Whether you’re a college freshman wanting to glow up your wardrobe, or a graduate ready to head into the professional world, I have 5 simple tricks for making your style emanate maturity. I recently did a massive purge as I head into my freshman year of college. I have to fit everything I own into a tiny space! I donated many bags of clothing. Here are some basic guidelines I followed to start my journey towards a slimmer, more mature, practical wardrobe. I hope they can help you as well!
- Swap Sweatshirts
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When you think of a well-put-together adult, you NEVER visualize a person wearing a hoodie. They either put on a crewneck, a sweater, or a jacket. Don’t worry, you can keep one or two of your absolute favorites for camping. I know it can be hard, but I promise you, trading for the classic crewneck sweatshirt is the way to go. Style yours with a chic, thin button-up underneath for ultimate East Coast prep.
- Raid Your Sock Drawer
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I don’t know about you, but I had tons of super colorful, patterned socks. So many, in fact, that when I needed a good pair of white bobby socks, I had to dig to find them! Yes, the bright colors may match a few select items of clothing you have, but neutrals go with everything. You may keep some fun socks, (Christmas socks ftw), but get RID of all of the random colored ones, and just get a pack of black and a pack of white! You’ll thank me someday.
- Find Your Colors
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Two words: color. analysis…If you don’t know what I’m talking about, go check out @carolbrailey on TikTok. She shows how certain colors and shades can make you glow, or look totally washed out. Celebrities use this tactic to look their best, and some buy their entire wardrobe around their results! Even if you don’t want to go that hardcore, a good knowledge of what makes you look your best can help when deciding what to keep, and what to get rid of.
- Buy Cheap, Then Tailor!
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I understand that not everyone can afford to go buy brand new professional pieces for their wardrobe. I want to share a secret with you. A goodwill dress that is tailored to your body will look 100x better than an ill-fitting, expensive dress. If you know how to sew, all the better! If not, I promise you will still save more money having that cheap dress tailored than buying the new one.
- Invest In Your Feet
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Say goodbye to all of your different colors and styles of uncomfortable shoes. All you need are a black pair, a white pair, and a nude pair. (Depending on your climate, you can also factor in a pair of winter boots, or sandals.) The one thing I wouldn’t recommend skimping on is your shoes. Whether you’re a student walking halfway across campus in sneakers, or a new graduate wearing heels to the office every day, your feet, knees, hips, and back will be grateful that you took care of them. This doesn’t mean buy the most expensive thing on the market, instead opt for supportive and comfortable styles. If your lifestyle calls for sneakers, you can still make them work in your adult wardrobe. Simply choose sleeker running shoe styles instead of Jordans, and keep the designs and colors minimalistic.
I know tackling a rogue closet can be daunting. Work one section at a time, and slowly revamp your key pieces. This list is a good base to start growing on, but they are only suggestions to help your process. Take them with a grain of salt. Remember, while neutrals make everything easier, you don’t have to give up fun colors and styles to be mature! Your version of being an adult is whatever you want it to be. I’ll be writing more articles such as this one, with more tips to help you build your dream wardrobe. Happy adultifying!