Learn how to ‘edit’ and reinvent your wardrobe
Do you ever feel like your wardrobe is bursting at the seams? ‘I have too many clothes yet I feel like I have nothing to wear’. Is this a complaint you’re familiar with?
You can’t decide what to keep and what to give away? How do you find that balance between buying new outfits and still keeping your cupboard organised?
Building the perfect wardrobe is realistically a constant work-in-progress, a bit like the saying ‘Rome wasn’t built in a day’. It can be overwhelming at first, especially if you already have a wardrobe saturated with clothes and accessories – things you have possibly hoarded or bought only because they were on sale, without caring how often you’d wear them!
Here are some useful and easy tips to motivate you to get through this process.
The sorting process
1. I recommend a seasonal sort and store process. For example when Spring/Summer is approaching, pack away the sweaters, jackets, woollen scarves and stockings. This way only the relevant seasonal clothes are retained. Easy and manageable for outfit planning!
2. Do a cull during this packing process. Think about three things: how many times you wore an item during that season, if it will still be relevant next year and if its condition is still good enough for next year
3. Decide to eliminate or retain based on the above and then either donate or sell if still valuable. Think E-Bay, Gumtree or even create a Facebook page for good quality preloved items!
4. Organise. Create a system for storing your jeans, skirts, shorts, tops, dresses and even accessories. Keeping things well displayed will give you a good idea of the clothing and accessories you own, to work out new outfit ideas. Sometimes out of sight can become out of mind!
What to keep?
1. Certainly keep any investment pieces that you paid a decent price for – that leather jacket or evening dress for example
2. Keep anything that flatters your body type, makes you feel confident and that others have often complimented you in
3. Highly versatile pieces should be kept – for example a well fitted black dress or a perfect pair of jeans
What to buy?
Now the part that we all love and find any excuse for!
1. Try to ‘buy less, but buy good’ (easier said than done especially when that ridiculously low price sale is calling your name). It is a matter of getting into the habit of restraining yourself.
2. Try and acquire some quality basic pieces that will go a long way in creating many classic and polished looks, whether it is for work, the weekend or a casual occasion. A trendy piece like a coloured pair of pants is less likely to be versatile.
3. Always equip yourself with a few good accessories – like a timeless watch, pearl earrings, some sparkly necklaces and a couple of good handbags. In the latter case, go with the best your budget will allow. Sometimes even a plain outfit can look fabulous just being paired with an expensive-looking bag.
4. Remember, when you make a new purchase try and offset this by subtracting something from your wardrobe (discard, donate or sell).
Get inspired
Opening yourself up to new styles and outfit ideas can actually save you money! It is all a matter of finding inspiration somewhere and you can turn the pieces already in your closet into something totally fresh and creative.
1. Use Pinterest and create boards by colour, for example: how to wear black and white outfits or reds, yellows. Follow Facebook pages of stylists or style bloggers for new ideas.
2. Browse through magazines, even something as simple as a Kmart catalogue. This can give you a great idea for styling a simple yet classy look.
