actually curating your wardrobe

[microbius]

This idea that every item of clothing you own should work as part of least 5 different outfits, how does one achieve that?

I think I know what I like, and have good clothes, I think, for work and for home. And a lot of it! However:
My Brora jackets do not work with my MHL skirts or trousers
I have Samsoe & Samsoe trousers and jacket that do not work with anything else
I seem to like classic, Scandi and slightly quirky, but then there are clashes;
classic silhouette of Joseph and slightly quirky MHL
Classic Agnes B, but slightly too feminine that certainly doesn't work across my wardrobe
Brora things are at times too conservative, but I don't want to let go of an auberginey tweed jacket with curved lapels which doesn't seem to work with almost anything else I own

What do you, people, do? Do you have and wear separate ensembles? Do you try to reach interoperability?

I also have a very different collection for summer, - I love dresses and winter - jumpers and trousers

Maybe my problem is that:
Find it very hard to find skirts and trousers the suit me, and they are never from the brands whose tops and jumpers / jackets suit me - hence style becomes different

Overall, would you ruthlessly thin out your wardrobe for interoperability or keep few different styles?

I have what you might call a capsule wardrobe in that (within a season) my clothing items are colour co-ordinated and mix and match. They also work for my lifestyle.

However I wouldn't say that any of my clothes actually 'spark joy'. I tend to shop online high street so Next, a bit of Hush, Mint Velvet etc

I'm probably the opposite of you !

@shinynewapple21 yes, you probably are :D

I teach in a uni and I find that I need to put distance between students and I and I do that by wearing quite formal clothing, not court formal but something 20 year olds would not wear.
And then when I work from home, do school runs, it's a very different kind of clothes.
That's at least two distinct set of clothes, and sometimes I like to impersonate a crazy professor - I have a range of what in my house are called "professor jackets", which could be anything, from very formal to oversized, etc.
Then I might get tired of formal and wear jeans to work etc.
So I struggle to find one style

I’ve lost 5+ stones. I’d been obese for years snd now I’m not. I don’t have a clue how to dress. I am still wearing my uniform if stretchy jeans ( now in a sz 12) and long jumpers. I’m 50yrs old and I don’t know what my style is - it’s always been whatever fits and is long over the belly. Not a clue!

@Londoncallingme Congratulations on your weight loss! Maybe the book that threw me in the disarray will help you; it is The Curated Closet by Anuschka Rees

Thanks - I think I will check it out. I’ve treated myself to a few cashmere sweaters from Whistles and Jigsaw but I’m still buying L or ExL which I really don’t need now. I have millions of shoes because they always fit - so maybe I should start from the feet up! 🤦🏻‍♀️

Im at the stage of building up my wardrobe and I think its ok to have a mix of looks. I'd look at items and see what you do need to make them work. I've also decided that a smooth handbag is going to be the item that pulls it all together.