Why Catalogue?
With a constant slew of new trends flowing into our feeds on what feels like a weekly basis, it can be easy to fall into the trap of over-consumption. I have fallen victim to it too many times to count. A new trend surfaced, and I adored it. I purchased a new piece to add to my closet. Repeat.
The problem is - I have fallen into the pattern of always purchasing rather than reflecting on what I already own. My closet continues to swell and yet somehow I have 'nothing to wear'. At some point as a convicted shopaholic, one has to take a step back and take a long, hard look in the mirror. I can't go on like this. Continuing to neglect items in my closet that not so long ago I coveted. Items I had convinced myself I couldn't live without. If the pair of red gingham capris in my closet were a movie character they'd be Jessie from Toy Story. Once beloved and now cast aside for a pair of dark-wash balloon jeans. When will the madness end?! That, my lovely friends, is where Indyx comes in.
Indyx is an app that allows you to catalogue your entire wardrobe digitally. Simply take a picture of your item and the app automatically crops the background and adds it to your digital wardrobe. Once everything is uploaded, you can style outfits right on the app. Think Polyvore but for your own closet. That means any time you don't know what to wear, you can have a plethora of pre-styled outfits for any occasion at the ready-to-consult. It also means that when 'cowboy chic' is trending, you can build an outfit from your existing wardrobe rather than buying a 90% plastic "denim" vest from H&M that you've convinced yourself you need. It can also help you to be more thoughtful about possible purchases. Test out the new sweater you're considering buying with all of the various pant and accessory combos you already own. This way, your purchase won't snowball into buying an entirely new outfit. But I'm getting ahead of myself here. Let's talk about my experience of cataloguing my wardrobe.
The Process
To add an item:
1) Click the plus sign in the middle of the bottom menu
2) Choose your photo by either taking it from your camera roll or right on the app
3) Wait for Indyx to crop the image
4) Enter the brand, size, colour, and category.
5) Done!
My approach was to start with my hanging items and then make my way to folded pieces. You may choose to start with tops, then bottoms, then outerwear and so on. Whatever process makes the most sense to you - do that. There really is no right or wrong way to do it.
The only advice I would give you is this:
Lay everything on a flat surface (don't worry if the background is ugly, it'll get cropped anyway).
Smooth out each item to get the best flat-lay position.
Choose a spot where you will get the best natural light. If this isn't possible, a ring light or ring light adjacent should do the trick.
Take pictures from directly above the item.
If it all feels too overwhelming, start by only logging the pieces for the upcoming season. Then take it a season at a time.
With each item that you add into your digital wardrobe, you can add the following info:
Brand
Category (top, bottom, accessory, bag, etc)
Sub-Category (e.g.: blouse, tank top, strapless, shirt, tee etc.)
Size
Colour
Material
Personal notes
Description
Condition
Origin
Link to shop
Season (Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer)
You can even calculate the cost-per wear for each item. Simply fill-in the required info (purchase-price, new or second-hand, times worn etc.) and Indyx will automatically calculate the cost per wear for you. For example, the absolute steal of an eyelet blouse I got for $5 in Kensington market last Spring has a cost per wear of $0.25. My trusty Babaton wool trench, although quite the initial investment, has been quite worth the hefty price tag. Wearing it everyday last winter has resulted in a cost per wear of $3.72.
Outfit Building
Now for the fun part. Clicking the plus button in the middle of the bottom panel when on the outfits tab allows you to build a new outfit out of all of the items in your closet.
For example, let's build an outfit for a casual fall coffee date.
1) Click the plus button.
2) Select the pieces you want to build your outfit.
3) Click save.
4) Click on the ellipses on your outfit to add it to your calendar or document it with the selfie feature.
I can already tell that this feature is going to be a godsend when it comes to vacations. Every time I take a trip, I have a particular vibe in mind I want to convey, especially when I want to shoot content. I try to plan outfits in my head but, often-times in the end they don't work because I forgot to consider a shoe choice or whether or not my new dress would go with my bag collection. Now I have the perfect tool to plan out my looks way ahead of time, all in one place.
It has already come in handy in my day-to-day life, too. First of all, the cataloguing process made me rediscover gems in my closet that I had entirely forgotten about. Just the other day I wore my maroon loafers for the first day in I don't know how long. It has also been useful for when I don't know what to wear. Last night I rushed home from work and had an hour to get ready for my sister's birthday dinner. What could have been a 30-minute freakout over 'I have nothing to wear' turned into a 5-minute ah-ha moment of scrolling through my pre-made outfits.
But perhaps the most exciting part of digitalizing my wardrobe is getting the same serotonin boost from shopping in my own closet as I previously had window-shopping online at Artizia. I'm being creative whilst saving money and making better use of what I already own. After all, someone who appreciates fashion and personal style should, above all else, truly love their collection. It is easy to buy and style the newest, hot thing. It takes true taste and talent to build something new out of what most might see as old.
Get Styled By Vanilla Darling
Now for the most exciting part of all. I am thrilled to share with you all that I am officially a personal stylist on the Indyx App. This means that if you choose to digitally catalogue your own wardrobe, you can have me look through your pieces and build outfits for you! You can even request to have up to 6 product recommendations incorporated into these outfits! I have had many requests from some of you to personal style for you and now I have the perfect platform to do so.
Here's how it works:
You can choose from either of these options:
The Lookbook ($125)
Gets you ten (10) outfits styled entirely out of your own closet or with a few new suggestions mixed in. Each outfit comes paired with styling notes, including all the tips and tricks that really bring a look to life and knowledge that takes 10 outfits and inspires you to create 100 more.
The Feed ($25/month)
Every Friday, I will send you up to two (2) new outfits styled out of your own closet and answer any open messaging threads. I can style your requests to help solve specific wardrobe dilemmas. Have an upcoming wedding? Don't know whether or not the Repetto pumps are worth the splurge? I am here to help!
More details on these offerings are available in the app! You can also use my code vanilladarling when you sign up to get a $10 credit to be used towards either of my service offerings.
Happy cataloguing!
Talk soon,
-Vanilla Darling Xx
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