Patching the closet holes

Posted by Alexandra at Studio Alexandra

I have done some serious wardrobe planning in the last few days. Do you know how much paper and ink this takes? I have several copies of the worksheet, all with various check marks, crossed-out words, highlighted sections, etc.

I have identified three major issues:

1. I only have a few favorites in my main wardrobe and I keep rotating those, neglecting the rest.
2. I have next to nothing decent for wearing around the house. This is because I usually wear the mock-ups of new knit patterns, unfinished hems and all.
   
3. I need some decent sleepwear, of the kind I wouldn't be embarrassed to take on a trip.
   

My solutions:

1. Following Jennifer Skinner's wardrobe planning approach, I identified my favorites and created outfits around them. I'm modifying it to include the weekend so I'll have 7 bottoms. Also, I'm going for three tops each so I'll have summer, winter, and year-round choices. I will need to make some of these items.
2. The unfinished, often not perfectly fitting tops have left the building. The best of the non-favorite tops from #1 will move to the at-home-wear capsule. I will need to make two or three pairs of casual pants (likely denim).
3. I'll have to look through my stack of Burda WOF for inspiration and patterns to make some nice sleepwear.
   

I have identified immediate needs (as in, I don't have any of this item and need to make it ASAP) and future needs (as in, this will need to be replaced sometime in the upcoming season but until then, it will do). I am already pulling fabrics for the immediate ones.

I like the whole organizing aspect of this particular wardrobe planning approach because now I can hang the bottoms in the order I plan to wear them and put the tops in order as well. No more mix & match. Instead, it will be Monday - first bottom plus first top, Tuesday - second bottom plus second top, etc. On laundry days, it will take just a bit of planning (aka following the worksheet) to get it all set up.