What a wardrobe wishlist is, why, and how to create one!

One of the key steps I identified in my first slow fashion post, What is Slow Fashion? is to “strategize” so that we intentionally and thoughtfully build a wardrobe rather than just “end up with” one from shopping on whims. One of the best ways to strategize your wardrobe is to work with a Wardrobe Wish List. Let me explain.

What is a Wardrobe Wish List?

Having a Wardrobe Wish List does not make you greedy or silly. This list is not a pie in the sky kind of want list.

Instead, a Wardrobe Wish List is a strategically devised list of the pieces that you think might work well in your existing wardrobe to help create outfits that line up with your personal style essence, lifestyle, color palette, body shape, and proportions.

It’s all about strategy. And remember, the purpose of the strategy is to, eventually, create a more minimal wardrobe, a more streamlined and efficient one.

Here’s How I Created My List

I felt like I needed to go ahead and start thinking strategically about how I would shop without making senseless, expensive purchases that I would later regret.

So here’s what I’ve done…gradually..over the past few months, close to a year now:

1. Revisit my Pinterest pins and boards and saved posts on Instagram to identify what I want my outfits in different seasons to look like. It’s not about what clothes I like, what colors I love, or even what the trends are. I want to remind myself about the outfits I see that resonate most with my personal style and lifestyle.
2. Note the articles of clothing & accessories needed to create those outfits. I made lists of the specific types of jeans, pants, tops, dresses, outer garments, shoes, and accessories that comprised these looks.
3. Decide on my wardrobe neutrals. I decided that my wardrobe neutrals will be grey and white. I’ll have some brown accessories probably, already got brown shoes, and I’ll wear a little bit of camel in the future.

4. Determine my signature colors. I’ve been steering toward shades of red, pink, blue, and yellow. These are the colors that make my undertones pop, especially shades of yellow, which is a color I never used to like at all.
5. List all of the items I already have in my wardrobe that will effectively create those looks. I listed out everything I already do have and love. These are the pieces that will easily contribute to the outfits I really want to wear. I can’t emphasize enough the need to actually write this list out. I thought through the list several times in my mind, recalling the items I enjoyed wearing over time. But it wasn’t until I actually put pen to paper that I recognized I have plenty of the essentials needed to create the outfits I love. But I also was able to quickly pinpoint the real holes in my wardrobe.

6. I listed out the items I think I might need to add in order to create interesting outfits that flatter me and fit my lifestyle. This is the beginning of your Wish List. At this point in the process, I realized I don’t actually need anything. I could live just fine without making a single purchase. And that’s true for most of us! So this Wish List really is an “icing on the cake” kind of list. But these are also the items I’d like to have in order to bring some color and interest to my looks. And I do have a few items in my wardrobe that truly just need to be replaced because of wear and tear, such as my black denim pants.

I will not buy all of the items on my wishlist this year. But they are simply the items I’ll be looking for as I go.

The Beauty of the Wardrobe Wish List

Notice this list is NOT called a Shopping List. I will not be shopping for all of these items, but these are simply the items I can buy if I happen to find them. So I’ll have “an eye out for them.”

The real beauty, however, of the Wardrobe Wish List is that it steers me clear of everything else that is not on the list. I will not be looking at anything else. And if I see something that strikes my fancy but is not on this list, then I’ll remind myself that keeping to the list will help me create the outfits I love while diverging from it will only eventually frustrate me and lead to waste.

I could (and probably will – let’s be honest!) buy a few things that are not on my Wish List. But having this Wish List and focusing on it will help me stay on track, so to speak.

Finally, having a wish list helps me to look for the very best item at the very best price. If I’m looking out for one black dress and only one black dress, then you better believe I’ll be looking for the very prettiest one I can find and at the best price. And by “best price” I don’t necessarily mean cheapest. I just want the best dress at the most reasonable price for the quality. Remember, these are items I want to have in my wardrobe for years.

Let me know if you have any questions. This exercise really helped me. And I think it’s key to developing more of a slow fashion mindset towards our wardrobes. So, good luck with creating your wishlist.

Thanks so much for stopping in today. I hope you enjoyed the post!

Enjoy your week and God bless you.