Systematize. Stylize. Strategize.

Your favorite outfit in your closet should feel like your favorite food: a no brainer. When I see crab cakes on a menu, that's it. I'm ordering them. If I don't, it just feels wrong, because no matter how they come out of the kitchen, I'm going to love them. 

This is how your favorite piece of clothing should feel. It is the physical manifestation of love and it's glorious. When you're wearing it, nothing can touch you. 

Everything else in your wardrobe is a bit different. Other things should be something you love, yes, but you need a few more rules to make sure it's serving you in the way you need it to each and every time you wear it. 

Outfits get stale. And the outfit you've worn 15,30,40 times, is stale. The life has been sucked out of it, and when you put it on, you probably feel this too in the form of exhaustion, anxiety or a lack of excitement. 

So it's time you threw all those feelings away and started anew by looking at each component of each outfit. By looking at each component separately, you can create new looks that feels fresh, exciting and fashion-forward. 

There are 3 things you need to do to breathe life back into your wardrobe. 

1. Systematize. 

Creating a system of how to build an outfit is incredibly helpful, because it removes the stress, but leaves the creativity.

For instance, I NEVER choose my jewelry before I choose my clothing. I NEVER choose shoes before I choose my clothing. I NEVER choose a jacket before I choose my basics. I build around 1 of 3 things: a dress, a skirt, jeans. 

In other words, create a ritual. This will give you guidance and a route when creating an outfit. And then you get to play...

2. Stylize. 

Disregard what you paired your skirt with last time. Forget about what you put with it before. Get creative with you choice this time. Pull a shirt or sweater you've never put with it. 

And don't be scared. Most of us think there's some giant book of rules we need to follow. There isn't. The two things that you need to consider in your style arsenal are: 1) your intuition 2) your creativity 

Use both these elements to get excited about getting dressed again. 

3. Strategize. 

Each outfit must have a purpose. This goes for both your personal and professional life. And I'm not just talking about it being appropriate for a certain situation. Whether you want to be powerful, playful, dynamic...your intention must be clear. 

Ask yourself the tough questions to make sure there is a strategy behind each outfit: 

Exactly why are you wearing what you are wearing?

What do you want it to say about you?

How does it say what you want it to say about you? 

Now I would love to hear from you! Was this guide helpful for reviving that stale outfit we all have? Let me know in the comments below and tell me about the outfits you brought back to life!