No More Wardrobe Woes! Let’s Solve the “I Have Nothing to Wear” Predicament Once and for All!
It doesn’t matter how many pieces of clothing you own, but how well you remember them.
Don’t you just hate those morning moments? It’s time to dress up and you stare into your closet, which is kinda full, but in reality seems like nothing fits you, the opportunity, or your mood today. You have nothing to wear.
Maybe you do some shopping afterwards and buy additional clothes, but the problem reappears soon.
My Simple Photo Album Method
I no longer have this problem. And it is not because I bought more clothes. It’s because I made a photo collection out of all pieces I own.
I believe “I have nothing to dress” happens not because we do have not enough to wear but because we can’t see the possibilities our closets offer us in form of colourful piles of shirts, pants, cardigans, etc. My brain suggests only a combination or two when I stare at those piles. But when I look at a curated album I remember the outfit that I feel good wearing it. Or, sometimes, I get new ideas on how to wear and combine separate pieces.
I find this method very useful when the season changes or when we have some special opportunities to attend to. Or when my favourites are in the washing because I’ve worn them on Monday and Tuesday and can’t remember what to put on at the end of the working week.
Shopping help
I also use it when shopping. It helps me in two ways:
1. I don’t buy another pair of dark blue trousers if I already have them in this colour or shape.
2. I think about combining new pieces with those I already own. Before I am 100% sure about buying something, I’ll ask myself: Will this go well with my wardrobe?
I simply scroll through the Google album when still in the dressing room (or before finishing an online order).
By looking into the album, it instantly becomes clear to me if this is something that will make my wardrobe more coherent or if it is a “solo” piece. If so, I should either leave it in the shop or choose more things to make combinations out of it.
Curating the album
So, if I am bringing clothes home, I will make a photo of them, either on a hanger or me wearing them. I make a photo of a solo piece and the entire outfit.
Then, I upload photos in my Google album (whatever gallery app will do the job) named “My wardrobe”. Because it is set as a private album, images don’t have to be Instagram-perfect. As long as clothes are visible enough photos are good enough. This simplicity takes the pressure off.
Although, I have to admit that at the moment I am sharing the album with 2 people: my mom and a good friend. I do it because I appreciate their opinion on newly added outfits. So, sharing is an option, but I recommend keeping it more private than public. In this way “you can do you” in whole honesty and therefore get the most value out of it.
It’s a Method for Ordinary People
At this point, I feel that I have to address one more thing. I am by no means some fashion guru. In fact, I am a very ordinary person, a woman in her 30s and a full-time office-working mum. Just someone who likes to be presentable and considered well put together with no special interest in the latest fashion trends. I am more into timeless classics and well-fitted pieces. But the latter doesn’t even matter. I am writing about it so you can relate and see how easily you can overcome the “I have nothing to dress” dilemma.
How does it look like?
I like to keep my album private, so I won’t share the link, but you can see some snapshots below.
How to start?
To be fair, I’ve started from zero. Due to some health challenges, I lost about 25 kg during my maternity leave. So, when I returned to work I had nothing to wear. (This time for real!) Everything was oversized, even my shoes became too wide and fell off my feet while walking. I had to build the entire wardrobe from scratch. Because my budget was tight, I would use and wear whatever seemed appropriate enough.
Whenever my relatives or friends decluttered anything in my size, I was happy to take it. I would also do some thrift shopping and use the Facebook marketplace. The result was a closet full of random, more or less office-appropriate stuff. To help myself, I did a photo of each piece and put it into the album. This helped me to build combinations, to see what is missing and therefore buy fewer additional pieces and curate the physical wardrobe.
Adding in and taking out
I don’t only add to this album, I take photos out too. For example, there was a red shirt that didn’t go well with any of my trousers and wasn’t really my colour either. I did not wear it once in a whole year. If I haven’t had the album, I would probably forget I even had it. But because the photo was there, I put it out of the album and out of my closet.
Give it a chance
If you feel you have nothing to dress and your closet is full, let me invite you to try out the Photo album method instead. I would be happy to read in the comments how it went for you.
