This post is brought to you by Boody Eco Wear – all opinions are 100% my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that help me bring the blog to life. You can use the code “LONGRUN” to get 20% off your entire order at boodywear.com

Yes, I was totally that kid who looked forward to Fall, especially that first day of school. I love a new beginning. One of the many joys September brought was the opportunity to get new back to school clothes. I had my whole week of outfits lined up and of course I never wore my new clothes until school started. They had to be super fresh.

Those school days are behind me now, yet the feeling of renewal in Fall still rings true. I recently heard the hosts on one of my favorite podcasts, Happier with Gretchen Rubin, call September the new January and I loved it.

Whether or not you’re going back to some kind of formal school, everyone can use a chance to reset and reflect. Why do we have to wait until the end of the year to acknowledge how far we’ve come, decide whether are goals are still a good fit and evaluate how we’re showing up in the world? Using the changing seasons as a physical reminder of growth allows us to go with the rhythm of our bodies and nature.

I remember when I was working my first office job after graduating college, I was so thrown off by how little seasonality was in the working world. I so dearly missed the natural ebb and flow that school structure and mother nature provided. The years just felt like a blur without an acknowledgement of seasons.

One of the things that went by the wayside, when I graduated from school, was my excitement for self expression through clothes. Without my fall and spring shopping rituals, what I wore kind of went on the back burner.

When you’re a recent grad, money is usually pretty tight, so clothes shopping was not a priority. I really didn’t evaluate my closet for a couple years, until I started feeling really down about my what I was wearing every day. It sounds like a silly thing, but having something that makes you feel YOU when you wear it, is a major happiness boost. I started feeling like I wasn’t showing up as ME in the world. I had evolved so much, yet my clothes were all from early college and high school. The apathy I felt in the morning getting dressed trickled into a lot of areas in my life.

Over the past two years, I’ve slowly tried to rebuild my wardrobe into something that reflects my personal style and who I want to be. I’ve realized that with the changing weather, September is the ideal time to take inventory and really give yourself that opportunity to refresh and renew your life, goals and wardrobe.

I’ve put together a 4-step process to renew your sense of self and refresh your wardrobe without breaking the bank.

How to Do a Fall Wardrobe Refresh Without Breaking the Bank

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Step 1: Create the Vision of Your Personal Style

Create a vision board on Pinterest of your ideal style. Be optimistic and realistic with your budget, your lifestyle and what you think you’d really love wearing every day. Keep that board handy when you’re doing your closet clean out and shopping.

Step 2: Sell & Donate

Go through your closet and take out anything you haven’t worn in the last year. Remember that it’s usually easier to get dressed and find the pieces you love, when you don’t have all the extra clothes hanging around. If you need to, employ an honest friend/sister/mom to help you really ditch the stuff that isn’t you.

I can’t tell you how good this step feels. You’ll find the things you love that have been buried under piles of “why did I buy that.” You’ll give new life to clothes that aren’t meant for you anymore by donating or selling them. You might even earn a couple bucks.

I’d also recommend the “imagine you’re packing for a 3 month trip” experiment. Ask yourself “If I were traveling somewhere with the same kind of weather for 3 months, would I bring this?” If the answer is no, then maybe it’s time to let that piece go. And by maybe I mean totally.

Step 3: Work with What You’ve Got & Invest in Quality Essentials

I’m no fashion blogger, nor should I ever be, however I can tell you that investing in good quality, well fitting essentials is a game changer. I definitely used to be a quantity over quality kinda gal. Now I’m really all about how something is going to fit, how often I’ll wear it and how much of the rest of my wardrobe it goes with.

I also know from experience that a stuffed closet is just stressful, so I don’t need to come home with a bag full of clothes when I shop, just a couple key items. I’m so over buying the teeshirt that I wear a couple times and becomes totally misshapen or itches or just falls apart.

I recently got to try the brand Boody for the first time. Boody is made with bamboo which is a more sustainable material which leaves a smaller eco-footprint. Equally important, their clothes are soft and fit like a dream. Boody’s clothes are also really fairly priced.

I’ve been on the hunt for the perfect t-shirt for almost a year. I’ve been pretty unimpressed by what’s out there. It’s either stupid expensive or just doesn’t fit well. When I tried on the long sleeve from Boody and looked in the mirror I was like “damn girl.” I love how this material feels and looks on my body. It’s stretchy while still being soft. When it comes to basics, finding flattering cuts for your body is everything. I have a good feeling I’ll be living in this long sleeve this winter.

Finding good basics, that really fit well and feel good, can help make the other pieces you own go so much further.

I’ve really been loving and living in the the Boody shirts, especially the long sleeve. They’re so flattering. You can use the code “LONGRUN” for 20% off your entire order at boodywear.com

Step 4: Create Some Go-To Looks You Can Always Fall Back on

Most of us don’t have the time or budget (or desire) to create crazy unique looks every single day. That’s why creating some signature outfits that you can swap in and out with your basics, saves time and angst. Bonus: you’ll still feel like you’re rocking your style while looking put together. Once you have your wardrobe building blocks, you can mix and match tons of outfits with a surprisingly small amount of clothes. Again, the key is to have those solid basics to build from.

Styling Ideas for Your Go-to Essentials:

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How to Style Leggings 3 Ways

leggings + black tee + hat + flannel + duck boots

leggings + crop top + oversized sweater + birkenstocks

leggings + striped tee + blanket scarf + beanie + booties

How to Style a Cami Bodysuit 3 Ways

cami bodysuit + kimono + jean shorts + ankle boots

cami bodysuit + ripped jeans + military vest + beanie +  canvas sneakers

cami bodysuit + neck scarf + high waisted jeans + high top sneakers

How to Style a Long Sleeve Top 3 Ways

long sleeve top + sweater + bandana + jean shorts + white sneakers

long sleeve top + black leggings + jean jacket + white sneakers + sunglasses

long sleeve top + oversize hat + ripped jeans + birkenstocks

I hope you get the chance to use fall as an opportunity to refresh your style. Feeling like you’re showing up as your best self in the world has amazing ripple effects. Doing a wardrobe refresh has the benefit of cleansing and letting go of the items that no longer serve you. It also allows you to focus on building up pieces that will grow and evolve with you.

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