Wardrobe holes are items that you need, but that are currently missing from your wardrobe. You keep reaching for them to complete outfits, but they aren’t there. Of course, wardrobe holes vary greatly in their level of importance and can become a bit of a moving target. Some wardrobe holes are dire needs, awfully time sensitive, and we can’t get dressed without them. We prioritize these purchases, and budget permitting, urgently fill the holes. Other wardrobe holes are less time sensitive, and we can dress fine without them. While the hole exists we can make do with what we have.

Here are some of the more urgent wardrobe holes that I regularly see among my clients: 

• Bottoms and underwear that no longer fit due to weight loss or gain.
• Semi-formal or formal items that are needed for important upcoming events.
• Workwear that needs to be updated.
• Eyewear that is well past its prime, or needs a new prescription.
• Solid wardrobe essentials and layering tops that are the key to turning wardrobe orphans into wearable outfits.
• The right outerwear for Seattle’s rather unique four-season climate.
• Workout wear that is falling apart and beyond repair.
• A lack of comfortable shoes that look great, and go the distance.

Common wardrobe holes that need filling but aren’t quite as urgent, include: 

• The right tops to wear with a slew of orphaned skirts.
• Bottoms that are dressier than Athleisure and jeans, but not as dressy as business casual trousers.
• Dressy bottoms that aren’t black.
• Casual jackets that aren’t denim jackets, motos, or utility jackets.
• Shoes that are dressier than sneakers, but not as dressy as classic loafers or pumps.
• Tops that are just as comfortable and easy to wear and launder, but less casual than a tee.
• Casual dresses, pants, and skirts in natural fibres to wear in high heat.
• Items that will embellish a beach and pool capsule.
• Items to embellish a formal wear or business casual capsule.
• Shoes that will work with many smart casual outfits.

A few years ago, I had a high-priority wardrobe need. My very old yoga wear was falling apart and I had put off replacing it because I don’t enjoy wearing sports gear or spending money on it. Recently, the leggings that I was wearing for yoga became extremely uncomfortable. So much so, that it prevented me from practising. I replaced them with roomier salutation joggers as soon as they went on sale.

Less urgent wardrobe holes that I’ve managed to fill over the past few years include a bright trench coat, a citron bag, a pair of dressy trousers jean, white jeans in wide and relaxed silhouettes, re-building my formal wear capsule, and adding versatile and dressier solid tops and bottoms to my wardrobe so that I can create a wider assortment of fab outfits with existing items.

Over to you. How do you define a wardrobe hole? Care to share examples of urgent and less urgent ones that you’ve managed to fill in the past, or are trying to fill right now?

I’ve been growing out my pixie, and currently have much more hair on my head than I’ve had in years. I’ve gone from a short, strict, and sharp hairstyle that didn’t move, to a soft, blunt, and romantic ‘do that moves around a lot. As a result, I’ve had to adjust the way I style my hair. 

For example, when I had super short hair, I didn’t check the back because my hair would fall into place and stay put naturally. This is not the case with my longer hair. I need to check if my crowns are covered and that the waves are even and neatly spaced around my head. Well, at least until the wind blows my hair in all directions.

I didn’t have a way of seeing the back of my head or outfit in our loft, so I bought a large handheld mirror that does the trick. Now I can see everything. It’s not too heavy, and has a hole on the handle so that you can hang it on a hook. The mirror is also handy for looking at the back of your outfit.

A new outfit from Greetje Kamminga of No Fear of Fashion, whom we introduced to YLF in October 2017.

Greetje has paired on-trend wide leg trousers with a cream short-sleeved blouse in this elegant polished outfit. She’s semi-tucked the puff-sleeved blouse which lengthens the legline from the hips up. Both the top and eye-catching trousers with mod-inspired graphic pattern are in silky materials that add subtle sheen. The horizontal and vertical stripes draw the eye up and down. Our blogger’s baby blue pointy-toe pumps peeking out from under the trouser hems don’t match the blue stripe in the pants but help create outfit cohesion, and echo the blue belt. The warm-toned yellowy-beige satchel doesn’t match the cream top nor the darker cream in the trousers but adds a nice neutral effect. An arty dark brown pebble necklace and mirrored sunnies complete the look.

As we transition into another season, some of my clients and friends are switching out their wardrobes. That means they pack away what they wore over the last six or so months, and unpack what they plan to wear for the next season. 

The idea behind the switcheroo is to make in-season items more accessible and organized so that they can see the wood for the trees. This helps them choose daily outfits more easily, and keeps their style focussed. Also, some people can only store half of their wardrobe in the available closet space, which means storing out-of-season items elsewhere. You are on Team Switch if you switch out and store your wardrobe seasonally, and on Team No Switch if you don’t.

I am on Team No Switch. I store all four seasons in one closet with the outerwear in a coat closet by the door, and wardrobe basics in a chest of drawers. We live in a loft with very limited storage space so even if I wanted to switch out my wardrobe seasonally, we don’t have the space to support the strategy. I don’t mind, because I’ve always stored my wardrobe this way. I like seeing everything in one place throughout the year.

Over to you. Do you bat for Team Switch or Team No Switch? Tell us why, and no batting for both teams. If you’re benched, I’m serving baked and sizzling artichoke and spinach dip with toasted baguette, and fresh figs for dessert.