The Power of Three
One of the things I talk about with my clients during closet edits is what belongs in their closets. We talk about their lifestyle, their needs and their wardrobe goals when determining what should go back into the closet. One piece of advice I give to all clients, regardless of their lifestyle and goals, is what I like to refer to as “the power of three.” You should be able to wear every piece of clothing in your closet at least three ways in order for it to have a slot in your closet.
I recently shared this guidance with a client and I could practically see the a-ha moment that was happening in her head! Here are just a few reasons you should consider implementing the power of three in your own closet:
It’s economical. Simply put, you’re getting more wear for your money if you are able to wear a single piece of clothing in at least three different ways.
It forces intentional clothing purchases. I always encourage thoughtful, intentional shopping; determine what you need and shop with a list in hand so you’re buying pieces to serve a purpose, rather than impulse-buying pieces that catch your eye in a store but may not pair with anything else in your closet. If you create a shopping list based on what’s in your closet and what you need at that moment, you already know that you have something to pair the new item with so you know you’ll be able to wear it right away.
It makes it easier to maintain your closet. If your closet consists of pieces of clothing that don’t pair with anything, they just become clutter that takes up valuable real estate in your closet. You should be able to—and want to—wear what’s in your closet.
It gives you wardrobe options. This one is pretty obvious, but if you can wear an item in your closet three ways, that means you have three outfits right there. I recently created a lookbook for a closet edit client and with just two pairs of pants I created over 15 looks for her with pieces already in her closet.
To show you the power of three in action I styled two garments from my closet in three ways each. First up are my beloved H&M pull-on pants which I got last summer. (I can’t find them on the H&M site anymore but these look very similar.) I specifically chose this item since I think the print can be polarizing and it’s not a basic solid which is much easier to style. The orange top in the first photo is what I initially purchased to wear with the pants. I half-tucked the top for a relaxed style and slipped on black sandals to complete the summery look. For the second look, I paired the pants with a v-neck linen-blend top which I left untucked for a very comfortable, airy style. I added a little color with my yellow sandals. For the third look, I opted for a chambray shirt tied in a knot at the waist and I cuffed the sleeves for a more relaxed look. I repeated my black sandals here. You can easily see how the different tops and tucking versus not tucking, along with the shoes, give the pants a different style and even changes the look of my body. A denim jacket could be added to any of these looks, too.
I also applied the power of three to my J Crew V-neck soft gauze popover. The options for styling a solid piece like this are virtually endless as nearly anything will pair with it. For my first look, I styled it with a pair of distressed skinny jeans and loafers. For the second look, I wore it with white boyfriend jeans and brown sandals. For the third look, I paired it with a cropped demi-bootcut jean and a block heel sandal. These different styles highlight the versatility of this top. For example, I wore the first look to volunteer at my daughter’s school, and I could see myself wearing the last look out for a dinner date with my husband.
I encourage you to take a few of your go-to pieces from your own closet and give it a try! If you have a piece that has you stumped, let me know in the comments as I’d love to help you create some new-to-you looks.
