April 30, 2023

DETOXING YOUR WARDOBE – 6 TOP TIPS

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.

Inject some colourIt 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:

detoxing your wardrobe

Start by removing every piece from your wardrobe

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.

Detoxing your wardrobe

Consider taking your clothes to a charity shop or local dress agency

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.

Image Credit Lindsley Weddings

Do your clothes truly reflect who you are?

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

Photo credit : Kai Pilger (Pexels)
Invest in good quality 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

Detoxing your wardrobe

Create a list of clothing gaps that focus your new purchasing decisions

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.

May 31, 2022

FASHION IS FOR EVERYONE

You’ve heard me say before that fashion is for everyone?  I am passionate about the way our clothes matter and have the power to transcend boundaries so let’s talk fashion!

There are a whole host of reasons why I strongly believe this.

Fashion connects people together

After a break of two years,  I was delighted in April 2022  to see the return of York Fashion Week.   Not a moment too soon in my book.

For many it meant reconnecting with a vibrant community.  A group of talented and creative people all supporting and championing one another.  It’s a powerful way to collaborate, learn more about the industry in our region and a way to support local talent.

Of special note this year was the incredible variety of businesses involved, particularly those designers shining a light on sustainability.  For example,  recycled clothing (Ketchup Clothing), clothing designed to ease those undergoing medical treatment (Warpaint), a new jewellery collection created from ocean plastics (Half the Ocean) and Dressing Gowns made from stunning vintage fabrics (Spitting Feathers) to name but a few.

Bringing these people together creates the opportunity for dialogue between those taking part and those it serves to inspire.

Fashion is for everyone

Lovely 83 yr old model on The Revival Runway
Photo credit Olivia Brabbs

Fashion is for everyone

During YFW alone, I was excited to see the age range and wonderful diversity of those involved.  At one show, models on the ‘runway’ aged between 3 and 83 were happily taking part.  They were empowered wearing the clothes that visibly transported the wearer to a place of confidence.

Our clothes have the power to elevate, to express our individuality and tell the world who we are.  Adopting just one trend piece can make us feel current and relevent.

I saw new friendships blossom and could appreciate all over again how fashion enables positive connections.

Fashion inspires our own choices

Recycled clothing by Ketchup Clothes
Image Credit Olivia Brabbs

I liken fashion to the style of food we choose, we don’t all like everything but we’ve still gotta eat, right?

There is no wonder that we see the International designers flexing their creative muscles!

We witness zany and outrageous designs but I equally applaud the work involved in bringing an event and ‘catwalk’ together.  A whole host of creatives pulling together behind the scenes.

For many of us, the latest trends can be overwhelming.  Let's welcome the amazing creativity, the visual extravagance and use what we see to stimulate our own self-expression.

Fashion is for everyone

Ethical brand Hope Fashion during York Fashion Week. Image credit Olivia Brabbs

Fashion can be a force for good

Thinking back upon it now, I realise that in a relatively short space of time how things have changed. I was never a Fashionista but boy back in the ‘90’s how I loved to feast on Carrie Bradshaw’s closet (Sex in the City). I may also have been guilty of consuming fashion simply because it was on trend….rarely because it looked great.

Wind on forty years and my purchases are more wisely considered and well chosen.  My clothes will stand the test of time, will mix and match and reflect how I wish to feel in my clothes. It really is a powerful thing!

I shudder to think how much money I wasted in my 20’s and 30’s on clothes and I dare say many of us still do. I wonder if we all thought about the monetary value alone of our unworn clothes?

Change it must for our planet and for those employed in the garment industry.  We can ALL help and initiate a change in behaviour by making more sustainable and ethical clothing choices.  What if we select pre-loved clothing, get creative with our existing wardrobe or be more insistent on buying from brands with visibly ethical credentials.

Did you see that the next series of Love Island has partnered with eBay to encourage a less disposable attitude to fashion?  Contestants are expected to re-wear and repeat their outfits.  Hoorah!  This sort of exposure will highlight how pre-loved fashion can be celebrated.

Fashion makes us feel good

If for you, fashion seems to be frivolous, understanding what works for our body shape, our lifestyle and personality is a good strategy.  I can naturally help you with this.

This can lead us to more discerning choices, we begin to dress to our own beat but use fashion selectively and in a more mindful way.  A knowledge that helps us better select a range of flexible and well-chosen clothes that deserve a place to hang in our wardrobe for longer.

As an advocate for clothing that feels good for us, I am hooked on the power that our clothes have on our well-being and confidence.  Fashion is for everyone!

 

To the creative team behind the prestigious marketing company, NIMA that helped to shape and bring us York Fashion Week, I applaud their vision that means fashion is for everyone.

Image credit OliviaBrabbs for York Fashion Week.

COLOURS • CLOTHES • CONFIDENCE

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