I've struggled with being consumed with clothing for what seems like forever.  Clothing purchases was one of the main reasons I had acquired $20,000 of debt now paid off.  Minimalism was the beginning to having freedom from my fashion obsession with capsule wardrobes.  It's taken time to find balance creating capsule wardrobes, but I love the method and the freedom it brings.  I'll be sharing my spring/summer capsule for this year soon though.

Recently I've welcomed a simple "uniform" that allows me to look and feel dignified despite being a busy mom.

What's awesome about this new "uniform" is that it can literally take me pretty much anywhere.  Being comfortable, yet still feeling lovely even as a busy mom may seem impossible.  Believe me, there are ways around this.  You can look great everyday even if you only have a few minutes for yourself in the morning.

Here are my 7 tips to always look your best no matter what.

1. Let go of the need to be trendy.

Trends are designed to keep you dissatisfied with what you have.  Trends don't make you look put together either.  Cultivating your own personal style, simplifying your wardrobe, and knowing what silhouettes look incredible on you do.

2. Toss out EVERYTHING that is ill fitting, frumpy, or sweatsuit related.

You may be cringing at the thought of this, but you will thank me later.  You will always look your best if you don't own any clothing that looks frumpy.  I know you're thinking, "But it's so comfortable!"  There are ways to be comfortable and look great, trust me.  Save your workout apparel for working out.

3. Choose quality, yet comfortable natural fabrics.

One thing that makes even the simplest of outfits look great is the material.  High quality natural fabrics drape much better than inexpensive ones.  Personally I enjoy wearing knits the most.  My next two favorite materials are linen and denim.I recently discovered the beauty of pima cotton.  Pima cotton is super soft with minimal pilling and longer wear compared to regular cotton.  Nothing is worse than your clothing beading up and announcing to everyone it's sad quality.  I recently purchased two organic fair trade pima cotton tees which you'll see soon in my capsule wardrobe.  I paid much more for these than anything thrifted, but I think it was 100% worth it.

4. Decide on a simple "uniform".

Once you've freed your wardrobe of all the ill fitting frumpy attire you once called comfortable, you can now create your "uniform".  My latest uniform is beyond basic... a simple knit top and a maxi skirt.  I adore long skirts particularly because they feel more comfortable than leggings and can be worn everywhere.  Plus long skirts make me feel beautiful.  Decide what works for you and go with it fully.

5. Limit your wardrobe to 15-20 items for the season.

Having a small curated wardrobe makes it almost mindless getting dressed in the morning.  If you've already embraced tip #2 and are now creating a beautiful capsule wardrobe, you have really no other option but to look nice everyday. What I love about having fewer items in my wardrobe is that everything feels more cohesive because I've created it to be that way.  A small wardrobe also allows me to cater to my latest wardrobe preferences without breaking the bank.

6. Learn to enjoy handwashing at least some of your clothes, and get a good drying rack.

When you have a small wardrobe, it really helps to hand wash a few of your favorite items so that they last longer.  A good drying rack helps too.  Another option is to machine wash your clothes on delicate, then use your drying rack instead of the dryer.

7. Have a go-to hairstyle.

My go-to hairstyles are a bun, ponytail, or on a good day loose. Whatever your desired look, try to choose something that is effortless.  High maintenance hair is high maintenance.  This article is about how to always look your best easily.

To sum it all up...

With these specific tips getting dressed in the morning can be easier than ever.  With some preplanning, you don't have to feel frumpy even if it's just a day of running errands or spending time with your little one at the playground.  Looking your best is a choice you make.  It doesn't have to be expensive either.  Most of my wardrobe is second hand or something I've sewn.

What tips would you add about looking your best with ease?

Image by Dawn Michelle