Hiring A Stylist Will Change Your Wardrobe

And 9 Other Style Tips You Need To Know

How can hiring a stylist change your wardrobe and be cost-effective? What’s it costing you to have a closet full of clothes you’re not wearing? There’s an emotional and mental cost that we feel when we’re struggling to put together outfits that make us feel good. It can be mentally exhausting. But beyond that, there’s also the actual financial cost of not wearing your clothes. According to The Wall Street Journal, “U.S. consumers are estimated to have about $1,000 worth of unworn clothing in their closets, with many women admitting they regularly wear only about 20% of what they own”.

These statistics are alarming, but I want to share a simple exercise that can change how you view your wardrobe. You can also do this when you’re hiring a stylist, but go to your closet and pull out everything you don’t wear. Lay all those pieces out and take out your phone or a calculator and estimate what you’ve spent on each item. Add it all up and take a moment to look at that number. That’s how much money you’ve spent on clothes and accessories you don’t wear.

If you feel guilty, it’s okay- we’ve all been there. But this isn’t about making you feel guilty; it’s about becoming aware of your spending habits. Because once you’re aware, you can choose differently. You can be more intentional with your purchases and build a closet that actually reflects your personal style, fits your lifestyle, and works for your body. Now, you can shift the focus to getting the support to build a wardrobe you love by hiring a stylist. One that you’ll wear, feel great in, and feel good about owning.

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It’s incredibly valuable to take the time, energy, and investment to figure out what truly works for you, so that going forward, the money you spend on your wardrobe is well spent. When you understand your unique personal style and what fits your lifestyle and body, you start investing in pieces you’ll wear.

Now think about the total you’ve spent on the clothes you’re not wearing. If another year goes by, how much more money will you end up spending on things that still don’t serve you? That’s why I encourage you to think of it from the perspective of working with someone whose job it is to help you with this. A stylist’s role is to guide you in curating a wardrobe that fits your life, your style, and your body. They’ll help you see yourself differently, teach you how to dress for your shape, shop with intention, and style the pieces you already own in a new way.

In the long run, this investment will save you not only frustration, stress, and decision fatigue but also a significant amount of money and time. It’s not just about having nicer clothes, it’s about having a wardrobe that works for you and that you feel good in.

2. Shop Your Closet First

Sometimes we get into the mindset of wanting to go shopping because we crave something new. We don’t even take the time to look at what we already have in our closets. But often, if we have a foundation wardrobe, it’s not about needing more pieces or buying something different. Sometimes it’s simply about styling what we already own in a new way.

Looking for style inspiration can help spark fresh ideas for how to wear the pieces you already have. It can completely shift how you see your wardrobe. When I work with clients, one of the things I often do is help them reimagine what’s already in their closet. I’ll offer new styling suggestions or pairings they hadn’t thought of before, and it gives them that feeling of having a whole new wardrobe without buying anything new.

A big part of this is setting aside the time and being intentional about it. Practice putting outfits together with what you already own. Play with combinations. Layer differently. Try accessories you haven’t reached for in a while. The more attention you give to styling, the more confident and creative you’ll become. Like anything else, we only get better with practice, and that includes learning how to work with our wardrobes.

3. Keep Your Closet Organized

Your everyday wardrobe: the pieces you’re wearing out of the house, should be front and center in your closet. Everything should be hung, visible, and easily accessible. I always recommend hanging items like jeans and t-shirts rather than folding them and putting them in drawers. Being able to see all your pieces at a glance can make a huge difference.

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve gone into someone’s closet during a closet edit and uncovered great pieces that were buried in a drawer or hidden behind other items, completely forgotten about. When your closet is organized and your clothes are visible and accessible, you’re far more likely to wear them. Creating that kind of visibility makes getting dressed easier and helps you make the most of what you already own.

4. Know Your Personal Style

What is your unique personal style? What do you feel best in? Which colors and silhouettes make you feel confident and comfortable? These are all important questions to ask yourself, and the answers will help you make better choices when shopping or adding new pieces to your closet. Until you have a clear idea of what you love and what truly works for you, it can be difficult to curate a wardrobe filled with clothes you’ll want to wear.

Take some time to explore and practice. A simple and effective exercise is to start pulling images of outfits you like. These can be from social media, Pinterest, magazines, or anywhere else you get inspiration from. Look for styles that resonate with you and start building a style inspiration board. This visual collection will help you see patterns in what you’re drawn to, such as colors, shapes, or styling details. It’s a great first step toward identifying and cultivating your own personal style.

5. Have A Shopping List

Having a shopping list is a great and easy way to be more intentional with your purchases. The things that go on your shopping list are the pieces that you’re missing. These are items that would make getting dressed easier and help your wardrobe work better for your lifestyle. Think about what’s lacking in your closet and what’s making it hard to put outfits together each day. When you go shopping without a clear list, it’s easy to wander aimlessly, trying on things you’re not even sure you need. That’s how you end up with more clothes in your closet but still feel like you have nothing to wear.

Having a shopping list allows you to prioritize what you need. For example, I know right now I need to replace a pair of medium to dark blue wash, high-waisted, slim straight jeans. That’s on my shopping list, and when I’m ready to shop, I’ll focus on finding that piece. Being clear about what I’m looking for makes the shopping process easier and helps ensure I’m building a wardrobe of pieces I’ll wear.

6. Don’t Buy Fast Fashion

Fast fashion clothes aren’t made to last. Although it feels like you’re getting a great deal at the moment, I guarantee that over time, those pieces won’t hold up well. Maybe you’ll wear them once, but then after you wash them, those pieces tend to fall apart. I’ve seen this pattern again and again.

Even if $15 doesn’t seem like much, think about how many of those “just $15” pieces you’ve bought over time. Add them up. How much have you really spent on fast fashion or lower-quality items that didn’t last and didn’t get worn? Maybe some of those pieces are part of the total you calculated earlier in this exercise. Now think about this: would it have been better to spend that same amount of money on fewer, higher-quality pieces that would still be in your closet, and make you feel good today? More often than not, the answer is yes.

7. Buy Clothes You Love Instead Of Trends

Trends come and go. And if you’re here, I know you’re someone who wants to feel stylish, chic, and confident in your clothes. That’s far more important than buying something just because it’s trending. The focus should be on finding your personal style and identifying the pieces you truly love.

If a trend happens to align with your style and you genuinely love the piece, then it’s probably a great investment. But in general, don’t buy something just because it’s on trend. Make sure it’s something that fits you well, feels good on your body, and reflects who you are. That’s what will make you feel confident.

Related: “What’s My Fashion Style?”

8. Choose Pieces That Work With Your Lifestyle

Another tip for when you’re shopping is to check in with yourself and ask: “Does this piece work for my current lifestyle? Can I wear it in my day-to-day life?” Think about what your typical days look like. What you do during the week, on the weekends, and in the evenings. If the item you’re considering fits into at least one or more of those parts of your life, then it might be a worthwhile addition to your wardrobe.

For example, if you have toddlers at home, you’ll likely want to invest in more casual, easy-care basics. Later, when you’re in a different phase of life, you can reassess your style and your needs. But right now, focus on what works for your current lifestyle. That awareness will help you make better decisions when shopping and ensure you’re bringing pieces into your closet that you’ll want to reach for.

9. Take Care Of Your Clothes

I always recommend that the pieces hanging in your closet be washed on the cold cycle with a gentle detergent and then hung to dry. If an item requires dry cleaning, bring it to the dry cleaner as needed. This kind of care helps your clothes maintain their shape, keeps the fabric lasting longer, and prevents colors from fading.

Paying attention to how you care for your clothes is a key part to building a wardrobe that lasts. For pieces that need dry cleaning, you don’t have to bring them in after every single wear. Every three or four wears is fine, depending on how long you wear it and whether it needs cleaning. Consider that part of the real cost of having a wardrobe you feel great in is also taking care of your clothes so they continue to look and feel their best.