Ten Tips to Plan Your Autumn / Winter Wardrobe
1. Clean Out Your Wardrobe
You knew this was coming, right? There is no better way to make space (for more items of course) and to evaluate everything you own, than going through your wardrobe methodically, piece by piece. Throw away anything that hasn’t been worn in the last twelve months or no longer fits you. Consider selling these items on eBay, Depop, Vinted or better yet; donate to charity.
2. Take Note of What You Have
Curate a list of all the category gaps you have recognised while going through your wardrobe, like items you don’t have enough of or need to update. Identify key investment pieces you need and budget for them, like shoes, knits, coats and bags or any basics that need replacing. Think of special events you have coming up and if you need to buy anything specific for these. Also, think back to what you wore in previous years and if these looks can be carried on to this season and still look chic.
3. Research
Go online and look at your favourite shops and view their latest autumn/winter collection. See what styles and trends are in this season and begin scouting the best and most cost-effective version of each item that you need online. Spending time beforehand figuring out which pieces will make the biggest difference to your existing wardrobe will save you time and money in the long run.
4. Make an Inspiration Board
Use Pinterest, your favourite blogs and look books to curate your favourite style inspirations and to figure out what you want your overall look to be for the season. What items, colours, materials and silhouettes will you go for? Go over the images and edit and tweak until you have created an overall vibe that works for you.
5. Assess Your Lifestyle
The perfect wardrobe should not only reflect your personal style, but also your lifestyle. For example work wear and heels won’t be so appropriate if you work from home or spend your day on the go. What you wear should compliment with how you live. Make sure you look through your social schedule for the coming season. Do you have any holidays planned? What activities will you need outfits for? What events do you have coming up? Group your clothing into categories to work out roughly how many outfits you need for the season. People tend to be less social in the colder months so take this into consideration; you may need less formal and more casual outfits.
6. Stick to a Colour Story
For convenience and practicality, the majority of what you wear should be in a neutral colour palette of blacks, greys, whites and nudes, which allows for optimal mixing and matching which will keep your wardrobe feeling fresh. Add excitement to neutrals this season with structure and texture. Autumn and Winter clothing choices tend to be more monochrome, however, if colour is your preference then think about tones of navy, khaki, magenta, maroon and vivid red, which are excellent additions to neutral tones. Pastels are also big again this year as are jewel tones of marine green and bright yellow
7. Quality Over Quantity
You should aim to have a small wardrobe of high-quality key pieces and low-cost essentials that can coexist together beautifully to give you your personal style. You’ve heard it before, but less is always more. Look for quality pieces over a large amount of on-trend items. And remember fit is everything. There are some core go-to pieces that a women’s autumn/winter wardrobe shouldn’t be without, like a good sweater, pair of jeans, blazer, coat, blouse and long sleeve dress, but stick to what styles work best for you and keep it refreshing in unexpected and inventive ways.
8. Seasonal Updates
Also known as ‘the fun stuff, buying on-trend items should be purchased in moderation. It is still acceptable to buy a few trendy pieces to carry your core wardrobe through each season and to give your wardrobe a refreshing lift.
9. Buy Only What You Love
Once you have clearly defined your overall style direction for the season, it is time to go shopping! Careful consideration of what you need beforehand will prevent impulse buys and overspending. You should love everything you buy and each piece should compliment your style and the rest of your wardrobe. Winter clothes can be more expensive so you want them to be able to be carried through to next year.
10. Create Some Go-To Looks
Once all the shopping is complete, familiarise yourself with your new wardrobe and spend time putting together as many different outfits as you can for every scenario. Pay attention to detail like accessories and styling, and experiment using your inspiration mood board. Snap pictures of your outfits to reference later on, and to make getting up on those colder mornings a little bit easier.
