Take a look at my Guide to Building the Perfect Wardrobe of 10 Essentials and 5 Fall Wardrobe Staples. This step is going to be different for everyone. You might not need to go shopping at all, or you may realize you’ve just gutted your entire closet and need to get some essentials STAT.

The key is, create a list and don’t deviate from that list.

As always, for these foundational pieces – look for quality pieces that will withstand the test of time. Look for natural fabrics as opposed to synthetic ones.

It’s better to have 5-10 really amazing but more expensive pieces that you’ll keep for years rather than 25 so-so pieces that won’t get more than 2-3 wears out of them or worse, don’t really go with anything in your closet/style/body type.

5) Plan Outfits & Take photos

Now that you’ve gone shopping and you know what works for you and what looks best on your body-type, it’s time to create outfits!

The key to looking put-together (even at a moment’s notice) is having a variety of pre-planned ensembles up your sleeve whenever you need them.

I spend an entire afternoon once every few months (especially after I’ve purchased a few new pieces) in my closet, trying things on, mixing and matching new things and taking photos of the looks I’ve created.

You’ll be pleasantly surprised at how many variations you can make by shopping your own closet and mixing things up. Remember those pinterest looks? Re-create some of them with pieces you own!

The key here is take photos!

If I forget to do this step – I’ll forget all the awesome outfit combos I created.

Don’t forget to include the hijab you’ll wear, jewelry, shoes, neck scarves or any other accessory so you have the entire ensemble to reference and aren’t left frustrated when you can’t find a proper hijab to match your outfit.

Be sure to check out “A Hijabi’s Guide to Matching Your Hijab to Your Outfit” and “Choosing the Perfect Solid Hijab for Your Skin Tone“.

Voilà! Follow these 5 steps and you’ll walk out of the house looking and feeling fabulous – every time.

This article was first published at haute hijab.com