As women, our lifestyles change many times over. Going from college to career, starting a family, moving to a new location, working from home, becoming a stay-at-home mom, or retiring—our lives are filled with change.

Believe it or not, your wardrobe needs to reflect those life changes.

Whether you’re retired and loving it, still working 9 to 5, or juggling family and personal passions, your wardrobe should reflect not just your personal style but also your daily activities.

Here’s how you can make sure your closet aligns perfectly with your lifestyle!

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1. Assess Your Daily Activities

This step may be the most important part of aligning your wardrobe to your lifestyle, so I’ve created a step-by-step guide for you.

List Your Activities

Begin by jotting down everything you do in a typical week. Divide these activities into categories like work, social outings, hobbies, exercise, and home time. For instance:

Work: Do you work in an office that requires business attire, or is your environment more casual where smart-casual or even jeans are acceptable?
Social Outings: Are your social events more about fine dining and theaters, or are they casual get-togethers like brunch with friends or family gatherings?
Hobbies: Do your hobbies include more active pursuits like hiking or gardening, or are they quieter, such as reading or crafting?
Exercise: Consider the type of exercise you enjoy, whether it’s yoga, swimming, or walking.
Downtime at Home: What do you wear most at home? Is comfort your ultimate goal, or do you like to dress up a bit, even in private?

Consider the Environment

For each activity, think about the environment and setting. This includes both the physical and social environment:

Physical: Is it mostly indoors or outdoors? Will you need clothes that adjust to temperature changes, like layering pieces for cold mornings, and warm up by noon?
Social: What is the social expectation? For example, at work, is there a strict dress code, or is it laid back? Knowing this helps you choose appropriate styles and fabrics.

Frequency and Duration

How often and for how long do you engage in these activities? This influences the quantity and durability of the clothing you might need.

If you spend most of your week at a job that requires formal attire, you’ll need a solid rotation of professional clothes. If you’re mostly at home or enjoying hobbies, perhaps you can lean more towards casual, comfortable clothing.

Specific Needs

Identify any specific needs related to your activities. For example:

If you’re outdoors often, you might need clothing with UV protection or moisture-wicking properties.
For hobbies like painting or gardening, look for fabrics that are durable and easy to clean.
Social outings might require a few dressier options, depending on the occasion.

Matching Clothes to Activities

Once you have a clear picture of your activities and their needs, start matching them with suitable clothing choices. Create a mini capsule for each part of your life. For example:

• Work Capsule: Tailored trousers, blazers, blouses, and dress shoes.

• Social Capsule: A mix of nice jeans, fun tops, and a couple of dresses or skirts that can go from day to night.

• Hobby Capsule: Comfortable, easy-care fabrics that suit the activity, like stretchy jeans or shorts and tees for gardening.

• Home Capsule: Cozy loungewear that makes you feel relaxed yet put-together.

Why It Matters

Assessing your daily activities is essential because it ensures every piece of clothing has a purpose, maximizing your wardrobe’s functionality and your comfort throughout the day. It’s all about creating a wardrobe that works as hard as you do and reflects your personal style while being utterly practical. This thoughtful approach not only makes getting dressed simpler and more enjoyable but also ensures you look and feel great in every part of your life!

2. Define Your Style

Once you know what activities you need outfits for, it’s time to define your style. Are you all about comfort and prefer loungewear and knits? Or do you lean towards a more polished look with crisp blouses and tailored pants? Knowing this will guide you in selecting pieces that not only fit your activities but also make you feel fabulous.

Here’s how to define your style.

Identify What You Love

Start by looking at the clothes you currently own and identify what you feel best in. What pieces do you reach for again and again? Which items receive compliments when you wear them? This will give you clues about what styles not only look good on you but also make you feel good.

Consider Your Icons

Think about style icons or individuals whose style resonates with you. They don’t have to be celebrities; they could be friends, colleagues, or even characters from films or books. What is it about their style that appeals to you? Is it their elegant simplicity, their bold color choices, or their knack for accessorizing?

Define Your Aesthetic

With the insights from your favorite pieces and style icons, start defining your aesthetic. Here are a few style categories to consider:

Classic: You gravitate towards timeless pieces like a well-fitting blazer, a crisp white shirt, or a little black dress. Your style is polished and sophisticated.
Casual Comfort: Comfort is your priority. You love relaxed fits, soft fabrics, and easy-to-wear styles. Loungewear, knits, and simple tees dominate your wardrobe.
Bohemian: You’re drawn to flowing fabrics, eclectic prints, and layered outfits. You prefer a more artistic, free-spirited look.
Edgy: You like to make a statement with bold patterns, sharp contrasts, and innovative silhouettes. Leather jackets, statement boots, and unusual designs are your go-tos.
Minimalist: You prefer a neutral color palette and simple, clean lines. Your wardrobe consists of versatile, interchangeable pieces that serve multiple purposes.

Evaluate Your Lifestyle Compatibility

Now that you have a sense of your preferred style, evaluate how well this aligns with your lifestyle. For instance, a bohemian style may be perfect for weekends and personal outings. Still, if your work environment is conservative, you might need to adapt this style into a more polished look for professional settings.

When you’ve pinpointed a style that feels authentically ‘you,’ the next step is making sure it fits seamlessly into every part of your life. This doesn’t mean losing your personal style but adapting it in ways that respect the environments you find yourself in. Here’s how you can do this effectively:

Understand the Core Elements of Your Style

Identify the key elements that define your preferred style. Is it the colors, the patterns, the types of fabrics, or the cut of the garments? For example, if your style is bohemian, you might favor flowing silhouettes, intricate prints, and natural fabrics.

Analyze the Demands of Each Part of Your Life

Consider the expectations and unspoken rules of the different areas of your life. Each setting might have a dress code, whether formalized or implied. For instance:

• Professional Environment: A conservative office might require more structured and subdued attire.

• Social Life: Social settings vary greatly, from casual picnics to formal dinners.

• Personal Time: When at home or enjoying hobbies, comfort, and practicality might be your priorities.

Adapt the Core Elements to Fit Each Setting

Once you know your style's key elements and the demands of each setting, you can start adapting. The goal is to infuse your style while respecting each environment’s norms.

In Professional Settings:

Bohemian to Business Casual: Subtly incorporate bohemian details. A scarf with a bohemian print, jewelry with natural motifs, or a single piece of clothing like a patterned blouse under a neutral blazer can keep your style alive in a conservative workplace.
Color and Fabric: Choose colors from your bohemian palette, but in more subdued tones. Opt for natural fabrics in well-tailored pieces that fit the formal environment.

In Social Settings:

Here, you might fully express your bohemian style since social settings often offer more flexibility. Flowing dresses, full skirts, and layered outfits can be ideal, especially for less formal gatherings.

In Personal Settings:

Embrace the relaxed aspects of bohemian styles, such as loose tops, maxi skirts, or comfortable sandals that allow you to move freely and feel at ease, whether you’re gardening, reading, or spending time with family.

Understand the Core Elements of Your Style

Identifying the core elements of your style involves pinpointing the specific characteristics that make your style unique and true to you. This is about more than just liking a particular shirt or dress; it’s about understanding why certain pieces resonate with you and how they fit together to create a coherent look.

1. Colors

Colors play a crucial role in defining style. They can convey mood, complement your complexion, and express personality. For instance:

• Do you gravitate towards earthy tones like greens, browns, and oranges?

• Are you drawn to pastels, bold colors, or more muted shades?

• Consider what your favorite colors say about your style and how they make you feel.

2. Patterns

Patterns can set the tone of an outfit and make a strong style statement. They range from subtle to bold and can significantly impact the overall aesthetic of your wardrobe.

• Do you prefer geometric, floral, abstract, or perhaps animal prints?

• Are your patterns large and noticeable or small and understated?

• Understanding the types of patterns you are drawn to will help in selecting pieces that reflect your personal style cohesively.

3. Fabrics

The choice of fabric can influence both the look and the feel of your clothing. Fabrics also play a role in how garments flow, fit, and function.

Do you favor natural fabrics like cotton, linen, and wool for their breathability and texture?
Or do you lean towards synthetics for their durability and stretch?
Maybe you’re drawn to delicate fabrics like silk or lace, which can add a touch of elegance and femininity to your outfits.

4. Silhouettes

The silhouette of a garment can define its style almost immediately. This refers to the overall shape and volume of the pieces you wear, and how they conform to or enhance your body shape.

Do you prefer fitted clothes that outline your figure, or loose and flowing pieces that offer comfort and movement?
Are asymmetrical cuts appealing to you, or do you lean towards more traditional cuts?
Consider how different silhouettes make you feel and move throughout your day.

5. Details and Accents

The finer details of clothing can also be defining elements of your style. These can include things like:

Types of stitching, pleats, and ruffles
Embellishments like embroidery, sequins, or beading
Hardware details such as buttons, zippers, and buckles
These details often add personality and finish to your garments, making them distinctive and uniquely yours.

Reflection and Integration

Once you have a clear understanding of the colors, patterns, fabrics, silhouettes, and details that define your style, reflect on how these elements can be mixed and matched to create outfits that are both stylish and suitable for your lifestyle. This detailed understanding allows you to build a wardrobe that is not only cohesive but also versatile, ensuring each piece plays a role in expressing your unique fashion identity.

Create Your Style Statement

Combine the insights from the above steps into a personal style statement. This statement should reflect both your aesthetic preferences and the practical aspects of your lifestyle. For example:

“Effortlessly elegant with a touch of modern chic, prioritizing comfort and versatility for both professional settings and casual weekends.”

“Bold and confident, mixing edgy elements with classic foundations to create outfits that stand out in both professional and social settings.”

Test and Tweak

As you start selecting new pieces and putting together outfits, pay attention to how you feel in them and how they function in your daily activities.

It’s okay if your style evolves or needs adjusting—what matters most is that your wardrobe works for you and makes you feel great.

Focus on versatile and comfortable pieces

3. Focus on Versatility

Choose pieces that can work for multiple aspects of your life.

A good blazer, for example, can be dressed up for a business meeting or dressed down with jeans for a casual lunch. Investing in versatile pieces means you’ll always have something to wear, no matter the occasion.

4. Prioritize Comfort

No matter how beautiful a piece of clothing is, if it doesn’t offer comfort, it’s not worth your time, especially after 50.

We want to look good and feel good!

Choose fabrics that breathe, stretch a little, and feel good against your skin. Natural fibers like cotton, linen, and wool are often great choices.

5. Color Coordinate

Create a color palette that loves you back! Choose colors that complement your skin tone and make you feel alive.

A cohesive color palette makes mixing and matching pieces easier, giving you more outfit options without needing more clothes.

Related Post: How to Start a Capsule Wardrobe

6. Don’t Forget Footwear

Shoes can make or break your comfort level throughout the day. They also need to be lifestyle-appropriate.

Love gardening? A sturdy, comfortable pair of boots is a must. Are you a frequent traveler? Slip-on shoes can be a lifesaver at airport security.

Make sure your footwear choices are both practical and stylish.

7. Accessorize

Accessories are the easiest way to align your wardrobe with your lifestyle while adding a personal touch.

A statement necklace can elevate a basic outfit, and a quality handbag or tote can be stylish and functional. Choose accessories that highlight your style but also serve your daily needs.

8. Regularly Reassess

Our lives evolve, and so should our wardrobes.

Every season, take a moment to reassess your activities and your clothing. Something that was a staple last year might not be as essential now.

This regular check-in keeps your wardrobe functional and fresh.

Final Thoughts

Matching your wardrobe to your lifestyle doesn’t mean just buying new clothes—it’s about making smarter choices about what you wear.

This helps you make sure every piece you own serves a purpose and makes you feel great. After all, when your outfit aligns with your lifestyle, it empowers you to live more confidently and comfortably.