4 Reasons You Have Nothing to Wear

It happened to me.

It happened to ME! A professional shopper, personal color analyst, and style coach.

And if it happened to me, you cannot feel bad about it happening to you.

Last week, I had nothing to wear, and the worst kind of panic set in. We had to be at a big thing in one hour. I knew that big thing would be filled with so many people that we knew, and I couldn’t find anything to put on that felt appropriate.

Clothes bring me joy. They’re part of my self-expression and they’re fun for me. (Sister you gotta grab your fun where you can!)

But when the weather got cooler, I suddenly felt like I had nothing to wear. Or at least, nothing that felt right for the rooms that I would be entering.

When you stand in your closet staring at your racks and shelves, and you can’t find anything to wear out of the house, it’s usually because of one of 4 reasons.

Your body has changed and the clothes you own no longer fit properly
Your closet is full of out-of-season clothes
You’re holding onto clothes from another time in your life
You’re missing important pieces to finish your look and pull your outfit together

Let’s break these down

Reason #1: Your body has changed

Did you pick up a “Quarantine 19” pounds? Or maybe you lost weight, had a lockdown baby, or perimenopause/menopause is changing your shape. Whatever the cause, you’ve got a rack of clothes that are the wrong size and you’re left with nothing to wear.

Reason #2: Your closet is full of out-of-season clothes

If it’s gonna be 42 degrees at drop-off and if you haven’t switched out your closet to sweaters and heavier fabrics yet, then pulling an outfit together in the 5 minutes that you’ve got in the morning is going to be frustrating. And cold. And just like that, you’ve got nothing to wear.

Reason #3: You’re holding onto clothes from another time in your life.

Suppose you’ve been a stay-at-home momma for the last few years, and you’ve decided to use that fancy degree and go back to work. You’ve got to start showing up in an office on the regular and (gasp) you’re scheduled to travel to a conference! Those cute joggers are just not gonna cut it. The workplace dress code has drastically changed since the last time you were in it, so you’ve got nothing (current) to wear.

Reason #4: You’re missing important pieces to pull your outfit together.

Have cute print tops, fun dresses, and a suit, but still can’t figure out what to wear? You’re likely missing a few critical wardrobe staples or essential accessories to finish your look. You just need a few tweaks to get you out of your frustration. In the meantime, you’ve got nothing to wear.

So, what do you do now? Girlfriend, it’s time to shop and shop with intention.

Or find someone to do it for you.

You probably don’t have to redo your entire wardrobe, you just need a few key pieces and some solid advice. Combine those 2 and you’ll tame the closet frustration and be equipped to get dressed in under 10 minutes, feeling confident and pulled together.

Here are 5 critical pieces you need in your fall wardrobe

A transitional dress or pantsuit that you can wear to an important event on short notice, like a funeral, or a last-minute theatre invitation.
A blazer, jacket, or high-quality wrap to throw over your top in a cool room.
A pair of current-style boots that will keep your legs warm, even if your skirt is shorter
Great jewelry to finish your look and elevate your style
A handbag that isn’t the same one you carry your kid’s water bottle in.

Showing up with great style doesn’t have to be hard. It’s a life skill you can learn.

Why did I have nothing to wear last week? I checked boxes 1, 2, and 4. Want to go shopping with me?

Did you get any great ideas to help you in this post? Drop a comment and let me know which ones you liked!

If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the options and you’re not sure what to do next, drop me a line, and let’s chat. I help women show up with ease and style every day.

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