effect.

Patterns can be neutral too. Animal prints, pinstripes, and even textures like tweed (like above) and croco count. Incorporating these and pairing them together will elevate your look in a big way.

If you want to include patterns in your wardrobe, look for more sophisticated prints that feel like a neutral and wear them with modern basics. 

Making a Pattern Neutral

 
 
 
 
 
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🐆 You can wear leopard print as a neutral, especially when it’s done in tonal colors. . Today’s look is casual but feels polished. . I love these distressed jeans. They are high waisted, with just enough stretch to be comfortable. . They always make me feel fitter than I am.😉 . Of course, I’m wearing our favorite ankle boots in ”whiskey leather.” . Super easy to look put together when you have to right pieces. đŸ‘†đŸŒfor outfit details follow the link in my profile and click ”Shop My Outfits” 💕 📾and forgive the terrible quality photo I’m working on a better set up for daily looks.

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Don’t Mix Patterns

Contrary to what most fashion blogs will tell you, mixing pattern takes a great deal of technique and an understanding of color theory, balance, and composition. If you do it haphazardly, you will look like a hot mess.

There are so many patterns out there that lack sophistication and will ruin your outfit instantly. 

Wonder what you should have in your closet? Download our FREE Wardrobe Checklist Here.

Avoid Super High Heels

Walking around like a newborn fawn isn’t a great look. Heels and platforms that are disproportionately high cheapen your look and throw off your balance, both literally and figuratively.

There are ways to give yourself some extra height other than wearing an extreme heel. Making sure your pants are hitting at your best length and wearing elongating necklaces and necklines can add the appearance of height.

You’ll also dumb down your look if your shoes are ill-fitting. If you can slide your finger between your heel and the back of your shoe, they don’t fit.  If you keep stepping out of your shoe, it’s time to donate.

Our guide to the most comfortable heels is a helpful place to start to organize your shoe collection. 

Creating the wardrobe you love takes a little bit of time upfront.  What I know for sure, after years of helping others get dressed and feel great in their clothes is that you don’t need to spend a fortune.  You just need discipline and an awareness of changing styles and trends to stay modern, current and classic.

Style on A Budget Recap

This is a lot of information! Let’s break it down:

  1. Purge your closet of old, dated, and damage items to make room for updated classic. 
  2. Clearly define your personal style so it’s easier to shop and to create outfits that best reflect you. 
  3. Grooming is high impact and can be low cost. Have your nails manicured with our simple hack is an easy way to look polished on a budget. 
  4. Create a cohesive look by matching your hardwares. Keep gold with gold, silver with silver. It makes a huge difference. 
  5. Work with neutrals, textures, and better basics. Divide your resources so you are investing in workhorse pieces. These allow you to then layer in less expensive and/or trend focused pieces.
  6. Avoid patterns. Most patterns lack sophistication and look cheap – even if they aren’t. Also, skip mixing and matching patterns unless you are really good at it.
  7. Skip super high heels. No matter the cost, if you can’t walk in them, or if the proportion is too high you’ll look sloppy. Instead, spend what you can on quality shoes that help elevate your outfit. 

_________________________________________________________

Our Style Content is Inspired by Our Readers

Our readership inspires all of our posts and is not sponsored or paid for by brands or retailers. 

Recommendations are based on my experience as a personal stylist and wardrobe consultant for over a decade. I worked with busy, down-to-earth women who wanted to look chic and feel confident but were often confused by so much of retail. 

Some links are affiliate links, which means if you purchase via our site, we receive a small commission.

If you enjoy our content and would like to help us grow, please  follow on Instagram and join our Private Facebook Group to access more advice and exclusive in-depth conversations with other like-minded women.

 

 

The Well Dressed Life Wardrobe Challenge 2020: Week 2

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4 Weeks to a Better Wardrobe - The Well Dressed Life

Happy Friday Ladies!

We’re jumping into week two of our Wardrobe Challenge. A big thank you to everyone who has joined our private Facebook group and took the time to post their Pinterest style boards and lifestyle breakdowns.  

I promise, the more you participate and chat with your fellow members, the more you will get out of the process. 

Today, at 3 pm EST, I’m hosting another Facebook LIVE in the group to answer any questions you might have and get us set up for this week’s challenge!

There have already been some big takeaways after week one, and they are just what I was hoping they would be!

If you are just joining us, or are running behind, don’t worry.  You can go at your own pace and still post your thoughts and interact in our group’s comments. 

Be sure you finish each challenge before moving to the next.  This week has two challenges, designed to help refine your style and make editing your wardrobe not so overwhelming.

 

Wardrobe Challenge Week 2: Pinpoint Your Style and Start Your Edit

Challenge #1: Edit Your Pinterest Board

This part of the challenge always creates the most conversation. You might be thinking that you need to pick a style and commit to it. We’re told we are either “classic,” “trendy,” or “boho.” Like we have to pick a lane and stay there. 

But the truth is we are all a unique combination of many things. 

For example, I use to think I was “preppy.”

But I’m not.

I like elements of preppy style. I never pass up an opportunity to monogram something, and a good chunk of my wardrobe is from J.Crew.

But I don’t like bright colors and prints; I much prefer saturated neutrals and better fabrics. 

After going through this very process for several years now, it’s clear that my style is classic and modern with a twist. That “twist” is usually an interesting detail, splurge-worthy piece, or an unexpected personalized element – like a monogrammed bag or bold accessory.

To help you with this, go through your Pinterest Board and only keep the image you LOVE. 

You must LOVE every pin. (I know! It’s hard.)

The Difference Between “Liking” and “Loving”

It’s not just what you like, but what you want to live your life in. 

You can appreciate all different styles, but narrowing down to the ones you want to wear all the time is the point.

Doing so will help ensure your wardrobe will mix and match well and you always look (and feel!) like yourself. 

Find Your Common Threads

Next, review your edited board and look for commonalities and consistencies. It might not be abundantly clear, but stick with the challenge; it will start to show itself.

You can keep pictures of outfits not quite right for your body type; we’ll get to that later. Your board is pure inspiration.

Any style can work for any body type with proper adjustments.

What we’re looking for here is a theme.

Some a-ha’s you might have:

  • You pinned lots of jeans and pants but have a ton of skirts collecting dust in your closet.
  • Maybe you pinned a dozen monochromatic looks yet own a ton of patterned tops and dresses.
  • Do the outfits on your board have scarves and accessories, but you never incorporate them into your daily outfits.

If these are the revelations you have as you finish up this part of the challenge you are right on track!

Challenge #2: A Quick Closet Edit

How to Finally Let Go of Clothes You Don't Need

You can do this next step all at once or over a few days; it just depends on how much you have in your closet.

Set up a workspace in or close to your closet. Designate three piles:

Keepers: For anything you know you love, use regularly, and fit in your style.

Donations: Something in good condition that doesn’t work for you but could help someone else. 

Undecided: Use this as a parking lot for items you’re on the fence about or not ready to part with. 

Having a rolling rack for this exercise makes it easier to stay organized. I use mine for the “keeper” pile.

Next, take your Pinterest board or other inspiration pictures into your closet.

While you’re in your closet, ask yourself these questions and try to come up with an answer:

Is your current wardrobe reflective of the style you love?

If not, what is your motivation for making purchases? (Sale price, impulse, need, etc.) 

What do you have more of, basics or trends?  

For example, my Pinterest board is mostly neutral and solid colors, yet, when I first did this, I had at least a dozen printed blouses and tops hanging in my closet. There was nothing wrong with them, except I wouldn’t say I like many patterns and I certainly wasn’t wearing them.

So why do I keep buying them? In my case, I needed variety. I was also using Stitch Fix and saved many pieces they sent because they were okay and fit.

Once I completed the exercise, I permitted myself to let go of what didn’t fit into my style.

You may not have many things in your current wardrobe that reflects your current style. (If you do, you’re way ahead of most of us!)

It’s okay to feel frustrated. Take a deep breath and trust the process.

Going through these steps will allow you to discover what you like, understand why you make certain decisions when shopping, and eventually fill your closet with items you can’t wait to wear.

The process of creating a cohesive wardrobe is not immediate. That’s why so many readers do this challenge every season. It takes time to curate your look, find the pieces that work best for you and, of course, work those purchases into your budget.

But after this challenge, you’ll be off to a great start.

Quickly Edit Your Wardrobe

Now, with your inspiration pictures as your guide, QUICKLY, go through your wardrobe. (For more tips, check out our post 6 Steps to Clean out Your Closet in 60 Minutes) 

Hold every piece up and ask yourself, does this get me to where I want to be?

If your answer is “yes,” but the item in your keeper pile or rolling rack.

If your answer is “no,” put it in your donation pile.

If you have no idea or don’t want to deal with it, put it in the undecided pile.

We’ll deal with those items next week. Do this quickly. The undecided pile is there to take away any pressure.

You will likely have to keep a few pieces that are just okay so you can get dressed in the morning. This is fine and expected. Put these in the undecided pile too. The most important part of this exercise is to see if or how much of what you are buying reflects your personal style.

Once finished, put the donations in a bag and right into your car. Get them out of the house! Hang and fold everything else.

Put your undecided pieces back in your closet, behind the pieces you love, so your favorite items are the first thing you see.

Please don’t focus on organizing anything yet (you can guess where we’re going next week).

Repeat the same editing process with your shoes and accessories.

Are you just getting started? Be sure to follow each challenge in order. For week one, follow the link below:

The Well Dressed Life Wardrobe Challenge: Week 1