Clear the clutter
Is your wardrobe overwhelming?
Have you been putting your wardrobe clear-out on the back-burner?
Are you swamped by the sheer volume of clothes?
Do you even know where to start?
It’s time to have some fun in your wardrobe and find the clothes that you really love.
No more excuses!
We have more time at home at the moment so there has never been a better time to finally sort it out.
To start it can be quite overwhelming but you can do it in steps. Take it a drawer at a time if necessary, if you can’t do the whole lot. (just do your sock drawer or underwear drawer today and take it from there) Clearing the clutter really can be beneficial to both our physical and mental health.
Tip: Make it a little easier on yourself by first sorting your clothes into summer and winter. It might be easier to start with your winter wardrobe as we have just come through the winter season and you know what you did and did not wear. Have a look through it.
You want to clear the things that are dragging your wardrobe down and get the best out of the clothes that you own.
Begin by sorting your clothes into 3 different piles
Red = Definite no
Amber = Not so sure
Green = Definite yes
The definite nos - do not allow that garment back into your wardrobe (doesn't suit you, doesn't fit you anymore, its old and tatty)
The I'm not so sure - the garments you’re not so sure about (may not fit you now, may have cost a lot of money, may have sentimental value)
The definite yes - goes straight back in. the clothes that fit, you wear , you love
Some things will be yes or no and that’s it (piles 1 & 3), but other clothes you will have an emotional attachment to, so it’s not always easy to decide! (will I fit into it again, it brings back great memories of the time you last wore it.etc. etc.) Ask yourself have you worn them? Have you enjoyed wearing them? Can you get rid of them if you haven’t?
What’s missing from your wardrobe?
Take this time to discover what's also missing from your wardrobe.
While you are sorting your wardrobe you will come across some hidden gems, but you might not have anything to go with them.
You will need to get some wardrobe basics - or ‘rescue’ pieces in some neutral colours.
Remember neutral colours can extend your wardrobe and almost make it more than what it is and they make a massive difference to the usability of your clothes.
How to make your wardrobe more polished/put together?
Think about your Key Colour.
A key colour or a neutral colour is what we would call your safe colour. You would want to have lots of basics/wardrobe staples in this colour. (long sleeve top, shirt, jacket, trousers,coat, belt, shoes, boots etc. etc) So, if you are cool toned it could be black, grey, navy and If you are warm toned it could be brown, green.
Why? I hear you ask! Say for example you came across a gorgeous jazzy skirt when de-cluttering your wardrobe but you have nothing to go with it, by having these basics you can complete most looks.
Happy with your 3 piles of clothes?
The No’s
Bag up the definite nos - Less is more.
If you don't wear it or don't need it let it go.
If it doesn’t suit you.
If it doesn’t fit you.
If it’s shabby.
If you haven't worn it in 3 years - get rid of it
As well as donating to charity, remember if they are in good condition (you may even have some pieces with the tags still on them) you could also consider selling them.
The Maybe’s
This is the most difficult pile.
May not fit you now.
May have cost a lot of money.
May have sentimental value
Sometimes we hoard clothes for so long that we almost grow out of them - so just let them go.
Think about what you need your clothes to do for you now.
The yes’s
Put the definite yes pile back into your wardrobe.
They fit you well.
You wear them.
You love them.
You will find outfits and combinations that you had forgotten about and you will also see what you are missing
Wardrobe full of clothes but nothing to wear?
Sometimes you can have a lot of clothes in your wardrobe but still have nothing to wear.
How can you resolve this?
Close your eyes for a minute and think about your lifestyle. Now think about the clothes hanging in your wardrobe. how well do they match?
Have u got the right clothes for you and your lifestyle? i.e. do you spend most of your time at work and most of your budget on clothes for going out?
Think about what percentage of time you spend in your week working, exercising, kids, socializing,walking - whatever it is you do. Now look at your clothes.
What % of clothes could you allocate to those activities? If these % differ widely then you need to address the balance.
Also, think about how you want to be perceived? Would you like others to describe you?
Sort your wardrobe to suit your lifestyle...it needs to be right for you and your lifestyle.
Organise and store
Hang everything together by type - all dresses together, all trousers etc.
It makes it easier for outfit creation.
Sort out your hangers - choose slimline non slip hangers as the chunky hangers take up too much room.
Fold any jumpers to keep them in shape.
Struggling with that maybe pile?
If you have items that you haven’t worn recently but you loved one time and just can’t bring yourself to part with them, pop them back into your wardrobe but keep an empty bag at the bottom of your wardrobe.
Make a point of wearing them sooner rather than later and see how they make you feel.
If they don’t make you feel good do not hang them back in your wardrobe - pop them straight into that bag and donate to charity or sell.
If it has huge sentimental value, take a picture.
Enjoy looking through your wardrobe. You may even find a few gems.
Remember less is more.
Less is more.