Raise your hand if you’ve been guilty of overbuying clothes. Because same.
Second-screening each night was a little too common for me. Silly show on TV while I’m deep into page seven of fur-trimmed coats on The RealReal. A coat I absolutely do not need when Austin is over 90°F (32°C) for six months of the year.
With our walk-in closet bursting at the seams, I finally admitted that my relationship with shopping—even just browsing—needed a serious overhaul. I needed time to get reacquainted with my wardrobe and see its full potential. There had to be a way to digitize your wardrobe.
Why I Decided to Try a Digitial Wardrobe
The solution?
A very Virgo approach: digitize my entire closet to truly understand what I own, play around with combinations, and document what I wear to spot trends and opportunities. I used Indyx, a free wardrobe-tracking app that’s also women-founded and funded.
I opted for the paid version, which lets you add a selfie of your outfit to a calendar view (free subscribers only see a flatlay) and gives you analytics on closet content, usage, and cost.
The App I Used: Indyx Review
To digitize my wardrobe, I used Indyx and for 75 days I tracked everything I wore as part of the 75 Hard Style Challenge. A digital wardrobe helped me:
- Visualize my wardrobe
- Plan outfits more intentionally
- Spot styling opportunities I would’ve missed
Whether you’re trying to stop impulse shopping or just want to make better use of what you already own, a wardrobe tracking app like Indyx can really help.
What I Learned Using a Digital Wardrobe
1. I felt a sense of abundance and opportunity
The “I have nothing to wear” trope is one we’ve all likely experienced.
But seeing my wardrobe visualized meant I could easily spot outfit combos I never would’ve considered. I didn’t have to rack my brain wondering if the perfect shoe was stuffed in a box at the back of my closet. I could just look — and often added multiple shoe options to a flatlay in Indyx as a reminder to try both.
If I saw someone wearing a cool outfit, I’d recreate a version in the app. Or I’d screenshot a look online and add it to one of my many moodboards like Colorado Ski Trip, Maritime Summer, or Office Outfit Inspo.
Sure, there were days I threw on track pants, but not once did I feel like I had “nothing” to wear. I finally had a way to use all the inspiration I used to lose to my screenshots folder. And realizing I had over 300 items in my closet? A great reminder that I don’t need more.
2. I’m more creative than I thought—and you are too!
I didn’t repeat a single outfit for 75 days. Yup, you read that right. A different outfit every day—and it was so much easier than I expected.
Before, the mental energy that would’ve required seemed outlandish. I just didn’t try, and defaulted to repeating outfits.
There’s nothing wrong with outfit repeating—I actually encourage it as a way to refine personal style. But I was doing it out of laziness, not intention.
Now, I spend less time searching my closet and more time creating.
By digitizing my wardrobe and tracking my outfits daily, two things happened:
The gamification kept me going. Once I started, I didn’t want to stop. I started to see patterns and “formulas” for looks I loved. Then I’d recreate them with different items. A winning formula for me? Blazer + wide-leg jeans + cat-eye sunglasses.
I started seeking out new styling opportunities. Like those beige cotton-linen pants I’d only worn once—how could I style them in a way that felt like me? Working within the limits of what I already owned sparked creativity. One favorite? A tonal look for the ATX Open tennis tournament built around those very pants. Chef’s kiss.
3. My shopping triggers dissipated
My biggest trigger? Boredom.
When the urge to shop hit, I’d build new outfits in the app using what I already owned. Last year, I averaged 4.5 purchases per month. Over these 75 days? Just three items—all on my wishlist and all secondhand. That’s a 75% reduction so my overly stuffed closet is thanking me.
How to Digitize Your Wardrobe
- Choose your app: I used Indyx, but there are other wardrobe tracking apps out there. Pick one that fits your style and needs.
- Upload your closet: Start with current faves or seasonal pieces. You don’t need to do it all in one go.
- Track what you wear: Make it a daily habit. You can use flatlays or selfies to track.
- Review the data: After a few weeks, check in. What are you wearing most? Least? What items surprise you?
- Get creative: Challenge yourself to style something differently or recreate a saved outfit from your inspo folder.
Final Thoughts: Will You Use a Digital Wardrobe?
Still on the fence? I’d love to hear your thoughts!
There’s no one “right” way to use a digital wardrobe. Maybe you’ll geek out on the usage and combination stats (Indyx does a year-end closet “Wrapped,” à la Spotify!). Maybe it’ll be your creative playground for outfit planning and moodboarding. Or maybe you’ll find a completely different use for it that fits your life.
For me, the limitations—only using what I already owned—unlocked some of my best creative moments. So if you catch me second-screening now, I’m probably just planning next week’s outfits.
Good day! I could have sworn I’ve been to this blog before
but after going through a few of the posts I realized it’s new to me.
Anyways, I’m definitely delighted I came across it and I’ll be book-marking it and checking back regularly!