After Decluttering: Rebuilding My Wardrobe on a Budget Pt. 1

I finally came to a point in my decluttering process where I'm introducing new pieces to my wardrobe. From both the KonMari Method and The Curated Closet, I've taken both of their advice and slowly buying pieces that not only makes me happy but with a larger goal in mind which is building my ideal closet.

What I found interesting is that as I am buying new pieces, I still find myself taking pieces out to either donate or sell which means that something is finally sticking.

I've realized that the majority of the clothes that I got rid off were not ill-fitting or looked bad on me. I was pretty good at not buying clothing that didn't fit or suit me in the first place. The problem was that I was buying pieces that I thought I needed or felt that I was supposed to have in my wardrobe (which by the way was completely wasteful and silly).

One of the best thing that I've been able to do at the beginning of the "ideal closet" process is being able to shop at thrift stores. After a huge purge, there's always a kind of rebuilding process. I know the type of pieces that I love and want to invest in but there's also different styles and colors that I may want to try that might eventually not work and be donated a few months from now, which I've learned is okay. 

There's a lot of great thrift stores in Philadelphia and I've found that the majority of the thrift stores in the city do accept credit cards but if you aren't sure, just give them a call. It's also a good idea to create a wish list and bring cash if you plan on sticking to a budget. 

Now as affordable as the prices are at thrift stores it's also important to still be mindful with the items you are purchasing. These are just some of the mental check list that I go through before making a decision.

1. Do not purchase if it's too small or too large 

2. Do not purchase if it's damaged or needs alteration that let's be honest I'm not going to actually do 

3. Go with my gut feeling to see if I really love the item and if I can imagine it with multiple pieces I already have at home. I usually would keep it in the cart as I shop and then usually at the end I would decide if it's really something I want to purchase or say bye bye.

4.  When in doubt, walk away. Just because you can buy it, doesn't mean you should.

No. 4 has been such a money saver because oftentimes I would buy pieces just because they were cheap or on sale. Thrift store constantly gets new pieces and if you have the luxury to wait, just wait until you find a piece that you absolutely love.  

In Part 2., I will share my Fall Closet wish list and Primark Haul.

Until next time,