Why You Should Try the 10-Item Wardrobe | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Lifestyle

Why You Should Try the 10-Item Wardrobe

Less Clothes, More to Wear

437
Why You Should Try the 10-Item Wardrobe
pixabay.com

More choices = an easier life.

Right?

Not necessarily. Especially when it comes to your wardrobe.

How many times have you opened your closet and discovered you have nothing to wear? You have clothes, but this shirt is too long for that skirt, and if you pair that purple sweater with your green pants you'll look like Barney. Half your clothes don't even fit anymore, and a good percent of the rest you don't even like (like that duck sweater Aunt Beatrice gave you for Christmas...).

Excess clothes not only clutter your closet (or your bedroom floor...), but also your style. How many of your clothes actually reflect who you are? Does your closet project one coherent style, or is it a hodgepodge collection of random items?

In her TEDx talk, Jennifer L. Scott presents the Ten-Item Wardrobe as the solution to these style problems:

The goal of the ten-item wardrobe is to create a coherent collection of ten basic pieces that can be mixed and matched, easily accessorized, and that reflect the unique style of the wearer. Having a hodgepodge closet myself, I was intrigued by this idea. So I decided to give it a try. I bought her book, Lessons from Madame Chic: 20 Stylish Secrets I Learned While Living in Paris, and opened my closet.

Combining Scott's directions from her book and her TEDx talk (and a tip of the hat to one of my favorite book series, The Selection by Kiera Cass I created my own version of the clothing elimination process:

*BEFORE YOU BEGIN!!!* Don't forget to show the environment some love by donating the clothes you eliminate to your local second-hand store or missionary box instead of throwing them away!

ROUND ONE: The Selected

In this round all the obvious no's are weeded out by asking these questions:

Does this fit me? If the answer is no, toss it out. Do not keep clothes that are too big or too small. Don't keep something around that you hope you will fit into again one day. Pull out anything that makes you feel uncomfortable when it's on your body.

Is this age-appropriate? Just because your old polka-dot prom dress still fits doesn't mean you should still be wearing it! Don't keep clothes that are no longer appropriate for the season of life you are in.

Do I like this? Pull out any clothes you don't actually like. Don't feel guilty about throwing away something that was a gift. These items are holding you back from discovering your true style.

ROUND TWO: The Elites

Now that you've weeded out the definite misfits, it's time to weed out the more subtle style counterfeits with these questions:

Is this in good condition? You're an adult now. Dress like it. Throw out anything with large holes, tears, or permanent stains. However, don't throw out something you love just because it's missing a button. Thread a needle and fix it. If you don't know how, learn. Clothing needs to be maintained. Minor wears and tears are easily fixable with minimal sewing skills, and fixing them will save you money in the long run.

Do I ever wear this? Various clothes are worn in various seasons for various occasions, but we all have that one shirt or dress or jacket that we like on the hanger but not on ourselves and never actually wear. Let it go.

ROUND THREE: The Ones

Every piece in your pile should now be something you love, that fits, and that's in great condition or easily repairable. Now it's time to use these last questions to narrow down to your core items:

Does this flatter me? Just because a piece of clothing made it to round three doesn't mean it is necessarily flattering on you. Do the colors compliment your skin tone or make you look washed out or sick? This color quiz can help you sort through what colors will most likely look best on you. Also look at the shape of your clothes. Do they compliment your figure or cut across your body at odd angles? Do they accentuate your features, or do they reveal too much or completely hide your shape? (I like to use Marilyn Monroe's quote as a guideline: "Your clothes should be tight enough to show you are a woman, but loose enough to show you are a lady."). Wearing shorts or skirts of a particular length can make you look shorter and stubbier than you really are. Pull out anything that is unflattering.

Does this still reflect who I am? How does each article of clothing make you feel when you wear it? Does the item instantly make you feel handsome or beautiful, comfortable in your own skin, powerful, and happy? Keep it! You have found a piece that reflects your true style! Does the item make you feel stiff, sad, self-conscious, like a younger version of yourself, or like you're trying to be someone else? Pull it out. That piece isn't you! Even if it used to be you, it isn't now. It's time to let go so you can be who you really are!

Congratulations! You now have a wardrobe that reflects who you are. Creating your ten-item wardrobe from this pile is now simple.

First you want to determine your core items. Look at the season you are in and pull out any clothing that doesn't to be stored away until they are needed. From there, chose the basic pieces you will wear the most often. For me, this consists of two pairs of dress pants, five tops, one skirt, and two dresses. These work for me because that is what I wear to work.

Lastly, you will want to chose your extras. These are the pieces that complete your outfits. My extras include a few cardigans, sweaters, scarves, and leggings for layering on cold days, jeans to wear on the weekends, exercise clothes for my dance class, pj's, socks, and a warm coat.

The Benefits

Now that I have a ten-item wardrobe, I save so much time getting dressed in the morning. I can pretty much grab any shirt, cardigan, and pants and they will go together. I feel effortlessly comfortable and beautiful in all the clothes I wear. And my closet now expresses my true style, which happens to be classic vintage ballerina (classically-structured pieces, vintage silhouettes, and soft ballet-inspired styles and fabrics).



Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

197001
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

18913
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

Power of Love Letters

I don't think I say it enough...

460939
Illistrated image of a letter with 2 red hearts
StableDiffusion

To My Loving Boyfriend,

  • Thank you for all that you do for me
  • Thank you for working through disagreements with me
  • Thank you for always supporting me
  • I appreciate you more than words can express
  • You have helped me grow and become a better person
  • I can't wait to see where life takes us next
  • I promise to cherish every moment with you
  • Thank you for being my best friend and confidante
  • I love you and everything you do

To start off, here's something I don't say nearly enough: thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You do so much for me that I can't even put into words how much I appreciate everything you do - and have done - for me over the course of our relationship so far. While every couple has their fair share of tiffs and disagreements, thank you for getting through all of them with me and making us a better couple at the other end. With any argument, we don't just throw in the towel and say we're done, but we work towards a solution that puts us in a greater place each day. Thank you for always working with me and never giving up on us.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

11 Signs You Grew Up In Hauppauge, NY

Because no one ever really leaves.

28338
Map of Hauppauge, New York
Google

Ah, yes, good old Hauppauge. We are that town in the dead center of Long Island that barely anyone knows how to pronounce unless they're from the town itself or live in a nearby area. Hauppauge is home to people of all kinds. We always have new families joining the community but honestly, the majority of the town is filled with people who never leave (high school alumni) and elders who have raised their kids here. Around the town, there are some just some landmarks and places that only the people of Hauppauge will ever understand the importance or even the annoyance of.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments