Smarter Shopping Starts Here: How to Start Creating the Wardrobe of Your Dreams

Has this ever happened to you?

  1. You go to the grocery store with a few things in mind, buy a lot of food, and then get home only to realize you didn’t get what you actually went for.
  2. You head to the store knowing you need food but without a plan, and come home with a bunch of things that look good… but you’re missing the key ingredients to make anything.
  3. Your pantry is full, but you feel like you still have “nothing to make.”

Sound familiar?

Part of the skill set I had to learn with “adulting” was how to make a list. I didn’t think it was a skill I’d ever need—until I was out on my own juggling way more responsibility than I could keep straight in my head. Eventually, I broke down, tired of the chaos of missed appointments, wasted opportunities, and the constant fatigue of making decisions on the fly.

According to studies on grocery lists, people who use them tend to buy fewer items and save money at the store. They’re also more likely to be female and planning-oriented. Even so, research shows most shoppers only buy about 80% of what’s on their list—and those list items usually make up only about 40% of total purchases. (Pretty sure my averages are closer to 90% of the list and 95% of my purchases, but I like a challenge. I digress.) Lists help people save money, save time, and even lose weight as they navigate the grocery store and its endless temptations.

Recently, I was listening to a style podcast when the host compared clothing shopping to grocery shopping—and the idea of making a clothing list stopped me in my tracks. I had never thought of it that way before, and I knew I had to try it. As I researched for this post, I discovered I wasn’t alone—most women shop for clothing spontaneously. In this article, I’ll share the benefits I found in creating a clothing shopping list for each season, and how you can do it too.

⬇️ Don’t forget to click here or down below to grab your FREEBIE: Fall Clothing Guide! ⬇️

A list helps you shop with intention

The 1828 Webster’s Dictionary defines intention as: 

“Design; purpose; the fixed direction of the mind to a particular object, or a determination to act in a particular manner.”

When we choose to shop for clothing with intention, we’re choosing to shop with all of that in mind. We create a design for our style and how we want to show up in the world. We define the purpose and season of life we’re in, and what clothes we need to achieve our current goals and lifestyle. We determine ahead of time what we want and need—so we’re ready to act when we shop, whether online or in person.

The first key to any good plan is defining your purpose. Left unchecked, my brain can spin out a hundred possibilities for what I might want. But when I define my purpose, I narrow my focus and prime my mind for creative thinking.

Here are some questions to help define your purpose:

  • What season of life am I in right now?
  • What activities do I engage in regularly?
  • What upcoming events, holidays, or activities do I need to prepare for?
  • What’s the weather going to be like where I’ll spend most of my time?
  • What do I need in order to accomplish these things?
  • What trends do I like and want to try this season?
  • What overall look do I want to have this season?

As you answer these questions, the clothes you actually need will come into focus. From there, you can create a list that supports both your style goals and your life goals.

A list makes shopping more manageable and focused

Before I made a clothing list, my strategy was simple: go to the store, look for things that seemed “cute” and were in my size, try them on, and buy what I liked. Not the worst approach, but it had flaws.

For example:

  • As a jeans-and-blouse kind of girl, I’d end up with piles of tops but hardly any pants.
  • My outfits rarely worked together, so it took a lot of extra effort to finish a look or I had unworn pieces lurking around because they were cute but I had nothing to wear them with.
  • I never thought about layering pieces like jackets or cardigans, so I was often stuck without them.

I had clothes. I was dressed. But my wardrobe wasn’t working for me.

Creating a clothing shopping list changed everything. Once I thought about how I wanted to dress and show up in the world, my list became more focused and more dynamic. Suddenly, I was making space for different types of pants, long sleeves for colder months, and the layers to pull a more polished look all together.

Here’s how to make this step work for you:

  1. List out everything you’ll need for the season. Use your purpose to guide you.
  2. Optional but helpful: define a color palette for the season, including neutrals that go with everything.
  3. Check your list against your closet. I was shocked to find I already had about 50% of what I needed! A few key purchases were all it took to bridge the gap—and as a bonus, they made my whole wardrobe feel fresh and new again. It felt like magic. 

A list gives you more confidence in your purchases

Now for the fun part: shopping!

Confession—I don’t actually find shopping fun. Especially clothes shopping. For me it means decision fatigue, wasted hours (if not days), endless try-ons, and the frustration of never finding the cute mannequin outfit in my size.

Shopping with a list made it easier. I was a woman with a mission. My decision fatigue melted away because I already knew what I was looking for. I saved time by not getting distracted with random “cute” finds.

Did I stick to my list 100%? Nope. But when I deviated, it was worth it—because those pieces still fit my bigger purpose. Did I buy everything on my list? Not 100% either—but what I did buy mattered, and it created a more cohesive wardrobe in the end.

Pro tip: split your list into essentials and nice-to-haves. For example, if you don’t have a jacket for fall, that’s essential. But if you already own a few, then the “perfect” new one can wait.

Next steps

By taking the time to create a list, you’ll shop with more intention, focus, and confidence. Here are the keys:

  • Define your purpose and season of life.
  • List the clothes you need/want to meet that purpose.
  • Check what you already own for the season.
  • Split your list into essentials and nice-to-haves.

If you liked this article, comment below with what you want to try first—or share a tip that already works for you! And don’t forget to grab my free Fall Style Planner Guide to walk you through these steps.

Now that you have a plan for your wardrobe, want to make the shopping process easier too?

👉 Read my article on easy online shopping tips

👉 Or fill out my clothing request form, and I’ll curate some pieces from your list for you.

Your LuLaRoe Retailer,

Rachel :)

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