Do you feel like your wardrobe isn’t quite the collection of clothes it should be? We all have our own takes on fashion and we define our style according to who we are and how we like to express ourselves. However, we also all know that sometimes the occasion calls for a much different look than the one we really like! 

That’s where a lot of our wardrobes fall short. We buy clothes we know we like and feel good in, but when the time comes for a wedding or a dinner out with all of our work colleagues, we rush to the shops to get something appropriate. But seeing as you can’t be sure you’ll find something, or if you do it might not fit or cling in places you’re uncomfortable with, you still might come home empty-handed. 

And if that’s something that always causes you a lot of stress, it’s time to dissect your wardrobe and make sure there really is an outfit for every occasion in there. From the underwear in the drawer to the scarf you can wrap around your shoulders to keep a nighttime chill off, this post can help you find everything you require. Build your collection up now and you’ll never have to worry about not being able to dress in the right way ever again. 

Understand Any Dress Code That Could Be Thrown at You

Dress codes – have they ever made you panic before? If so, you’re not the only one. They can be hard to understand and most people have a slightly different definition of them. But just in case you’re not sure, let’s go through a few of the most common you’ll see on invites and the like. 

Casual: This is the most common dress code for anything that isn’t even slightly formal, such as a party at your friend’s house or a ‘dress down Friday’ at work. Really, you can pretty much wear what you like when you’ve got the casual overhead. However, try not to go too far the other way into formal territory! 

Business Casual: This is a step up from casual and brings a professional sheen with it. Business casual tends to be the dress code for most workplaces unless you have a uniform or the nature of the business means you need to dress as formally as possible. If you were wondering, business casual isn’t jeans, but a few pairs of slacks with a plain top works just fine. 

Formal: Formal is the classic suit and tie, dress, and/or playsuit/jumpsuit. You’re not going all out ‘fancy’ in terms of style here, but you don’t want any casual clothing or accessories to be part of the ensemble. Go a bit flashy with this dress code but don’t think you have to be entirely straight-laced either. 

Black Tie: If you see this on the dress code, it’s time to go all out with your outfit. If you’ve got a dress on, it needs to be floor length and as close to a ‘gown’ as possible. If you’re wearing a suit, the bowtie needs to be securely in place!

Buy Both Sides of Your Style

Your style is your default. It’s what you like to wear and what you know you look good in. But sometimes you’re going to have to try and wiggle this around a bit. You’ll usually be able to find an outfit that fits your style no matter where you’re going, but you may have to buy clothing items that broadly fit the definition or exist on the boundaries of the style you currently love. 

Think of building your wardrobe as a scale. Your style is right in the middle and this is where most of your clothing choices are going to fall. Now, what lies outside of your style on either end? One side will be more ‘flashy’ and the other will be more muted and/or subtle. Buy quality pieces on either end a little more often to slowly build up your wardrobe’s suitability for any occasion. 

It may take some time to work out how this scale works for you, but sometimes it’s just a matter of perspective. If you have a strong punk style, for example, think about buying pieces that feel ‘tamer’ for you to close off the side of the scale that needs to be subtler. 

Branch out into Multiple Colors

If you tend to stick to one color palette when you’re buying clothes, you’ll want to start branching out into more shades and tones for the entirety of your wardrobe. That way you’ll never have anything that’s too light or too dark for a certain event, and you’ll never clash with what colors you’ve been told are OK or not. 

Of course, for some people, some colors are an absolute no-no. Some people hate wearing white, which will make dressing for a festive ball a little difficult. Similarly, some people hate dark colors like black and blue, which can then make it difficult to find a formal outfit. 

But depending on what you like and what you don’t, there’ll always be a way around. Swap white for cream, for example, and who doesn’t love a rich purple tux? It’ll certainly be a lot more interesting to look at than a simple black set. 

Buy All Different Types of Accessories

Accessories tend to make an outfit. They give it that final touch that brings everything else together. And when it comes to accessories, more is always better! You want to invest in a bit of everything for your wardrobe, including earrings, necklaces, scarves, hats, nails, bracelets, shoes, bags, and anything else you can think of. If they’re in there, you can just grab them and go when the occasion calls for it.

You should also make sure the accessories you do buy have a good range amongst them. If you have silver studs, for example, you need a good pair of gold hoops as well. If you have a drop necklace with a simple gem at the bottom, you need a chunky necklace that clings to the collarbone too. A bit of everything means you’ll never be without the exact finishing touch you need! 

Experiment if You’re Not Sure What You Like

After you’ve sorted clothing types into the different outfits that’ll work for any dress code you might have to abide by, figure out which of these clothes both feel good and look good. If they do, you’ll want to buy them. On the other hand, don’t buy anything that doesn’t look good on your frame or make you feel good while it’s on. 

As we said above, you’ll still be operating within the comfortable confines of your personal style, so it shouldn’t be too difficult to find something that works. However, the more you experiment, the easier it’ll be to remove the stress from outfit decisions. You’ll soon be able to pinpoint exactly the right clothes by sight alone! 

Store Clothes Carefully – Especially if You Don’t Wear Them Often

And finally, let’s make sure the items you buy will last for as long as possible. You don’t want expensive items you’ve bought to fit the formal side of life to become stale and moth-eaten over time. You also don’t want any hard-to-remove creases to get into the sleeves and trouser legs; even the hardiest of irons or steamers can struggle to get rid of those. 

Firstly, always follow the washing instructions. If something is dry clean only, don’t be tempted to quickly rejuvenate it by throwing it in your washing machine! Second, you may also want to get clothing bags to keep your quality stuff in. These are the bags you can slip over the top of an outfit after it’s been put on a hanger and then zipped up.

Be sure to check on these items from time to time as well. If it’s been a couple of months since you’ve had to wear something, give it the once over and see if it’s still in good condition. If you spot a mystery stain somewhere on the collar, look over those washing instructions and get to it! 

Let’s Turn Your Wardrobe into the Clothing Center it Should Be

If you want to have an outfit for every occasion just at hand, these are the kinds of tips you should follow. Learn your dress codes, make sure you have multiple colors to choose from, never forget about the accessories, and if you’re not sure what looks good within each style, experiment! 

The closer you follow a method like this, the easier it’ll be to dress up for an event without worry. Indeed, turn your wardrobe into something truly reliable and fashion is never going to feel like a ton of pressure ever again! And if you’ve bought something expensive and a bit flashy, make sure you store it properly so it takes care of itself.