Personalise & Refine Your Wardrobe •Wardrobe Audit Week 3

Not all wardrobe audits are synonymous with goal setting, but I think now is the perfect time to set yourself some kind of aim to ensure this smaller wardrobe continues to serve your styling needs. Or, you may start to feel the need to relapse into overconsumption and repeat the auditing process a few months later.

Finding a way that fashion works for you is key. It might not be realistic to expect yourself to completely stop shopping, or boycott fast fashion entirely, so set goals that push you slightly, but still feel realistic. 

Photographer and design enthusiast, Alice Gao, recently shared her experience embarking on a wardrobe audit and shared a few pearls of wisdom. Sometimes, being strict with yourself might have the reserve effect:

Any kind of rigid restriction would likely end in failure—or worse, a “yo-yo diet” effect where I’d go overboard once the time period was up. Completely eschewing shopping isn’t realistic for me, nor is it aligned with my values. I already avoid fast fashion, and I genuinely appreciate thoughtful design and craftsmanship. I also love supporting small, emerging brands that resonate with me. And of course a few designer brands with inspiring creative direction.

It’s important to think about your current habits when setting goals, rather than jumping straight into who you want to be. For example, I only shop second-hand and vintage. For years, I thought this was the best I could do, and didn’t see any room for improvement. Now, I think more about buying clothes I know I’ll wear a lot, and consider the quality of items, and how compatible they are with my current wardrobe. I still prioritise buying preloved, but I’ve added another layer to the screening process to avoid letting myself buy random bits just because they were second-hand.