Are you struggling to feel inspired by your wardrobe? As we turn the corner on another year, now is the perfect time to refresh your style aesthetic and feel inspired by your clothes again. Do you frequently look into your closet full of clothes and think “I have nothing to wear”? Let’s be honest, we’ve all been there. And no shame – we all need a little refresher now and then! Although creating a closet you love can seem overwhelming at first, it truly doesn’t have to be. Before we get into different style aesthetic options, let’s first go over some wardrobe maintenance essentials. Once you complete these steps, you will be ready to try out a new style aesthetic for 2025! Keep reading for style aesthetic ideas.
1. Do a Wardrobe Purge
Before adding anything new to your closet, the first step is to get rid of things that haven’t seen the light of day in a while. While you comb through your closet and drawers, here are some questions to ask yourself: Does this piece bring me joy? Does it suit my current style? Do I feel good when I wear it? Does it fit?
Anything with the answer “no” can be put into the donation pile. Part of fashion is loving what you wear, and that’s impossible if you have a closet full of clothes that don’t fit or don’t bring you joy. After filtering out the items you no longer want to keep, you’ll have a much better idea of what you do love to wear, what fashion items you may need, and what style aesthetic you are searching for.
For an in-depth guide to cleaning out your wardrobe, read How to Clean and Organize Your Closet Like a Pro and Ready To Get Organized? Here’s How To Get Past the Mental Hurdles of Decluttering Your Wardrobe!
2. Create a Budget
Creating a budget is a smart way to begin your shopping spree. Keep in mind your income and expenses, and create a budget you can use when shopping for your next wardrobe addition. If your budget is tight, that’s okay! Creating the ideal style aesthetic doesn’t happen overnight. By having to save up for your pieces, it can feel even more rewarding and exciting when it comes time to purchase! Shop sales when you can, but stick to your wishlist to avoid impulse spending.
3. Upgrade the Essentials
Is your classic white tee looking a little drab? The quality of your clothes can play a huge role in what your finished outfit looks like, along with how you feel in it. Upgrading your essential clothing items like your tees, jeans, and shoes, as well as investing in quality pieces to replace them will ensure you always have a high-quality base to work with when curating chic outfit ideas.
4. Organize Your Closet
Part of the reason you’re feeling uninspired by your closet could be because of the way it’s organized (or not so organized). If you are anything like me, you’ll love this step. Organizing is a hobby of mine! Try to organize your clothes by style and color to reduce stress while putting outfits together. When your closet is clean and well organized, creating outfit ideas will feel much easier.
Finding Your Style Aesthetic
Finding your style can seem like a daunting task, especially with so many different aesthetics to choose from. Thankfully, we love to help women find their unique style. Check out our free guides to find your style and gain clarity. You can start by evaluating your clothes/outfits considering what you love to wear, what suits your body type, what colors flatter you best, and what you want your style to look like.
Once you narrow down what you love to wear and what you are inspired by, you can start to make a shopping list with what you need to refresh your style aesthetic! Feel free to experiment with different aesthetics and see what resonates with you.
Some popular style aesthetics to consider would be: french girl, coastal cowgirl, vintage, normcore, boho, y2k, and old money. Here is a quick rundown of what those style aesthetics look like!
French Girl Aesthetic:
To embrace the French girl aesthetic, think neutral colors, simple silhouettes, and timeless accessories. Parisian style consists of quality pieces that exude effortless elegance. Red lipstick does just that and is a French girl staple!
If you love the French girl aesthetic and want to refresh it for the new year, try adding a pair of quality jeans and a classic black blazer to your wardrobe. Pair it with a classic white or striped tee to create your own French girl look!
Coastal Cowgirl Aesthetic:
Coastal cowgirl is a Western-inspired style that combines beachy and Western elements, usually consisting of a mix of casual silhouettes, neutral colors, and Western details. Perfect for festival season, this style can easily be dressed up or down for concert fun or hanging with your girls.
To update your aesthetic, think cowboy boots, denim shirts, flowy girly dresses, and of course, cowboy hats! The color palette includes earthy tones, coastal blues, and vibrant accent colors, just like a beach sunset.
Vintage Aesthetic:
For Vintage, think of your friend who loves thrifting and somehow always scores the best finds at the thrift store! Vintage reflects a love for decades past, usually consisting of fun colors and unique patterns.
If you love retro colors and eclectic designs, try adding some vintage vibes to your wardrobe. A pair of chunky oxford shoes worn with a pair of colored socks, pinstriped jeans, and a mock neck sweater creates a cute vintage-style outfit!
Normcore Aesthetic:
The normcore aesthetic embraces simplicity and functionality with neutral colors and classic silhouettes. This style works perfectly with a capsule wardrobe!
This style includes nostalgic elements we all know and love like loafers, oxford shirts, simple belts, high-waisted jeans, and dad sneakers. This is an aesthetic for the cool girl who never wants to go out of style.
Boho Aesthetic:
Boho (or Bohemian) aesthetic is an eclectic style that’s relaxed and free-spirited. With an abundance of loose layers, tassels, fringes, and plenty of statement jewelry!
If you love layering different colors, patterns, and textures, the boho aesthetic might be for you. It’s full of fun and good energy. Try adding a fringe coat or patchworked shawl to your wardrobe to create your own boho style.
Y2K Aesthetic:
Inspired by the late ’90s and early 2000s, the Y2K aesthetic is full of playful, futuristic elements. This style takes inspiration from retro designs and adds a modern flair!
Y2K style is known for low-rise jeans, mini skirts, cargo pants, tube tops, crop tops, and edgy sunglasses. To create your own Y2K aesthetic, try pairing a velour tracksuit with chunky white sneakers.
Old Money Aesthetic:
Old Money is an elegant style that exudes luxury without making it obvious. No flashy logos here! This style embraces classic silhouettes in neutral colors and luxury fabrics like cashmere and satin.
To create this style, try adding a sophisticated blazer suit set and incorporate luxury textures like satin into your wardrobe. If you want to have a refined, sophisticated look, then this aesthetic is the choice for you.
How You Can Refresh Your Style Aesthetic
While there are many style aesthetics to choose from, one of these might be a good place to start. Though you’re not limited to it, choosing a style aesthetic creates a consistent theme for your wardrobe and makes shopping for new clothes even easier!
Refreshing your style aesthetic doesn’t have to be a very overwhelming or expensive task. Your wardrobe may just need a little pruning and organizing. Upgrading your favorite pieces and adding some chic new styles can allow for new inspiration to strike. Create a budget and be intentional about your additions to stay streamlined with your closet. Step into your style and create a closet you love with these easy tips!
While shopping for your wardrobe, it is important to consider styles that are known to be flattering. Not sure what clothing styles flatter you best?
