By Kelly Mosser 

As little girls, we all dreamed of our glamorous adult lives: the perfect man, an incredible job, and of course, a penthouse apartment complete with the walk-in closet fit for a princess. But as young women trying to break into the industries of our choice, we find ourselves a bit out of reach of the Carrie Bradshaw life we’d imagined. And as we make our way to the top, our closet space seems to be getting smaller and smaller. For an intern renting her first studio apartment or a college girl shacking up in a dorm room, it can be a challenge to consolidate a wardrobe that accommodates the many roles we play on a daily basis. Here’s how to build a wardrobe that can take you from the gym, to class, to work, to a party, and to sleep, without overrunning your marginal personal space.

Wardrobe essentials are pieces that can be worn in more ways than one. They can make the transition from work to a trendy restaurant, or from sleepwear to workout wear. Versatility is key, and closet staples like a black dress or a comfy pair of yoga pants or skinny jeans allows you to consolidate excess clutter. Every girl needs a great jacket, but instead of storing a traditional black blazer and a casual denim jacket, make peace in the middle by investing in a structured jacket in a vibrant color that can double for an interview or a night out with the girls.

Minimize pieces that are too funky to wear more than once in a while. While rompers and maxi skirts are adorable, they don’t offer much flexibility when it comes to creating new looks. If you’ll only wear an item once a month or less, leave it at your parents’ place.

On the other hand, there are some articles of clothing you might think you need a lot of, such as T-shirts. But unless you are some sort of aficionado or have a job that requires super-casual attire, you don’t need more than two or three tees in your small space.  Besides, T-shirts are the kind of thing a girl just seems to collect; there’s no doubt you’ll acquire some from events and friends. The same goes for exercise clothes. Since you should wash them frequently to avoid bacteria buildup anyway, there’s no need to have tons of extra Lulu Lemon lying around.

With a wardrobe consisting of just five pairs of pants, two skirts, 10 tops, and 5 pairs of shoes, you can make 350 different outfit combinations! (And save a TON of closet space). Less really is more. A great rule of thumb for ladies preparing to move into a small space: pack what you think you need, and then only bring half of it. The key is learning how to create fresh combinations out of just a few pieces you can’t live without.

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