264 | The 3-Part Formula for a Cohesive Wardrobe That Fits Your Life

Summary

Episode Summary: HER Style Podcast | Episode 264 – The 3-Part Formula for a Cohesive Wardrobe That Fits Your Life

In Episode 264 of the HER Style Podcast, titled "The 3-Part Formula for a Cohesive Wardrobe That Fits Your Life," host Heather Riggs delves into creating a streamlined and functional wardrobe tailored to individual lifestyles, budgets, and personal confidence. Drawing parallels between assembling a puzzle and curating a wardrobe, Heather provides listeners with actionable steps to transform their closets into cohesive collections that inspire confidence and ease in daily dressing.

Introduction: The Wardrobe Puzzle

Heather opens the episode with an engaging analogy comparing an unplanned wardrobe to a jigsaw puzzle where pieces don't fit despite appearing compatible. She states, “[00:02:30] Heather Riggs: ...this is exactly how an unplanned wardrobe feels as well. You've got clothes and clothes, yes, but not the right combination to create the beautiful and complete picture you want.”

Part 1: Aligning Your Wardrobe with Your Lifestyle

The first component of Heather's formula emphasizes the importance of ensuring that one's wardrobe aligns with their current lifestyle. She underscores that wardrobes should reflect present-day activities rather than past routines or aspirational lifestyles.

Key Points:

• Assess Daily Activities: Heather advises listeners to identify the primary categories of outfits needed for the upcoming months, such as workwear, casual weekend attire, gym clothes, or special event outfits.

• Evaluate Existing Pieces: She encourages examining whether each category has sufficient pieces that not only fit the required activities but also make the wearer feel their best. Heather challenges listeners to determine the "biggest gaps" between what they have and what they need.

Reflection Questions:

1. What are the top three to five categories of outfits I need for the next one to three months?
2. Do I have enough outfits I truly love for each of these categories?
3. Where are the biggest gaps between what I own and what I actually need?

Heather highlights the significance of focusing on gaps to prioritize shopping or styling efforts effectively. She shares a personal anecdote: “[00:10:45] Heather Riggs: ...I had 32 cocktail dresses in my closet, but I didn't have a properly fitting bra. One of the biggest needs I had was practical undergarments...”

Part 2: Respecting Your Budget

The second part of the formula centers on budgeting, a topic Heather addresses with relatable honesty. She shares her initial aversion to budgeting for clothing but acknowledges its critical role in maintaining a sustainable wardrobe.

Key Points:

• Set a Total Budget: Heather advises determining a comfortable total spending limit for the season before embarking on any shopping to avoid overspending.

• Prioritize High-Impact Items: She suggests identifying three to five items that will significantly enhance daily outfits, ensuring that investments are intentional and impactful.

• Evaluate Cost per Wear: Heather introduces the concept of "cost per wear," exemplifying it with, “[00:18:30] Heather Riggs: ...if you spend $100 on jeans and wear them 50 times a year, that's $2 per wear. But a $100 dress worn once is $100 per wear.”

Reflection Questions:

1. How much am I comfortable spending on my wardrobe this season?
2. What three to five items would make the biggest difference in my day-to-day outfits?
3. Which current pieces do I wear often enough to have a low cost per wear, and which ones were splurges that didn't pay off?

Heather emphasizes that respecting a budget doesn't equate to compromising on style but rather promotes intentional purchasing aligned with personal needs and financial comfort.

Part 3: Dressing in What Makes You Feel Your Best

The final segment of Heather's formula focuses on the emotional and personal satisfaction derived from one's wardrobe. She asserts that clothing choices should enhance confidence and reflect authenticity.

Key Points:

• Identify Preferred Colors and Styles: List the colors, fabrics, and silhouettes that consistently make you feel good and are frequently complimented by others.

• Emotional Connection to Clothing: Heather encourages recognizing pieces that bring joy and excluding those that no longer serve a positive purpose.

• Letting Go of Unloved Items: She advises evaluating whether to style underutilized items differently or to let them go entirely.

Reflection Questions:

1. What colors, fabrics, or silhouettes do I always feel good in?
2. Which pieces in my closet make me smile when I put them on, and why?
3. Are there any items I'm holding onto even though I don't feel great in them?

Heather reinforces the idea that a wardrobe should be a source of enjoyment rather than stress, promoting a personalized and joyful approach to dressing.

Integrating the Three-Part Formula

To consolidate the three components—aligning with lifestyle, respecting the budget, and dressing in what feels best—Heather proposes a final, integrative reflection:

“If I could only make three wardrobe updates this season to better fit my lifestyle, budget, and confidence, what would they be?”

This question serves as a personalized action plan, guiding listeners to identify and implement meaningful changes that enhance their overall style experience.

Conclusion: Actionable Steps Forward

Heather wraps up the episode by affirming the effectiveness of her three-part formula, assuring listeners that it fosters intention and cohesion in their wardrobes. She encourages immediate application of the reflection questions to lay the groundwork for a more streamlined and satisfying dressing routine.

Notable Quote: “[00:25:00] Heather Riggs: ...this is simple. It's going to give you a lot more intention as you're shopping and styling your outfits. And I promise you, it works.”

Heather invites listeners to continue their style journey by engaging with future episodes and utilizing the strategies discussed to achieve a closet that truly fits their lives.

Final Thoughts

Episode 264 of the HER Style Podcast offers a structured and empathetic approach to wardrobe optimization. Heather Riggs expertly balances practical advice with personal insights, making the process of curating a cohesive wardrobe both accessible and empowering for ambitious women seeking confidence in their daily attire.

Transcript

[Heather Riggs]

A couple of my girlfriends and I like to get together and puzzle during the fall and winter months, which I am starting to get weirdly excited for, even though it's only August. But do you know that feeling when you're working on a puzzle but the pieces you have just don't fit together? It's so frustrating, isn't it? It looks like they should work and you can try to force them into place, but you know deep down it's not quite right. And this is exactly how an unplanned wardrobe feels as well. You've got clothes and clothes, yes, but not the right combination to create the beautiful and complete picture you want. Today I'm going to show you how to fix that. I have a simple three part formula that will help you choose the right pieces for your closet so they all connect perfectly based on your actual life, your budget, and what makes you feel amazing when you put them on. And by the end of this episode, you'll know exactly what to look for and what to let go of so your wardrobe finally comes together perfectly. Welcome to Her Style podcast where we're all about empowering you to show up and get dressed every day with confidence. I'm your host, Heather Riggs, a 15 year and counting certified image consultant and color specialist, ready to build a wardrobe and a personal style you love. Let's get started. I usually try to plan these episodes a little bit more strategically so that we're breaking up the topics and making things feel a little bit different and interesting and covering all the bases. But apparently we are on a simple three step solution kick this week. And today's strategy is not to be confused with the three step framework from the last episode. On Monday, we were talking about eliminating decision fatigue and picking your outfits with more confidence and clarity, kind of getting you over that analysis paralysis if you feel like you're overwhelmed with options in your wardrobe. But today we're going to take a step back and make sure that you have the right pieces to start with. I hear this in our community a lot. Things like my life has changed and now my wardrobe doesn't work or I'm struggling to get dressed intentionally for my daily routines like errands and school runs or gardening or what have you. I want to feel stylish and practical or I'm transitioning to a more casual lifestyle or my work wardrobe doesn't meet my style anymore and whatever boat you're in, I think that all of these challenges fall under a similar umbrella, which is the desire to have a cohesive Wardrobe that works for your real life. So at the risk of sounding redundant this week, I want to walk you through another three part formula, because three really is such an easy, doable number, isn't it? My goal is always to make this actionable for you and easy to implement. So we're going to zoom out and make sure that you have the right puzzle pieces to match the desired picture to create for your closet. So the first step, part one, is to think about aligning your wardrobe with your lifestyle. The first step is making sure that your wardrobe matches what you actually have going on and what you need to get dressed for. Not the life that you wish you had, not the one you had five years ago, not the one you think you should have. And here's what I mean. If you're weak is 80% casual. Think school drop offs, you're working from home, you're running errands, then you need the bulk of your wardrobe to be comfortable, stylish, everyday friendly pieces. That's not to say that you can't have that with a dramatic flare or an alluring edge to your style. You can still work within your signature look, but the goal is to make sure that you actually have what you need to get dressed for the activities of your day. Now, if your calendar is full of client meetings, presentations, date nights, and you need to be dressed up a little bit more, your clothing mix is probably going to need to look totally different. So let's pause here. I want to give you a set of reflection questions and we're going to do this for each step because I really want to make this action oriented for you today. So the first thing to think about is what are the top three to five categories of outfits that I need for the next one to three months? I usually like to plan season by season. So if you're listening to this in August when the episode drops, you might want to think about what you have coming up in the fall. Or think maybe September, October, November, just before the holiday season begins. And think in terms of activities. Do you need workwear, weekend casual outfits, things for the gym? Maybe you have some special events coming up. I want you to actually break out your calendar, look at it and figure out what three to five categories of outfits you primarily need to get through the next couple of months? The second reflection question to think about is, do I have enough outfits I truly love for each of these categories? I'm not talking good enough outfits or we'll settle for this. I'm talking pieces that make you feel like your best self. So we're raising the bar slowly but surely, and I want you to really think about which categories you're struggling with the most right now. And then third, where are the biggest gaps between what you own and what you actually need? This is something that I went through. I've talked about this many times before. I feel like the best example is still when I realized I had 32 cocktail dresses dresses in my closet, but I didn't have a properly fitting bra. And one of the biggest needs that I had at that time was practical undergarments, those basic staple pieces that I was ignoring for the sake of having things that were just fun, pretty frilly, all of that. So look at what's coming up for you over the next one to three months. Look at what you have within each of those categories and then pinpoint the biggest gaps between what you own and what you actually need. Those gaps are going to be where you really want to focus your shopping or styling energy at the present moment. If it helps, give yourself a minute right now to think about these. Even if you're just mentally answering and not actually jotting things down, this is going to make everything else so much easier. So if you want, take a minute to pause, think about this and do it in real time. Okay, let's move on to part two when you're ready, which is to respect your budget. I know I said the B word, and I used to be someone who hated the idea of having a shopping budget budget. But even the most beautiful, Pinterest worthy wardrobe won't feel good if it sends your bank account into the negative. Believe me, I know this firsthand. Nothing feels as good as shopping for things that you can actually afford and doing it in a way that makes you feel your best. So here's the thing. Respecting your budget doesn't mean you can't have amazing clothes. It just means that you're intentional with what you buy and how you spend your money. So maybe it means saving up for high quality coats that you're going to want to wear for years to come. And you balance that by finding great basics at more affordable prices. Here are your reflection questions for this step. The first one is how much am I comfortable spending on my wardrobe this season? We want to think as a total. And you're going to want to set this number before you do any shopping so that you don't overspend in the moment. I know impulse shopping is real. It's hard to resist those beautiful things that catch your eye and you don't Always have to. But you do want to make sure that you're working within the boundaries of your budget and prioritizing what you need most first. So the second question is what three to five items would make the biggest difference in my day to day outfits? This is where going through part one is going to be so helpful, when you know what you actually need to get dressed for. And this will help you invest where it really matters. So you're going to want to bump those three to five items up to the top of your shopping list. And then number three is which current pieces do I wear often enough to have a low cost per wear? And, and which ones were splurges that didn't pay off? And I think that this question is worth reflecting on from time to time just to make sure that you are making wise and sound investments from your wardrobe. And if you're not, you're learning from those, I don't even wanna call them mistakes. You're learning from those lessons what works for you and what maybe doesn't work for you so that you can make more conscious and intentional choices in the future. And this is a really powerful way to see what's worth investing in for you personally, because this is different for each and every one of us. For some people, you might really value a great handbag and shoe collection. For other people, the basics are going to be where it's at for you. So you've got to think about what you're wearing most and which things ended up having a higher cost per wear than you would have liked. If you've never calculated cost per wear before, let me give you a quick example. Let's say you spend a hundred dollars on a pair of jeans and you wear them 50 times within a year. That's $2 per wear. You don't have to get crazy about this, just a general estimate. If you know you've worn those jeans, you know, once a week, let's say on average, that makes it probably totally worth it. It was $2 per wear for that pair of jeans. But if you drop $100 on a dress and you wore it once this year, then that's $100 per wear. So comparatively, it's not as great of an investment as those jeans might have been. Unless it's. It's something that was truly special, that's really meaningful to you and that you know you will use again in the future. So again, there's relativity to all of this. But ideally, you want to make sure that you're getting a good Return on all of your investments. Okay, Part three is to dress in what makes you feel your best. This is the final step. It's the one that ties everything together. Because your wardrobe should make you feel good, Period. When you put something on, you should feel comfortable, confident, and exactly like yourself. The best version of yourself. Not like you're playing dress up or you're hiding out or you're trying to wear what everybody else is telling you you should wear, even if it doesn't really resonate for you. So here's your final set of reflection questions for this last piece. And the first one is, what colors, fabrics, or silhouettes do I always feel good in? Think about the things that you just naturally gravitate toward, the ones you tend to get the most compliments on. The pieces in your closet that you reach for over and over because they just make you feel great. You want to write those down. Be really cognizant of what's working for you so you can do more of that. Secondly, which pieces in my closet make me smile when I put them on? And why? I am a firm believer that getting dressed gets to be fun. This does not have to be daunting. It doesn't have to be overly complicated. You get to have fun when you get dressed. So think about the things that light you up a little bit more, that make you excited to get dressed. This is going to help you figure out your personal style, and it might help to give you some good style values to consider when you're evaluating other pieces that you want to bring into your wardrobe. So try to think about why you love those items, and then you can create a list of things that you might want to consider as you're shopping for new pieces. And third, are there any items I'm holding on to even though I don't feel great in them? If the answer is yes, it's time to either consider styling them differently so that you can feel better in them, or it might be time to replace them or just let them go. If you are holding onto it and still wearing it but you don't love it, that's a good indicator that it's time to replace that item with something better. And if you're holding onto it and you never wear it and you never have a need to wear it, you could probably safely just let it go. Now, I want you to put all of this together with one final question. Again, the three parts to this whole puzzle piece and getting everything to fit perfectly is aligning your wardrobe with your lifestyle, respecting your budget and dressing in. What makes you feel your best? Now, the last question that I want you to take with you, because this is gonna just tie it all together, is if I could only make three wardrobe updates this season to better fit my lifestyle, budget and confidence, what would they be? I want you to pinpoint the top three things, one from each of those categories that we just talked about so you can figure out what updates you really need to focus on to move the needle and start putting together more cohesive wardrobe. Seriously, write these three things down. What do you need to do to better fit your lifestyle, your budget, and your confidence level? This is going to give you your personalized, laser focused style plan for the season ahead. All right, friend, that is your new three part formula for creating a cohesive wardrobe that fits your life. It's simple. It's going to give you a lot more intention as you're shopping and styling your outfits. And I promise you, it works. If you have been nodding along with this episode and if you're ready to take the next step, then you do not want to miss out on next Monday's episode. This upcoming Monday, I'm gonna be sharing something that I put together to help you actually implement these tips in real time this fall before the new season is in full swing. Here's a hint. It's gonna be hands on. We're gonna have a lot of fun and it's gonna transform the way you feel about your closet. So make sure that you're subscribed to her Style podcast so you don't miss this upcoming episode. Or if you want to be the first to know, then make sure that you're on our free VIP email list so you can get advanced access. You can sign up for [e-mail] VIP and if you do that in the next 48 hours or so from the time this episode drops, you'll get to find out what's coming out before it's announced here in the next episode. Just make sure you sign up before this upcoming Sunday, which is gonna be August. Let's see, 17th. That is when our weekly newsletter goes out so you can be first to get all the details again. You can join that [e-mail] VIP until then, go work on answering all of those reflection questions I gave you in this episode and I'll meet you back here in a few days with some very big news. I'll see you soon. Thank you for listening to today's episode. If you want to stop copying everyone else's style and stuff, start dialing in your own swoon worthy signature look. Head over to take my free 5 minute personal style quiz which you can find at the link in the show notes. If you've enjoyed our time together, please be sure to rate, review and subscribe to her style podcast so you never miss an episode. Finally, I invite you to make this a two way conversation and send me a DM over on Instagram eatherriggstyle to let me know how I can best support you on your style journey. I'm always here for you in style and service. Until next time.