How To Put Together a Wardrobe

Do you always feel like you have "nothing" to wear? Is your closet overflowing with so many clothes that you struggle to put an outfit together? With a stylish and functional wardrobe, dressing up for any occasion—whether you're having brunch with friends, preparing for a meeting, or attending an engagement party—will be a breeze! When you build your wardrobe right, you'll always have versatile, timeless pieces you can wear any way you like without sacrificing comfort or elegance.

Itching to get started? Look no further than this handy guide. Read on to discover more about the staples you need, how to use them to create a wardrobe that suits your unique sense of style, and even how to assemble a capsule wardrobe that lets you do more with less! From working with classic blouses and tailored pants to versatile dresses and statement accessories, here's how you can craft a cohesive and flattering collection perfect for any occasion.

First, ask yourself what occasions usually have you pondering over your outfit choices. 

• Day-to-day: what do you usually wear on casual outings, such as running errands or catching up with friends? 
• Fitness: lead an active lifestyle? What kind of exercises do you partake in, and what attire does it usually require? 
• Recreation: do you love to travel, go to concerts, or garden? Think about the hobbies you love and what you like to wear when doing them. 
• Work: when you head to the office, do you usually wear professional attire or dress down using more smart or business casual clothes? If you work from home, what do you usually wear? 
• Special occasions: do you have the occasionwear you need for attending events like wedding rehearsals, high school graduations, birthday celebrations, and family holiday parties?

Use these questions to determine what you have on hand to wear for these occasions. Do you think these clothes will suffice, or do you want to dress nicer with better pieces? Take this time to think about what you want to keep, as well. Clothes that are versatile, look great on you, and feel comfortable can go into your new wardrobe. Feel free to discard pieces you believe don't truly fit your style. Have a gorgeous '50s vintage dress you snagged because it looked good on the rack—but ended up not suiting your body type or meshing well with the rest of the clothes you own? Donate it and pass it on! 

Learn Your Style

You now know what you need to add to your budding wardrobe—but don't go on your shopping spree just yet! Otherwise, you may end up impulse or panic buying and filling your closet with clothes you may not want to use. To ensure you fill in those gaps in your collection with pieces you'll truly love wearing, determine which variations of the staples you need will best suit your fashion taste. Not sure what that is exactly? Start by learning your style.

Establish your baseline

Though your measurements will be unique, your body type can easily be determined by the general width of your shoulders, hips, and waist. If your shoulders are wider than your hips, for instance, you've got an inverted triangle shape. If they're equal in length, you have a rectangular shape—and if your hips are wider than your shoulders, you're a "pear" shape. Body types usually dictate what kind of clothes look best on you, which you can use for reference. 

For example, blouses and dresses with wider sweetheart necklines can broaden the shoulders, balancing the appearance of pear-shaped bodies. Wide-leg trousers can help those with an inverted triangle shape achieve a similar effect by accentuating their bottom halves. Determining your clothing sizes and body type will help narrow down your options and make it easier to select new wardrobe pieces. 

Determine your preferences

After you've established your baseline, you can choose clothes based on your personal preferences! Start by thinking back to your review of your current collection. What kind of vibe does it give off? Is it casually feminine or more elegant and formal? Does it align more with leisure, minimalist, or academe-style fashion? Your answer will ultimately depend on your personality and lifestyle. 

If you're career-oriented, for example, you probably love smarter-looking pieces like collared button-ups, blazers, and slacks. Like yoga? You may adore athleisure fits comprised of sports jackets, yoga pants, and sporty but comfy shoes. Or maybe you just love wearing bright colors! Keep those preferences in mind when discovering your unique sense of style, and you're sure to fill your wardrobe with new pieces you'll love. 

Find your style inspiration

Wondering how to translate your personal style into actual pieces of clothing? Look for some style inspiration. One thing you can try is to make a mood board. Pinterest is an excellent site for this—simply enter search queries that align with the style you like and use the results for ideas on what to buy and add to your wardrobe. Want to curate timeless outfits? Search for "classic fashion" and see what comes up. If you're looking to be more on-trend, though, there's no better place to go than our trend report right here on the Q. You'll get all the latest details on the hottest fashions of the moment, with personalized styling tips and the best deals available to boot! 

Still need more inspo? Look to the stars—literally. Emulating the style of one of your favorite celebrities is a great way to inspire your own wardrobe. If you're looking to look a touch more sophisticated while still dressing simply, for example, you can try the many classic silhouettes worn by Gwyneth Paltrow. Want to look more assertive while embracing your femininity? Try the bold dresses and power suits worn by Cate Blanchett. However, you don't need to follow your style idol to a tee! If there are some things you don't like about the way they dress, feel free to tweak details like the accessories you wear to put your own spin on your new wardrobe. 

Capsule Wardrobe

Though owning a collection with outfits for all occasions has its perks, there are some cases where narrowing it down to a few key pieces can be equally beneficial. Maybe you've got the travel bug, want to build a solid rotation of outfits on a budget, or simply live in a smaller abode with limited closet space. For all these cases and more, a capsule wardrobe can help. 

But what is it, exactly? In a nutshell, a capsule wardrobe is a minimalist set of versatile fashion staples that you can easily mix and match to create a diverse range of looks. Here's how you can build one! 

Follow the 5-4-3-2-1 rule

One of the biggest challenges in curating a capsule wardrobe is deciding how many tops, bottoms, shoes, and dresses it should have. The 5-4-3-2-1 rule can help you make those choices in a snap! Simply have: 

• 5 tops. These can include t-shirts, blouses, button-ups, tank tops, and more, so you can dress for any occasion. 
• 4 bottoms. Like tops, ensure versatility by adding a mix of jeans, leggings, shorts, and skirts. 
• 3 layers. Prepare for chilly weather with pieces like sweaters, jackets, and cardigans. 
• 2 shoes. Having a pair of casual and formal shoes each, like sneakers and heels, means you'll be prepared for anything—just make sure they're comfortable! 
• 1 dress. As long as it comes in a classic cut like asymmetrical or A-line, your single dress can be paired with other clothing items in a way that makes them suitable for both casual and formal wear. 

That should give you enough room for accessories, too! Be sure to pick versatile bags and jewelry—like purses and small hoop earrings—that'll go well with a number of outfits. 

Select quality pieces

Capsule wardrobes are meant to last, so ensure the clothes in yours will, too. That way, you don't need to replace your pieces so often—perfect if you're looking into capsule wardrobes for their budget-friendliness. Keep an eye out for pieces made of natural fibers, like cotton, with seams closed using an even double-stitch. These will be more comfortable and durable while holding their shape and color for longer. 

Opt for classic colors

Colors are often trendy. Sure, pastel lilac might be in fashion this season—but that may no longer be true a few months from now. To ensure you've got a timeless capsule wardrobe, it's best to fill it with clothes that come in classic colors. As a rule of thumb, you'll want to opt for neutrals like black, white, gray, and brown. Of course, pieces made of denim are often best when they come in shades like blue—and you can include gold or silver jewelry depending on what suits your skin tone best!

Customize your collection

Though a capsule wardrobe is meant to be minimalist, that doesn't mean you can't spice things up! If you want to travel light, for example, you can build a holiday capsule wardrobe specifically curated for the destination you're heading to. Going to a ski resort? Pack longer wool coats, knee-high boots, and knitted scarves. Opting for a tropical getaway? Assemble a summer capsule wardrobe with swimwear, tank tops in vibrant colors like sunshine yellow, and accessories like sunglasses. 

Your Questions Answered 

1. How do I start building a wardrobe? 

Before heading to QVC for new pieces, look over the clothes you own. Determine which items you want to keep based on how comfortable they are to wear, how good they look on you, and how well they suit your lifestyle. Pass on what you don't need and fill gaps in your closet with new clothes! 

2. What fashion staples should my wardrobe have?

Have a good mix of tops, bottoms, shoes, and accessories like bags and jewelry. Classic styles will be more versatile and can be used in outfits for any occasion. 

3. How do I find my personal style?

Assess your personality and lifestyle to determine your fashion preferences. Mood boards, style experts, and celebrities can also act as good sources of inspiration and further inform the unique style you use in building your wardrobe. 

4. How many clothing items should my capsule wardrobe have?

As a rule of thumb, your capsule wardrobe should have 15 to 20 pieces of clothing. Following the 5-4-3-2-1 rule—and including 5 tops, 4 bottoms, 3 layers, 2 shoes, and 1 dress—can make it easier to narrow down your options without sacrificing style and versatility.