A Guide to Starting an Intentional Fashion Journey

When you look at your closet, what do you see? Do you see blue jeans from high school, stacks of sweaters you’ve worn only once, and a box of t-shirts that haven’t seen the light of day since college? Do you see clothes that don’t fit, still have tags on them, or just aren’t your style anymore? If so, you’re not alone. A recent survey reveals that more than half of Americans admit that they have an issue with clutter, especially within their closets. They reason that they hold onto objects for sentimental reasons or because they believe that one day they may be useful again.

If you’re still waiting for that collection of fanny packs to come back in style, it’s time for a switch-up. Thanks to the minimalist culture that’s sweeping the nation, there’s a new way to dress. Called intentional fashion, this movement is dedicated to only filling your closets with a select number of items that you truly love. Ideally, these pieces pull double-duty and can work in almost every season, dwindling your stuffed-to-the-brim wardrobe down to just the bare necessities.

If this sounds like a drastic change, it is. Yet, it’s also one of the most freeing and purposeful things you can do to improve your organization, cut costs, and simplify your life. Let’s discuss a few key components of intentional fashion and how you can get started today.

1. You’ll need a solid vision before getting started.

Before you begin picking through your hangers and finding items to keep, donate or toss, you’ll need to first come up with a solid idea of what your personal style is. For instance, are you a rocker chic who loves to dress in leather and studs? Or, are you a minimalist who sticks to neutrals, a hipster who can’t get enough vintage shirts, or maybe a cowboy with a penchant for oversized belt buckles?

Whatever your style, you don’t have to change it just because you’re adopting an intentional fashion mindset. Rather, this type of change should accentuate who you really are and allow you to step more confidently into that role. You’ll do so by dressing only in items that fit that style precisely, rather than muddling your message by wearing mismatched pieces that don’t truly express your individualism.

2. Understand that life happens in cycles.

It’s no secret that as we age, our clothing choices change. The items you rocked in college or before might not be as appropriate or flattering when you’re in the workplace, or a new mom, or a retiree, etc. As such, when planning to create an intentional wardrobe, keep in mind the stage of life you are in right now. While you can always think ahead and consider upcoming changes, that can lead you down a rabbit hole of purchasing.

For instance, you might be just starting out in your career. Yet, you know that one day you want to start a family and transition to staying at home full-time. That doesn’t mean that it’s time to run out and start stocking up on maternity gear just yet. While you definitely don’t want to start over from scratch every time your work or personal life transitions, the idea is to curate a wardrobe carefully over time, buying pieces individually that will carry you through those changes.

So, using the pregnancy example, you might buy two or three workplace outfits now that you can interchange and swap out to make it through the work week, and these will be the crux of your wardrobe. While you’re at it, you might pick up a pair of great, stretchy pants that would also work well with a baby bump down the road. Yet, you’ll wait until the time comes to incorporate more pieces like that into your closet.

3. Be willing to spend a little more.

Understand that a tenant of intentional fashion is that you’ll spend a little more on top-quality items that you know will last, rather than going out and buying a cartload of tops, bottoms, skirts and dresses for a discount price that may fall apart in a few years. These investment pieces will form the cornerstone of your new wardrobe. As such, it should go without saying that you’ll need to take better care of these pieces, from the way you launder them to the way you store them, to ensure they provide you with a lifetime of wear.

4. Shop sales with caution.

As mentioned above, it’s tempting to spend a little on clothes and get a ton in return. That’s why we’re so drawn to sales! Yet, once you adopt the mindset of dressing and shopping intentionally, it’s important to approach every sale, discount and promotion with a healthy dose of realism. If you have an actual, gaping hole in your wardrobe (you don’t own a single piece of swimwear, for instance), a sale might be a great place to snag that missing piece, especially if it’s deeply discounted and a great brand with a reputation for quality.

Keeping a seasonal calendar can help you determine which pieces you need for each season and which ones it’s time to replace. You can also avoid sales temptation by getting all promotions sent to you via email. This way, you’re not drawn to the brick-and-mortar stores as much and you’re less likely to browse their racks on your lunch break. You can easily delete an email and move on.

While intentional fashion isn’t for everyone, it can be a great way to eliminate excess clutter, simplify your wardrobe and inject a ton of quality in your closet. If you’re currently wearing worn-out jeans from 10 years ago, a top that doesn’t flatter you, and shoes that are falling apart at the seams, it’s time to reevaluate your approach to how you dress. The good news is you don’t have to make a massive overhaul all at once. Start small and slow and allow yourself to be transformed by the change.