If you haven't already had a spring clean, it's the time of year to refresh and embrace the new season, so why not include the clothes in your wardrobe? Here I share my 6 Top Tips on detoxing your wardrobe. Which, when well-organised is as equally important as the clothes within. It simply makes life a lot simpler, more fun and morning dressing is simplified.
Do you open your wardrobe full of clothes but complain that you have nothing to wear. I am a great believer that 'less is more' so if you cannot see all your wardrobe contents, dressing successfully will prove to be a challenge! How good would you feel having a wardrobe of clothes that you actually loved but also mixed and matched together? Detoxing your wardrobe will help.
Clearing out your wardrobe should not feel like a form of self-punishment or a chore. See it as an investment in your future self and your motivation becomes more intentional.
It does of course help to know the colours and styles that work for best for your individual colouring characteristics, body shape, personality and lifestyle. I can help you with this, see more here.
Firstly however you may need to remind yourself what you hold in your wardrobes before beginning to edit them down into a useable and workable wardrobe.
Here are my 6 top tips on detoxing your wardrobe to get you started:
1. SET SOME CLEAR TIME TO BEGIN
Begin the process of removing all of the clothes from your wardrobe and your chest of drawers and try them on piece by piece. SORT INTO PILES.
Consider when you last wore it, is it still in good condition and how good does it make you feel? Don't dwell for too long before allocating each item into one of three piles. Use your bed for this purpose.
2. SORT INTO PILES
The Stay Pile
These are the items that still look good on you and give you joy. The value of clothes and the way they make us feel is an important consideration.
The Charity Shop Pile
The items that remain in good condition but perhaps no longer work for you or your lifestyle, those that no longer fit you or those you have not worn for 12 months (although you may still wish to make exceptions such as special one-off or emotional pieces you may need to carefully store). You may also consider taking some of these to your local Dress Agency, who will be interested in the most recent of your cast-offs or how about donating to a deserving friend. You may wish to read more here about dressing sustainably.
The Discard Pile
Those items that are damaged beyond repair or stained. Take this opportunity to re-cycle them and give your wardrobe and drawers a good clean and a spruce up too.
3. DOES WHAT I HAVE LEFT REPRESENT MY STYLE?
Once you have decided on what remains in your wardrobe, ask yourself if it truly reflects who you are. For years I held on to an expensive linen two piece suit (which for no other reason than the guilt of the initial price-tag) remained in my wardrobe. I hadn’t worn it for years (clearly because I don’t like to be creased), but felt paralysed to discard it. I realised that regardless of the price, it deserved to be loved by someone else. Once I had made that decision, I felt lighter.
4. DECIDE HOW YOU WISH TO REORGANISE YOUR WARDROBE
Those items you wear on a regular day to day basis should hang at the front or centre of your wardrobe for easy access remembering to return the item (once worn or laundered) back to same place.
If you are able to and have the space, it is a good idea to keep last season's clothes in another wardrobe. Any items of a sentimental nature that you wish to remember, consider wrapping in tissue and store them carefully (and somewhere different) so you can revisit another time.
You may wish to colour code each type of clothing. For example I group my tops so that the same colours hang together side by side. It means you can easily see what you hold in your ‘top’ department and choosing one in the morning rush is far simpler.
5. INVEST IN GOOD HANGERS
Once you have decided upon how to organise your 'new' wardrobe, give each of your remaining items a home and invest in good hangers here. I like a combination of wood which help clothes retain their shape and the thin flock type variety which take up so little space!
6. CREATE A LIST OF GAPS
The discarding of items will undoubtedly lead to some gaps which become evident once you have completed your wardrobe edit. Don't panic! You don't need to replace the items immediately but it does help you to focus when you make a 'list of gaps'. Now that you have edited your wardrobe and the stress about dressing has been reduced we can then look to carefully replace some items and develop a capsule wardrobe that you can refer to whenever you are out shopping. The great thing here is that you know exactly what you need.
I do hope that this has inspired you to get started on detoxing your wardrobe but if you need any further guidance or some hand-holding for the task of taking a fresh look at the clothes in your wardrobe, or would like to book an appointment in my comfortable home-studio in York or do give me a call on 07494 644788.