Don’t Be Clueless, Build the Ultimate Digital Fashion Closet

This post is all about the benefits of a digital fashion closet.

The moment Cher in the movie Clueless built an outfit using her digital fashion closet I eagerly anticipated the day I would have my very own. As the years passed, I grew increasingly shocked and disappointed that no futuristic digital wardrobe systems were invented or became mainstream. It seemed AS IF this was a very viable product, surely someone should have invented it by now.

This is where it all began – the idea that eventually led me to create Currently Popular. A little background on me: I studied Fashion Design in college and started my career as a designer in NYC. Fashion has always been my love-story. Ever since I was a child, I loved sewing and sketching designs, dreaming of the day it could be my full-time job.

Fast forward to reality check time: turns out, a ‘fashion designer salary’ is code for ‘I hope you enjoy top-ramen.’ My first post-college job offered a cool $25,000 a year – yes, you read that right. And this was a step up from my previous gig, where I was an ‘assistant designer’ (fine, unpaid intern) with a $30 a week stipend. 

At that point, I realized that dressing the way I wanted would require some serious creativity. My first plan? Stop shopping altogether for a year to save up for my dream wardrobe. Ironically, I was a fashion designer with no clothes in her closet.

Unfortunately, that strategy didn’t quite pan out. I ended up losing my sense of personal style, and when I finally went shopping again, I found myself buying random pieces I’d had my eye on a year earlier. Lesson learned: going cold turkey isn’t always the answer!

At this point in my sob story, you may be asking yourself “what the eff did I click on to get me to this sad girl’s life story” But there is a point to it all! Through my fashion furries I learned something along the way.I discovered the secret to having the wardrobe of your dreams no matter what your income is.

My second idea turned out to be a lot more effective: creating a fashion budget.

What is a Fashion Budget?

A fashion budget is like any other budget, but it’s dedicated entirely to fashion. A well-rounded budget balances your Needs, Wants, and Savings – the three essential pillars of budgeting (more on that later).

My fashion budget became a system that helped me prioritize funds for NEEDS like rent while also setting aside money for my WANTS, like a closet filled to the brims with quality clothing and accessories.

How to Create a Fashion Budget

In order to successfully budget for the wants in your life, you need to understand your personal finances. If you are not financially savvy, don’t worry. The concept is simple. 

Have a clear understanding of every dollar that goes into your pocket and every dollar that comes out of it.

Once you master this, you can easily have your cake and eat it too. But please don’t blame me if you get too full. It took me 2+ years to perfect this system. There are a lot of budgeting templates on the market but in my opinion they all get one thing wrong. Money & finance should be fun, not complicated! 

At the height of my budgeting, I was following the classic templates and crunching numbers everyday like I worked on the Nasdaq trading floor. The outcome was not pretty and I ended up missing out on a lot of great experiences in my life, like traveling. All in the name of saving money. You don’t have to do that.

The moment I started using my new budgeting template, I was able to travel to Europe every year and buy whatever I wanted. All with a salary below 6 figures. My Fashion Budgeting System is simple & effective. It’s designed to simplify your life, not complicate it.

The 3 Pillars of Budgeting

The 3 pillars of budgeting are Needs, Wants, and Savings—and they form the backbone of a solid financial plan. One of the most popular ways to balance these categories is the 50/30/20 rule: 50% of your income goes toward essentials (Needs) like rent, groceries, and bills; 30% is for the fun stuff (Wants) like dining out, shopping, or hobbies; and 20% goes into Savings to build your financial security. This approach helps you cover your basics, enjoy life’s extras, and still set aside funds for the future—all without overspending.

What is Currently Popular?

Currently Popular is all about helping young women who are on a journey of self-growth. I wanted to create a space that offers a real, unapologetic approach to leveling up in life — whether that’s by building your personal style, managing your money, exploring dreamy travel spots, throwing unforgettable parties, or just keeping life organized and stress-free.

Once I nailed down my budgeting strategy and started curating a wardrobe that felt uniquely ‘me,’ The Style portion of Currently Popular was born. My mission? To share a digital fashion closet that makes it easy (and fun!) for you to find pieces that fit your vibe and create a wardrobe you’ll love.

The Benefits of a Digital Fashion Closet

The Digital Closet is the heart of Currently Popular. It’s a curated, online closet where we showcase our top must-have pieces. E-commerce has revolutionized the way we shop, allowing us to explore brands and styles at our fingertips. However, with so many options, finding the right items can feel overwhelming. The Digital Closet is our answer to the “Paradox of Choice” — with Seasonal Edits featuring every wardrobe category, helping you cut through the noise and find pieces you’ll love.

Discover Styled Looks

If you’re looking for inspiration on how to style your wardrobe, head to our Styled Guides. Here, we share outfit ideas to spark creativity and show you how to put together looks using pieces from the Digital Closet.

Why You Need to Develop Moodboards

Moodboards are essential tools for developing your personal style—think of them as digital scrapbooks for future looks. Pinterest is perfect for exploring new aesthetics; scroll through, see what catches your eye, and save pins to boards organized by season or occasion. It’s also a great place to discover new trends or even inspire you to mix and match and create your own! Have fun and get creative! And don’t forget to check out the Currently Popular Pinterest boards for extra inspiration.

Make a Wish List

If you haven’t yet read our blog post, Three Simple Steps to Build a Timeless Capsule Wardrobe, now’s the perfect time! In it, we offer a free checklist to help you create a Wardrobe Wish List, focusing on timeless, versatile pieces that build a strong style foundation. This section is all about prioritizing quality over quantity and adding items that truly align with your style. If you’re working toward a sustainable, well-rounded wardrobe, you’ll find everything you need here.

The Monthly Budget

The key to having your cake and eating it too. The common dilemma I often encounter while shopping involves knowing what I want but doubting its affordability. Regrettably, I have made the mistake of being deterred by the price tag of a high-quality item, one that I would wear for many seasons, and instead opting for a cheaper alternative, both in quality and price.

This has led me to a closet full of things I didn’t even like. We’ve heard it a million times before, buy quality over quantity. And yet we still find ourselves caught up in the world of fast fashion. Even though we know the solution we still make the mistake. Having a monthly fashion budget will help break this habit.

Using the Budget Tracker, you can set a spending limit for each category in your wardrobe. I build mine based on my Capsule Wardrobe Method, which segments items into Basics, Investments, and Trends. (You can read all about this method here!) This approach lets you make conscious purchases with a clear focus.

With this system, I know right away if I have the budget for those $300 shoes or if my wardrobe even needs them. I can also pull pieces I already own to see how I’d style them with a new item. Sometimes I find that nothing in my closet works with it, or I realize I’d need a few additional pieces to complete the look, which helps me shop smarter.

Any gaps in your wardrobe become obvious once you start using these systems. You’ll know exactly what you need to add and what you’ll likely never wear—saving you both money and time.

Why is this process works

The best part of this process? It lets you get creative and really zero in on your personal style. Building your Digital Fashion Closet should be fun! It’ll change how you see your wardrobe, turning getting dressed into a daily adventure in self-expression, style sleuthing, and closet organization magic. So dive in, make it yours, and enjoy the journey. Happy styling!