The Rule of Three (squared)

February 10th, 2016 admin

I often hear the ‘rule of three’ mantra – “before you buy something new, make sure you can wear it three ways” – and I think it is a great strategy for shopping. When curating a wardrobe, I take ‘rule of three’ to the next level by recommending that each item cross-pollinates three areas of life.

Building a wardrobe of cross-over pieces is my preferred approach because it expands outfit options exponentially while creating a more fluid, inclusive closet. Pieces that can go from day to night to weekend are ideal: the key is identifying the areas in which you spend most of your time and purchasing pieces that speak to your top three. The corporate executive who is dating and brunching will have different needs from the stay-at-home mom who is active in PTA and volunteering but, regardless of the activities, following this rule will make getting dressed much easier.

What’s better, knowing that you are going to wear that great tweed jacket or tie-neck blouse multiple ways will help to justify the purchase. Since the need to buy superfluous items will diminish, you can spend more on special pieces while staying on budget. The ‘rule of three (squared)’ will help focus your shopping and simplify your wardrobe while freeing up funds for truly special pieces. Which leads me to a mantra of my own..an optimized wardrobe is a happy wardrobe 🙂