Have you ever had a moment when you realized your clothes were wearing you? That your clothes were telling the story of someone who once wore them but that person is no longer them? That’s where I found myself late fall 2020. I was in the midst of preparing to turn 30 in January and I was in a joyful process of deciding what I want the next decade of my life to be like (as much as one can). Creating the narrative of what I want my clothing to say about where, and who I am, in life is a big priority. It may not be that way for everyone but for me it is.
Honestly? There was no in-between. I was either in work clothing or in yoga pants and a random exercise shirt. Jeans were missing completely (because I hated them, more on that later (good thing I’m willing to be wrong)) and my tops were a weird mix of Banana Republic and sequins (… from college). I was probably always overdressed most of the time because I could only be a walking disco ball.
Besides all of this, I also wanted to feel as polished after work as I do at work. So with all of this in mind, I reached started the styling process!
One of the new outfits mixing old and new items! I felt SO chic when I wore this and was soooo comfortable! It was so comfortable I wore it from 6 AM to 10 PM. (Pardon the absolute trash of my background in the house. We were still getting stuff settled and well, Eleanor and I had a battleground over who actually gets to claim that couch.)
The Why
After I moved, unpacked my closet and started walking around Chicago I felt genuinely unkempt and like my clothing wasn’t neither age appropriate or climate-friendly to Chicago. I had these inclinations before I moved but a few weekends trying to navigate Chicago made me painfully aware my lifestyle is not going to be dress and heels friendly on a Saturday morning.
Causal clothing has never been something I’ve been able to nail and I realized it was time to call in a professional.
The Expert
I hired Abby Wood (whom I don’t think I’ve actually ever met in real life but we were both in the KC blogging scene when I was in college) because I really wanted someone who had been following my story and understood where I am in life. I’ve followed Abby for many years and I had taken numerous screenshots of outfits she’s styled. Abby is effortless chic that is slightly tailored, a touch of feminine and realistic to each clients life. I saw a lot of Chicago similarities with her styling (I found out later she LOVES Chicago so it was a perfect vibe match.)
I filled out my online questionnaire and Abby quickly reached out and we started planning our first virtual meeting!
The Goal
Create a casual style appropriate to where I am in life both geographically and tells the story of my growth and who I am today.
The Process
The Closet Audit
Prework: Abby sent directions on how to best prepare and also tips for how to best organize your closet. Go in prepared! Even though I prepped there were moments I wish I would have done a little more.
Soooooo…. I’ve been known for some brutal closet audits of friends and family. In fact, one of my favorite memories of my sister Wendy and her family is when I brutally audited her closet for the first time. I was so sarcastic we were crying laughing, down to the kids who pulled up on the bed and listened to their mom get roasted.
Abby was kind but I told her to be brutal. We set up a Zoom session and we went through my closet (minus workwear) for two hours. I held items up to the camera and if we had questions I tried it on.
Basically we realized:
- I have no basics, everything was a statement top (and not always a good statement… there were some moments of shame).
- I was keeping items that fit but did were not appropriate to my lifestyle (or were just cheap and bad).
- My reluctance to wear jeans is not because my thighs are too big, but I have been buying based on emotion and not reality.
- My closet is a tale of two different people, my work wardrobe wouldn’t even be in the same room as my casual wardrobe. There was a total disconnect.
In total I got rid of 60+ items from my casual wardrobe. Abby also does bra fittings but I had already been fitted last summer. I mention this because there is almost a 100% chance you are not wearing the correct bra size.
Style Guide
Once we gutted my closet (and for once I could truly say I had nothing to wear) Abby took her notes and created a style guide. This was the basis for shopping and also a roadmap what to focus on and my color palette.
I approved it, added a few notes/concerns I had about what I was seeing in the inspiration photos and then said let’s get going!
Shopping Lists
I got access to a portal for my entire styling experience. There is where I had galleries of suggested items to purchase as well as notes from Abby. For jeans I ordered 2 sizes of everything. In some instances it was 6-8 styles, 2 pairs each. Yes, it quite the credit card bill, but you aren’t going to keep 16 pairs of jeans in two sizes.
I would say 80% of the picks were instant alignment with where I wanted to go with my wardrobe. 20% I was hesitant and of that 20% there was only 5% that I truly did not like.
Below is just a snippet of what I received as suggested items. We also went in phases over the few weeks of the process. Below are just the jeans, pants and tops! We also covered everything from coats, blazers and shoes to jewelry.
Madewell Jeans
Honestly I was SHOCKED at the variety of Madewell jeans there are now. I placed an ugodly large order of jeans, so much so they get their own area.
Jeans and Leggings
Sweaters and Shirts
There were a lot more foundational items we bought, but those are boring (which is exactly how I ended up with nothing to wear) and I know you’re here for other things.
To Be Continued…
At this point in the process I was honestly tired of shopping? Even though it was online it was still more work than I anticipated. Easy because Abby made her suggestions but definitely not a thoughtless process. It was very exciting having all the deliveries arriving daily and that takes us to the next part of the process!
Karly
This is so fun! My style has completely gone out in the window in the last year thanks to COVID, so this is pretty inspiring to do something about it. Madewell jeans are the absolute best!!
Karly
https://www.whatkarlysaid.com
Dana Mannarino
This was SO insightful. I feel like I want a monthly update on your wardrobe. Really love this direction for you!! x
Dana | It’s Casual Blog
Kalie
This is so fun to read and I’m glad you’re loving your new style! I’ve been going through my own closet the past months in quarantine and getting rid of some florals that I just haven’t worn since college (class of 2014…yikes) and stuff that just didn’t make me feel comfortable in it before/during/after work as well! Hooray for style evolution and I love the basics you’ve picked! I haven’t dipped my toes into the madewell denim waters quite yet, but know it’s in my future.
Kell
This is so fun! I’ve definitely also done some re-styling of myself over the pandemic, but it’s been lots of sewing myself new dresses that are easy to wear with leggings and move around in and can transition from summer to winter well by layering sweaters underneath. I love being able to make my own clothes.
Jeans, though. I desperately need new jeans (my old ones were getting to the worn point where they were ripping immediately after mending), but I’m not comfortable shopping in person due to the pandemic and haven’t the faintest idea how to shop for jeans online.
I keep thinking that I need to learn to draft my first pair of pants and learn to sew those… someday, perhaps. I have no idea how to sew fitted pants.
I’m excited to see the next part of your style journey.