Cat2- making notes during the try on session is brilliant! I’m also intrigued about the online personal shopper.

Jenni- So glad NZ is doing so well. I love your idea of lists. I’m a list person too.

Sal- I like your idea of doing 3 or 4 sessions each year. Then it wouldn’t be so overwhelming.

La ped- three seems to be the magical number. Several people mentioned that a new item needs to go with at least three things from their closet. Good advice!

Unfrumped- oooh I like the idea of doing a little outfit creation session when you need to get dressed for an event anyhow. I will try that.

Runcarla- I thought it was you who made flat sets. I think that would be really helpful as a starting point.

Shevia- Having the attitude that wardrobe creation sessions are a fun hobby rather than a chore makes all the difference. Kind of like playing dress up! I know Angie has this attitude as well. I need to adopt that rather than letting myself get discouraged.

Angie, thank you for all the great suggestions and guidance. You are the best!

I usually plan my outfits for the week at the weekend, hanging them up on my bedroom door complete with jewellery/ accessories (my wardrobe is in our corridor, so I can't do much outfit planning there lol)

When planning, I take a look at the remainder of the outfits hanging on my door & try to figure out why they're still there (usually weather was different than anticipated, or I'm trying not to throw things in the wash after one wear unless they need to be - e.g. underwear).

I then think about how I might incorporate these 'leftover' items for the next week. So I start with the clothes (lay each hanger on the bed) & then add underwear & accessories as needed. Often I'll keep an extra seasonal item hanging by them just in case (like a coat or scarf). I don't have a full length mirror in the bedroom unfortunately, so I either have to leave time to check the outfit in the hallway closet mirror before I leave (I bring a second hanging outfit with me in case I need to change) or factor that time in separately (once I have a whole outfit hanging, it makes it easier to bring that over to my closet & switch out whichever piece isn't working, rather than starting from scratch.

This process usually becomes much easier in the middle of a season (the weather is usually more stable by then).

When I buy a solo piece, I’m generally curious to see how it works with whatever I planned it for, so I’ll check that within a few days. I’m chewing on what Cat2 on the time factor—there is no need to rush and wear everything immediately or have matches right away. I don’t think I’ve ever bought something that I didn’t have something to wear it with. I have had a pretty consistent palette for years (yawn) and tend to go with more conservative versions of trends. Some matches are better than others, of course, and I might not have something dynamite every time, but I guess I’m boring that way.

I rarely get amped about an outfit. When I do, it’s likely because the outfit contains pieces from different periods of my life that I hadn’t considered wearing together. I grew up shopping by the outfit; our mother encouraged us to wear the whole outfit, so all the pieces would wear evenly. I don’t do that anymore. If one piece wears out first, maybe I wore it more or maybe it was made of less-robust materials. No worries. I’m sure I have other dance partners for the remaining piece, or another will come down the pike.

If I know for sure what something will work I’m good. If I’m unsure I try to make outfits when I get it home.

I often have a try on session before an important event

Occasionally I keep something that I initially can’t make work. Later the perfect outfit or partner piece materializes.

I also do try on sessions when I’m bored with my wardrobe but sense that new combinations are possible. A post here is sometimes the catalyst.

I’ve never done this but maybe listening to music would help make the process more enjoyable.

I like try on sessions but not the cleanup afterwards.

My new hobby during the pandemic is uploading my whole wardrobe into the Stylebook app and using the outfit generator! I do this in my downtime and save any outfits that have potential. Then when I have the energy for closet try-ons I already have a bunch of ideas prepared. It has seriously improved my wardrobe planning. I’ve even started adding photos of potential items before I purchase them and making up several outfits with them to determine whether they’re likely to work.