Everything You Need In Your Teen Girl Wardrobe

Co-authored by Catherine Joubert

Last Updated: November 22, 2022

Picking Clothes

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Shoes and Accessories

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Shopping Wisely

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Expert Q&A

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Tips

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Warnings

You're shifting through your closet, clothes flying left and right. Ugh! You have absolutely nothing to wear! You just turned 13 and everything you own is so childish—how can you make the ultimate wardrobe for your new teen style? Luckily for you, we have everything you need to know right here! Keep reading and we'll teach you how to create the perfect feminine teen wardrobe, including the latest fashion necessities.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Picking Clothes

1
Buy some comfortable underclothes.
- Undies: ten to twenty pairs is a good amount. Include boyshorts or briefs for every day, a few pairs of seamless and one or two prettier pairs.
- Bras: one or more sports bras if you do sports, two to four everyday bras in nude, white, black or pastel shades, one strapless bra and one or two push up bras. Try to stay away from darker colors as they can show through tops.
- Camisoles. Camis are definitely a major fashion staple in any teen girl's wardrobe. They are great for layering and almost every clothing store has them. Choose neutral colors first - white, black, grey, neutral. Once you have finished your wardrobe, you can go back for colors.
- Tank tops. Have a couple of tight or loose tank tops - sugar lips are a great brand.
- Socks: Have around ten pairs of everyday ankles socks, a few pairs of trainer liners and a few pairs of knee high or over the knee socks. You may also want some fluffy or slipper socks.
2
Get some comfortable pajamas. Own two to five sets of comfortable PJs. Think about the weather and time of year. In summer, some people prefer to wear just a baggy t-shirt or cami, or if you get cold in winter, sleep in a big sweater or hoodie with pajama pants.

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3
Have a variety of stylish and versatile bottoms. Every girl should have a nice floral skirt for the summer months. High waisted and low rise shorts are great as well. A pair of dark wash skinny jeans and a pair of embellished jeans will make perfect additions to your wardrobe (have a few pairs). For a unique pair of jeans, try bell-bottom jeans. Don't forget leggings! Try to find fancy sweatpants and of course, regular baggy sweats too!
- Sweatpants: two to three pairs will be perfect. Make sure they are good quality, have a good fit (not too baggy or tight), and match with at least two of your outfits.
- Jeans:^{[1]
  X
  Research source} Try to buy mostly dark or medium washed jeans as these are the most versatile, but don't be afraid to buy a colored, patterned, faded, embellished or stonewashed pair if you love them.
4
Choose a set amount of bottoms. For example, have three pairs of jeans, one to two pairs of pants, three to four skirts and two pairs of lounging sweatpants.
5
Get some quality tops that are stylish and suit you. Basically, any tops that suit your style will do. Stay away from baggy t-shirts. Flowing tops are nice, as are sweaters. Get a variety of colors and styles and don't get into the habit of buying the same shirt in every single color just because you like it that much. Ten to fifteen tops would be ideal. Aeropostale has a great selection.
- Jackets and seasonal wear. This depends on where you live. If you live in the North or Midwest, get one or two ski jackets, one to three everyday coats, one light coat, and one vest. If you reside in the west or south, one heavy jacket, one light coat, and (optional) one vest will do fine.
6
Get a variety of tops. For example, have three to four tunics/smart tops, five to six graphic tees/everyday tops, three camis, three long sleeved tees, two lounging tees, 3 cardigans, and four hoodies (zip-ups too).
7
Get some pretty dresses for many different occasions. Own two to six different dresses, one black dress, and about five other dresses. A longer dress looks great on tall girls. Try to get them in different styles and colors that suit you well. Some should be for partying, some less casual, like church.
8
Have a set amount of dresses. For example, have one or two formal, three semi-formal, and four to five casual. This includes sundresses.

Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Shoes and Accessories

1
Get a variety of cute shoes that are fairly inexpensive yet quality. You could either hit it or miss it with shoes. Make sure your shoes are cute and match your personality, and do not overload your credit card. Here are some pairs to get you started:
- Athletic Shoes: You should have at least one pair of athletic shoes. It also depends on how many sports you play, but you should have at least one pair of running shoes. You may also need football or hockey boots if you play.
- Sneakers: You will need at least one pair of non-athletic sneakers such as Converse, Vans or Nike blazers. These are great for the mall, park or a friends house.
- Sandals: Have one or two pairs of cute, comfortable sandals, for the beach and for walking. Moccasins are also fabulous.
- Boots: This also depends on where you live, but for anybody, have one pair of hiking boots. Also, you should have a pair of long black boots, for warm or cold. Black is good, but no bright colors. Uggs are very popular.
- Flats: It's good to have a couple of pairs of flats because they go with a lot of outfits. Bright colors or pretty patterns always complete the outfit and make your whole look change. Have back up always, and maybe a pair of regular blacks or greys in handy.
- Heels: Have one or maybe two pairs. One should definitely be in black, and maybe some others in stylish colors, but make sure they match with your dresses/formal clothes.
2
Get some flattering, pretty accessories that look great on you.Be sure to get lots of earrings. Some basics are pearls and faux or real diamonds. Necklaces are pretty and come in a variety of different styles and colors. Try to avoid necklaces and bracelets that say "Best Friends" on them. They are nice when little kids wear them, but for teens, they are a little much. They also may make your other friends feel bad. Buy all accessories last because they are meant to accent the outfit.
- Scarves: Scarves are good for the winter on in the fall, spring, and even the summer. It is good to have bright colors, and cool patterns, rather than the browns and ugly colors. Go with the flow and have fun with them.

Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Shopping Wisely

1
Clean out your closet before you go shopping. Take some time to sort through what you already have in your closet. This way, you can figure out exactly what you need before spending money. Make piles for clothes to keep, donate, and possibly sell.^{[2]
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Research source}
- If you're on the fence about keeping an item, think about the last time you wore it and consider if you'll reach for it in the near future.
- Toss clothes that have obvious holes or rips in them.^{[3]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Catherine Joubert
  Professional Stylist
  Expert Interview. 16 April 2019.}
2
Adjust the shopping list to suit where you live, what you do and what you prefer. For example, if you live in a hot country, you might want a pair of capris. Or maybe, you might like jeans/pants more than skirts, so you might want three pairs of jeans, three pairs of pants, and one skirt.
3
Shop at the clearance racks. Whenever you enter a store, head to the clearance rack first, even if you see other things that catch your eye. They have the best deals, especially at the expensive stores.
4
Look for sales. Just because you're on a budget doesn't mean you can't buy yourself a few cute new pieces.^{[4]
X
Expert Source

Catherine Joubert
Professional Stylist
Expert Interview. 16 April 2019.} In order to save money, you have to hit the sales just right, especially if you wish to buy things from an expensive store. The easiest way to do this is to subscribe to numerous catalogs and ads. It also keeps you up on the latest trends and styles.
5
Shop at discount stores. That includes thrift stores!^{[5]
X
Research source} Some discount stores carry name brands that were unwanted by the store. Discount stores include places like Burlington and T.J. Maxx. Everything is brand new and never worn. They also have cute clothes themselves. The best part? They even say how much money you save right on the price tag!
6
Buy only what you need.^{[6]
X
Research source} Even if it's a bargain, it's of no use to you unless you will actually wear it. Stuffing clothes at the back of the wardrobe is a recipe for clutter and wasting money.

Expert Q&A
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Question

How do I know what colors look best on me?

Catherine Joubert
Professional Stylist
Catherine Joubert is a personal stylist who works with a wide range of clients on refining their style. She launched Joubert Styling in 2012 and has since been featured on Buzzfeed and styled celebrities such as Perez Hilton, Angie Everhart, Tony Cavalero, Roy Choi and Kellan Lutz.

Catherine Joubert

Professional Stylist

Expert Answer

Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

You have to find the color palette that works best with your skin, hair, and eyes. You can find your color palette online. Once you know what colors you look good in (this mostly applies to your tops since they're closest to your face and hair), shopping for clothes will be so much easier.
Question

What should I do with clothes I don't wear anymore?

Catherine Joubert
Professional Stylist
Catherine Joubert is a personal stylist who works with a wide range of clients on refining their style. She launched Joubert Styling in 2012 and has since been featured on Buzzfeed and styled celebrities such as Perez Hilton, Angie Everhart, Tony Cavalero, Roy Choi and Kellan Lutz.

Catherine Joubert

Professional Stylist

Expert Answer

Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

Give them to a friend or donate them. If they're expensive pieces, try selling them to a consignment store to see if you can make some of your money back.
Question

How often should I update my wardrobe?

Catherine Joubert
Professional Stylist
Catherine Joubert is a personal stylist who works with a wide range of clients on refining their style. She launched Joubert Styling in 2012 and has since been featured on Buzzfeed and styled celebrities such as Perez Hilton, Angie Everhart, Tony Cavalero, Roy Choi and Kellan Lutz.

Catherine Joubert

Professional Stylist

Expert Answer

Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

It's great to get a few new pieces at the beginning of every season, or every 2-3 months, if it's within your budget. It's always good to have a couple of new pieces that you're excited about and feel good in and that you're not tired of wearing.

Warnings

Don't overload your wardrobe. Having too many clothes is as unhelpful as not having enough because you can never find anything to wear amid the clutter!

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Don't become consumed in looking perfect, most of all wear what makes you happy and don't get caught up in always looking on trend and like a model in the latest magazine, you're not her, you're you. Look like yourself and wear whatever you please, that is of course with parent approval for appropriateness.

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Helpful 23 Not Helpful 2
Some people might not wear cool clothes, doesn't mean you have to be mean to them about it!

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Be careful about name-brand clothes. For example, those Hollister t-shirts that say "Hollister so cal", are you really going to like that in a couple years or even through the summer? Sometimes plain shirts are your best bet.

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