Today on the podcast, I'm reviewing one of my 2024 goals - the wardrobe transformation project. As I look back, this stands out as my fun, creative goal that really energised me, and it's the kind of project I want more of next year. But it started with a crisis...
The dress disaster
Picture this: December 2022, standing in my bedroom, surrounded by the shreds of a £400 dress I'd just cut up. Yes, really. I'd bought it for a Christmas party, one of those impulse purchases when I felt unprepared and needed something that would work. As someone who's typically an under-buyer, spending £400 felt like taking decisive action.
But when I tried it on for another event a few months later, something wasn't quite right. Instead of accepting it wasn't working, I had what I thought was a creative moment. I decided to modify it myself. Bad move. Really bad move.
I showed the results to my family downstairs - my son (who's quite visual) just said "don't like it", my husband gave a diplomatic answer, and my daughter (who has a good eye) confirmed it looked wrong. There I was, with the remains of a £400 dress I'd worn once, now in pieces. This was definitely my low point.
Setting the goal
This disaster prompted me to make wardrobe transformation one of my key goals for 2024. I knew I needed a better decision-making process, stronger foundations, and more confidence in my choices. I needed the kind of confidence my friend had when she chose to wear an Indian outfit to a Christmas party simply because it felt right to her.
What worked about this goal was taking a full year to approach it properly. When you have 12 months, you can tackle small projects one at a time, in a really relaxed way.
The strategic reset
Because it was January and I had a new journal, I decided to really set myself up for success. Here's how I approached it:
1. Started with research
I did what any good podcast host would do - I found other podcasts about wardrobes and personal style. Through this, I discovered something crucial: I'd been chasing statement pieces without building proper foundations. I needed more basics that I could jazz up with jewellery or something colourful to give it flair.
2. Got back to basics
My first win? A perfect pair of jeans in January. Nothing exciting, but they changed my entire year. Everything went with them. They became my foundation piece. I went for the most high-leverage items first - whether that was a piece of underwear, a pair of jeans, or the right t-shirt.
3. Built visual inspiration
I used Instagram to follow people, especially other petite women, to address what had been a previous obstacle. I talked about it with friends, especially one of my cousins, and we shared ideas about different people to follow.
4. Took a quality-first approach
I became ruthless about items being exactly right. If something wasn't quite right, it went back. As I told myself with my abundance mindset: "The right coat will find me." And it did - when I wasn't even looking anymore.
5. Got creative with solutions
I started exploring secondhand shops and Vinted once I had my basics sorted. I found some amazing pieces - like a coral blazer with real character that cost less than a new belt would have in a shop.
The results
The biggest change isn't necessarily that I look better (who knows?) - it's that getting dressed is easier and less stressful. I know what works for my actual life, not some imagined version of it. I've learned that looking put-together is as much about being organised as it is about personal style.
I'll never be one of those super put-together people - I'll always have an element of scrappiness about me, and I'm okay with that. But now I have confidence that I can manage my wardrobe in a way that feels right, without tripping over myself.
Looking ahead
As I think about my goals for next year, I want to take this same approach - breaking down big transformations into enjoyable, manageable projects spread across the year. Sometimes we need our own moments of crisis to spark real change. The key is what we learn from them and how we apply those lessons systematically.
The most surprising lesson? Getting organised matters more than personal style. When you can actually see what you have, when your seasonal clothes are properly arranged, when you've done those regular declutters - that's when you can really make the most of your wardrobe.
You can listen to the full story at Apple Podcasts or Spotify
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