10 New Year’s resolutions you’ll actually stick to because they’re fashion-related

Channel your energy into your wardrobe.

There are New Year’s resolutions, and then there are New Year’s resolutions.

Go to the gym every day for the rest of the year; save $20,000 without giving up regular dinners out; travel overseas once every three months; stop drinking coffee. These are examples of the latter: the totally unrealistic commitments you’ll be lucky to achieve in your lifetime, let alone this year.

If you’re yet to set resolutions for 2019, or you’ve managed to royally screw up within the first month, all is not lost. Try laying off the extreme personal and career goals and channel your energy into your wardrobe instead. Not only are wardrobe-focused resolutions far less pressure, but they come with the added bonus of ensuring you look fly as hell all year round.

Here are 10 ideas to get you started.

Try one trend that scares the sh*t out of you

Neon, bike shorts, animal print… we all have that one trend we love on other people but never attempt ourselves, for fear of being taken away by the fashion police as we walk down the street. This year, that changes. In 2019, you’ll commit to publicly wearing one trend you’ve never tried. At first, you’ll feel like everyone is staring at you (they’re probably not) but by the end of the day, you will have forgotten all about it. In fact, it might even encourage you to try something new more often, which can only be a good thing, right?

Do a full wardrobe assessment and detox

2019 is the year we go all Marie Kondo on our wardrobe’s ass, and tidy like we never have before. But first, our closets need an in-depth health check. How is your style transforming? What direction do you want to take it this year? Which looks are you definitely never wearing again? Once you’re armed with this information, clean out your wardrobe removing anything that no longer ‘sparks joy’ and organise everything else left behind.

Upcycle five things in your wardrobe

If one of your goals is around buying less clothing, or shopping more sustainably, a good place to start is upcycling what you already have. During your wardrobe detox, keep an eye out for any pieces you no longer wear but could be refreshed. Can you cut jeans into shorts? Sew vintage patches to jackets? Tailor dresses into overalls? (I just looked — it can be done).

Buy an investment item

Think you can’t afford a fancy designer piece? I’ve taken the liberty of doing some simple math. If you spend $50 a week on clothes — think, a new top for Friday night drinks, a blazer you didn’t really need but it was on sale, or a pair of sneakers you already own but in a different colour — and instead put this into a savings account, you’ll have over $2000 by the end of the year. Then you can blow it all in one obnoxious move by buying the YSL handbag you also don’t really need (but really want).

Don’t wear any black for an entire week

Doesn’t it sound so scary?! No black for an entire week?!?! If you’re one of those people who is constantly saying “I really need to wear more colour” while wearing head-to-toe-black, carrying a black bag and drinking a black coffee, this is your time to shine. I’m not saying you need to wear crazy hot pink, but let’s try to incorporate some actual shades for just a little while and see how you feel. Even some burgundy, dark green, navy… you get the drift.

Upgrade your everyday basics

We all know that without basics, our wardrobes would literally be nothing. In 2019, why not take the very grown-up step of updating them with much nicer ones? Spend as much money as your budget will allow and buy new jeans, white tees, stripe shirts, slip dresses and anything else you have on high rotation.

Focus on accessories

Speaking of basics, this year, try to use them to your full advantage. We’re all busy people, we don’t have time to be styling complete lewks every day of the goddamn week. Instead, rely on your new, expensive basics and add statement earrings, bags, scarves, hats and shoes to turn them into a cute outfit.

Create a lookbook

If you’re anything like me, you have a borderline anxiety attack most mornings because of your terrible time-management skills. You slept through your alarm again, you really have to wash your hair before work and all of your clothes seem to be crumpled, stained or in the wash. One (very organised) way to combat this is with a lookbook. All you have to do is spend one afternoon putting together a whole bunch of outfits from your own wardrobe – focusing on work and going out looks (because that’s where the real panic lies) – and take photos of them on your phone. Every time you’re running late (or CBF), refer to the photos and choose an outfit that speaks to you.

Get ahead of the game

If you got this far in the article, chances are you like fashion. So rather than waiting for trends to magically appear on your Instagram feed, use your time wisely and do your own research – the way we did in the good old days of 2011. Check out magazines, blogs and fashion week coverage to find out which trends are on their way, before picking your favourites and incorporating them into your wardrobe (way before everyone else).

Wear a staple item lots of different ways

As an example, let’s take an oversized white shirt. Next, look through your wardrobe and pull out any pieces that can be worked back with the shirt. The aim is to create a bunch of outfits you might not have thought about before — with printed wide-leg pants on Monday, unbuttoned over a dress on Thursday, and worn slouchy with a pair of bike shorts on Saturday. This is a fun way to step out of your comfort zone and experiment with trends, which also happen to be two great fashion resolutions all on their own.