A note on seeking out perfection in our wardrobes

Back in 2011, I was a couple years into my professional career, and beginning to appreciate the value of a minimal wardrobe. I’d discovered a few French minimalist bloggers, and idolised them. I’d make lists of every core piece I felt my “perfect” wardrobe needed, and spent countless hours looking for the right piece. Always, always, looking to make these investment purchases.

Wearing Everlane cami; AGOLDE skinny jeans; Witchery belt; Babaton blazer (similar option here and also here); Everlane slingback heels; Oroton bag (similar); Mejuri bracelets; Muru Jewellery apollo necklace; au|rate earrings

It wasn’t until I decided to give the capsule wardrobe method a go, that I learned that my “perfect” wardrobe – as I saw it – didn’t really exist. Lifestyle, tastes, age, evolution… it all helps dictate what we appreciate from a style perspective, which only feels sped up these days with the constant churn of newness. What I needed out of my closet at 22 (corporate attire, going out dresses, fun bold prints) was different to what I needed at 30 (business casual attire, easy basics to go from work to weekend).

The more I wore certain items, the more I saw their “flaws”. How I wish I’d opted for a slightly different detail. A different fabric. A different fit. It was this mentality that in my early twenties, would have me seeking out “perfection” all over again. Reducing how much I was shopping and focusing on what I had, was an exercise in appreciating what I owned. It gave me a newfound appreciation for old favourites, flaws and all.

Of late, I’ve also found myself considering how my fantasy self has tied into my vision of the perfect wardrobe over the years. In particular, how this has driven certain purchases. You know… the kind which sit in the back of your closet for a year, tags still attached, gathering dust. Often, these purchases will be driven by an image I’ve seen online, or a woman that’s passed by me in the street. My blinkers switch on, and I’ve got complete tunnel vision, imagining how perfectly said item would go in my wardrobe, despite never knowing I quite needed it until then. That in itself speaks volumes.

Outfit repeating has become a core part of my style repertoire. Finding a uniform that works for me, and that I’m happy to wear on loop. Outfits like the above. They’re not ground-breaking, but I feel good wearing them. Especially as a new mum, adding in details like a low block heel have contributed hugely to how I feel in an outfit. Perhaps it’s that literal elevation…

But in all seriousness – as serious as one can be about the contents of their closet – I’ve come to realise over the years that the perfect wardrobe does not exist. Instead, it’s been about finding the right pieces, that’ll last the distance. Wardrobe staples I’d be happy to wear for years on years on years. Fun prints which elevate what I already have, but also won’t feel dated months down the line. Silhouettes which aren’t too trendy, but still feel fresh after a season in essentially the same outfit.