Are you battling the fashion blues as winter gives way to spring? When you look in your wardrobe does your heart sink rather than sing at the sight that greets your eyes?
If you are like many of us, most of your outfits will have lain idle since the pandemic began two years ago. Suits, classy winter coats, and dresses that would have taken you from day to evening with style hang there forlornly, longing to see the light of day.
If your days of remote working have come to an end or your social life is returning to normal after living in the shadow of Covid-19 for the past two years, then it may be time to take a long, hard look at your wardrobe.
This is purely with the aim of making it work for you and to achieve that elusive and much prized objective - to perfect the art of successful and stress-free dressing. This will not only save you time and money, it may also boost your confidence and take years off your appearance. It is a win-win situation and is all within your grasp. It just requires clear thinking, organisation, and a certain degree of ruthlessness.
Style experts say most of us use only a quarter of the contents of our wardrobes on a regular basis. This leaves a lot of unworn and unloved items taking up valuable space and contributing to that bulging-wardrobe-with-nothing-to-wear syndrome that afflicts many of us.
Your favourite pair of denim jeans may no longer fit you but you have kept them in the hope that you will squeeze into them someday. Or remember that flowing shirt that skimmed your curves but now looks positively tent-like because you lost weight. The assorted sale buys seemed like the bargains of the century at the time but now they have fashion disaster written all over them. Each of us has our own cautionary fashion tale to tell.
So, how can you make the most of your fashion collection and what should you discard or retain? Here are some simple ways to edit your wardrobe and rediscover your style confidence.
Prune your press
Fashion gurus say the first step to building a practical and fashionable wardrobe is to look at your current lifestyle and find out if your outfits suit it. Ask yourself the following questions to learn more about your lifestyle: Do you need to dress up for work? Do you spend most of your waking hours in casual outfits? Is a lot of your time spent in the home looking after your children or taking part in outdoor pursuits? Is looking fashionable a top priority for you or are you happy wearing clothes that are designed for comfort rather than style?
The answers to these questions will help guide you when you are making decisions about what your wardrobe should contain. Of course, most of us will need a few different styles of clothes to cover the various seasons, occasions, and lifestyle requirements. Versatile garments are always winners, especially if their style and colour work for you.
Ideally, if you plan to prune your press aim to devote sufficient time and energy to the project. If it seems like a mammoth task, break it down into manageable chunks. Decide to go through one part of your wardrobe on a particular day. That way, you will not become overwhelmed and lose heart. Also, this will ensure you will do the job well and will not have to return to it on another occasion.
Try on everything in that section of your wardrobe for colour, size, and style. It is important to do this in a well lit room so that you can easily see if the clothes are right for you. Hold them up to your face and you will quickly discover if they make you look alive and vivacious or dull and jaded. It is also a good idea to remind yourself of your best features and then find out if the various outfits play to these strengths. If the individual garment fails to tick any of the above boxes, put it immediately in a pile for recycling. This is especially the case for anything you have not worn or has not fitted you in the past year or two.
Local charity shops are glad to receive saleable items. If you are keen to boost your income, consider selling any unwanted clothes or organising a clothes swap with like-minded family or friends. This can be a lot of fun and you may even come across some treasures in the process.
During your wardrobe makeover you will more than likely come across some outfits that require altering or dry-cleaning or just need to be updated by the clever use of accessories or the addition of new buttons. Put them aside and vow to deal with that pile within a few days. Otherwise, wave them goodbye. There is no room in this ruthless revamp for second chances or dilly dallying!
If there is a stain on a garment or a rip, be realistic. What are the chances of it being restored to its former glory? If in doubt, throw it out.
Colour coding
Now that you have cleared out any unwanted items, the next step is to organise what you have left. If possible, store out-of-season clothes somewhere other than your wardrobe. This may be in suitcases or clear, plastic storage boxes under your bed, in a spare room, or in the attic. This will give your more space to store current outfits in your wardrobe and most importantly, to be able to see them at a glance.
You can arrange your outfits in various ways. Some people like to use a colour coding system and hang all black or white items together. Others favour arranging clothes in order of type, such as dresses, coats, and trousers. More choose to categorise garments under the headings of casual, work, or occasion wear. Find out what works best for you in terms of easy access and time-saving options. Being able to find garments easily without having to do battle with coat hangers is what you are trying to achieve.
Remind yourself that the whole purpose of this wardrobe clear-out is to pare down your collection of clothes and create additional space. So, avoid the temptation to put back any of the items that you have discarded. That is why it is very important to move them on quickly to new homes be they to family, friends, or charity shops. If you tend to be a hoarder, this is an even more pressing matter. Aim for this parting of the ways to be as swift, painless, and amicable as possible!
Your next task is to build on what you have left. Use the remaining outfits as the basis for your new, revitalised wardrobe. You will probably have a good skeleton collection already there. If you have several black and navy items, count yourself lucky. These are easy to dress up or down and will always look classy, whatever the occasion. Brighter colours herald the arrival of spring and will bring a sense of newness and freshness to your wardrobe.
Try different combinations to see how they work together. Mixing and matching may throw up some surprisingly interesting results. The tired jacket may get a new lease of life with the addition of a cheery blouse or a demure little black dress may get an edgy makeover thanks to several strands of bold pearls or a sparkling belt.
If you are short of ideas about how to make the most of your wardrobe look online, or leaf through some magazines, or head to the shops and see how they style their latest looks. If your budget stretches to some new buys, then select a few key items from the latest fashion trends. Be mindful when doing so that your latest investments must complement your existing collection. Past experiences have taught us that the charm of one-hit-wonders is usually short-lived so aim for items which will extend the life of your existing clothes and make a worthwhile contribution to your overall wardrobe.
Fashion experts say that it is not so much jackets, suits, or coats that we need to add to our wardrobes, more "joining up" pieces of clothing, such as white shirts, lace-trimmed T-shirts, or other tops. These will bring an outfit together, creating a complete look.
Next Week. How to look younger and slimmer instantly.
