ecoLIVING London

It’s been a busy couple of years with the start-up of ecoLIVING London, so much so, that I haven’t really had the time or the inclination to do a lot of shopping for myself. That said, as our organization came together and my schedule began to fill, I was finding myself struggling to pull together outfits for all the different functions of my new role. It was time to create a wardrobe that reflected me, today.

My goal in creating this wardrobe, was to stylishly cover all of the areas of my life and then stop shopping. The reality is that while some women seem to do this effortlessly (you know the ones – painfully chic – usually European), others are a disaster. Entering into stores without a plan, they end up continually buying random pieces that do not coordinate and end up sitting unused in their closet. Not wanted to fall victim to the clutter or perpetuate the vicious cycle that is consumerism, I decided to do a little prep work beforehand.

Here are my top four tips for creating a smart wardrobe:

1. Know Thyself
For the purposes of this article I am referring to your body shape and the cuts/colours that best compliment you. I did my research online and through books. ‘The Body Shape Bible’ by Trinny & Susannah was helpful (all their books are great), as was ‘The Pocket Stylist’ written by Kendall Farr. Knowing the styles that suit your body will ensure that everything you buy will make you feel a million dollars and will get worn rather than taking up space in your closet. To determine your style preference, I recommend gathering magazines from that friend or family member who buys them like a fiend and tearing out photos of the looks that you love. Then determine how you could recreate them to suit your body shape.

2. Take Stock
Next you’ll want to have a look in your closet to see how many items you have that actually suit your body shape and colour palette, based on the knowledge you just gained from your research. Keep what works and recycle (sell, give away, donate) or toss all that does not. 

3. Plan Your Purchases
It’s easy to get carried away by all the beautifully merchandised items in store, however, random purchasing doesn’t do anyone any favours. It’s a waste of your money, the world’s shared resources, and it makes us look a mess rather than pulled together. The third step is to make a list of your lifestyle categories, roles and activities (i.e. Professional, Personal, Dressy, and Sports/Exercise), and keeping your “kept” wardrobe pieces in mind, create a ‘To Buy’ list consisting of what you will need to finish off outfits in each of these categories. Refer to your gathered magazine photos for inspiration. Then when you get into the stores… stick to your list!

4. Look for Quality over Quantity
My Dad always told us to “Buy the best you can afford and then take care of it”. For your wardrobe staples especially, try to focus your spending on good quality items. Look for classic styles that suit your body, are sewn well and are made of good quality materials to ensure that your wardrobe will stand the test of time.

I have found that being organized plays a big role in living lightly on our dear planet. Planning your wardrobe will take a bit of time initially, but will save you much (time, money, resources) in the end. 

Tiffany Roschkow is the Founder and Executive Director of ecoLIVING London. She can be reached via email at tiffany [at] ecolivinglondon [dot] org.

Picture Description: The item I was in most desperate need of was JEANS. I find jeans one of the hardest items to buy. Like bathing suits or bras, they either fit and make you feel fantastic or they make you want to jump off a bridge. Knowing my shape – I entered the store armed with the knowledge that I needed low-rise, wide-leg jeans with a simple design that would hug my curves. I entered the aisle containing my size and filled my cart with nearly 50 pairs (Yes 50!). From that 50 I found 5 of the most perfect jeans ever created (for my body). I paid just over $80 for all 5 pairs, which is amazing considering that I wouldn’t of gotten one of these pairs new for that price at the mall.

Stay tuned for my next article on the art of buying second-hand.:)