Radio Chumps
Pittsburgh's Digital Lifestyle Magazine

There comes a time in life when your style evolves. The clothes you liked to wear in high school are probably not appealing to your post- grad tastes, even if you can still fit into those same jeans. So, what is a girl supposed to do? Purge and rebuild! That’s right. It is time to start building a wardrobe that fits your current style and tastes, but it doesn’t have to cost a ton.

First, I want to tell you about my personal style evolution. In high school I was all about “preppy” but I would try to make it as feminine as possible. I also liked showing too much skin than is necessary. Big mistake but unfortunately the whole idea of what I thought was dressing sexy didn’t end when I graduated high school. In college I worked at my favorite store, Bebe. You can imagine the wardrobe I built up while working there. Let me just say that I am still paying for it.  I wore tons of tight, cleavage baring dresses and tops. Let me just say right now…there are ways to dress sexy without showing off all of your goods!

This is where my style began to evolve. Since I graduated college I’ve started to like a more mature, yet fun look. This is where re-building became necessary and I’m going to teach you how.

Step #1 Purge and give away

 The first step in rebuilding is to get rid of what isn’t needed anymore. Now I am not saying throw out all of your unwanted clothes because that would be ridiculous. During this process you can either throw out, give away or try selling to a consignment shop. If something doesn’t fit but it is still in good condition then you should consider the latter two. Purge any clothes that in obviously bad condition. Regardless of how you get rid of them; get rid of everything in your wardrobe that either doesn’t fit your body or doesn’t fit your current style.

Step #2 Re-Evaluate Your Style

 Before buying anything new for your wardrobe be sure to take the time to discover what you want your style to be. Look to fashion magazines, blogs and style books for inspiration. Going to the mall or boutiques can also be a good idea because that way you’ll see all the latest trends and how they’re put together.

Step #3 Start Building

 When you have a sense of what types of pieces you are looking to add make a list of them and start building. I personally think it’s best to start with basics and go from there unless you are need of a specific piece.

When rebuilding your wardrobe make sure to only splurge on classic pieces that will last for several years. It is not necessary to spend more than $10 on any type of basic piece of clothing. I personally love H&M and Target for basics because they fit well and last a while.

Some items I would personally consider as classic include office apparel, outwear and certain types of footwear such as riding boots and sneakers.

One last thing, make sure your new wardrobe reflects YOUR personal style. Don’t just copy trends because they’re popular. Also, try not to listen too much to friend’s opinions. They might have different ideas of what is fashionable and unless something you are wearing is absolutely uncalled for it’s not necessary to only go by what they say. Stay true to your own sense of style and be original!

 For more style and beauty inspiration visit my blog at www.primpedinpittsburgh.com