Do you ever stand in front of your wardrobe and feel totally overwhelmed by all of your potential outfit choices? If you have too many haphazard clothing pieces to choose from, you may struggle to put together a cohesive, attractive outfit. Depending on how many choices you have to make in a typical day, you might already be struggling with “decision fatigue.” This is a phenomenon that occurs when you feel emotional and mental strain from having to make too many choices.
People with decision fatigue tend to make poorer choices because their ability to reason through their problems deteriorates. Decision fatigue can make it nearly impossible to put the right pieces together to create a great outfit. Fortunately, figuring out what you’ll wear for the day doesn’t have to be a monumental task. Here’s how to put together a wardrobe that makes getting dressed an easier, faster, and less stressful process.
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Select Clothing With Multiple Functions
Selecting clothing with multiple functions is one of the best ways to create a wardrobe that reduces decision fatigue. For example, a cute sundress can also function as a wearable wallet or purse if it features hidden pockets. You can tuck necessities like your photo ID, some cash, lip gloss, and a credit card into one of the pockets. Then, you won’t need to worry about choosing a matching wallet or carrying it around with you for the day.
Likewise, wearing period underwear can help you save time and space in your bag that would otherwise be reserved for traditional period products. Period underwear can also be a lifesaver during those months when you aren’t quite sure when you’ll be starting. It can be uncomfortable and expensive to constantly wear tampons or pads “just in case” you start today. Instead, consider slipping into a pair of soft, comfy, and reliable period underwear to keep you confident and leak-free.
Reduce Your Options
Many people are understandably reluctant to downsize their wardrobe. After all, they’ve likely spent a lot of time and money over the years building it up to its impressive size. However, just like having too much “stuff” in your house can become burdensome, having too much clothing can feel overwhelming. If your goal is to simplify the process of getting ready in the morning, it’s time to consider reducing your apparel options.
At least once each year, go through your entire wardrobe and clean out anything you don’t love or wear regularly. This process can be surprisingly liberating, especially after you donate or toss out pieces you know you’ll never wear. A good rule of thumb is to donate anything you haven’t worn in the past 12 months. You’ll be left with a more reasonably sized wardrobe that only contains items you love and wear regularly. Notice how much easier it becomes to quickly put outfits together when you don’t have to sift through dozens of items you don’t even like.
Build a Capsule Wardrobe
Have you ever heard of a capsule wardrobe? The concept dates all the way back to the 1970s but has recently gained popularity with the minimalist clothing movement. The main goal of a capsule wardrobe is to put together a limited selection of high-quality, highly interchangeable wardrobe pieces. Often, these pieces lean heavily toward neutral colors for effortless mixing and matching. They also tend to steer clear of fleeting, high-fashion styles that quickly become outdated.
A thoughtful capsule wardrobe minimizes decision fatigue and makes getting dressed each day a simple and enjoyable process. To put your first capsule wardrobe together, pick timeless, versatile pieces in a primarily neutral color palette. Fill your wardrobe with a few versatile selections that easily pair with multiple other items. Ideally, your finished wardrobe should be practical, comfortable, attractive, and full of items that complement each other.
Arrange Items by Outfit
Many people arrange their closets by category. For example, they may separate slacks from blouses or arrange similar colors together. This type of arrangement can make your closet look neat and attractive. However, it may not be the best solution if you’re trying to simplify the process of getting dressed each day. Some people have an easier time choosing the perfect outfit when they arrange their closets by outfit instead of other categories.
For example, instead of separating jeans from t-shirts, you could pair your favorite jeans with your favorite t-shirt on the same hanger. Repeat this process with other clothing selections you frequently wear together. Now, instead of trying to put together various pieces in your closet, you’ll have fully assembled outfits ready to go! This can significantly decrease your daily decision fatigue.
Only Include Clothing That’s in Season
Does your closet have short-sleeved t-shirts and shorts hanging alongside sweaters and winter leggings? If so, you’re unnecessarily complicating the process of choosing your outfit each day. If you’re serious about simplifying the process of getting ready in the mornings, only hang in-season pieces in your closet. Store out-of-season pieces until you’re actually ready to wear them.
There are a few clothing storage rules you should follow to avoid musty-smelling clothing. First, wash all clothes and dry them well before you put them away for the season. Then, sort similar pieces together and put them in plastic storage bins, clothing bags, or vacuum bags. If your seasonal clothes get smelly despite your best efforts, simply wash them again when you bring them out.
Why make the process of getting ready in the morning harder than it needs to be? If your closet is currently disorganized, messy, and crammed full of items you never wear, it’s time for a change. Use these simple tips to put together a wardrobe that makes getting dressed an easy, quick, and enjoyable experience.
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