A Wardrobe Edit is something that you can do yourself at the beginning of your style journey as an excellent way of feeling refreshed, organised and ensuring you only wear clothing that fits within your Style ABC.
It's also something that you can do twice as a year as a seasonal re-fresh to transition items out of your 'functional wardrobe' into storage to make space for the present seasons clothing.
Let's get started....
This process will take 2-3 hours so put some ‘you time’ to one side with no distractions.
You will need 4 Post It Notes labelled
Keeping / eBaying / Binning / Tailoring
You will be moving items into these piles one at a time.
Also, a notepad and pen to create your Shopping List
To begin with work your way left to right asking your self 3 questions about each item.
1. When was the last time I wore the item
2. How did it make me feel?
3. Does it fit me?
If it fits, makes you feel good and you wear it regularly, add it to the 'keeping' pile.
Add things that don't fit to the eBaying / charity shop pile, things that have seen better days to the binning / cash for clothes pile and finally anything that needs tailoring or has a stain that needs removing - add to the 'tailoring' pile.
Then address your keeping pile and separate them into 3 piles.
1. Clothes you wear once a year (posh dresses, bikinis, cruise wear, interview suit).
Move these to alternative storage or pop in a vac-pac.
2. Items you haven’t worn for 6 months+
Ask yourself again WHY haven't you worn it? There must be a reason right? Is it that you don't know what to wear with it?
3. Everything else that you wear regularly
1. TACKLE PILE ONE (ONCE A YEAR)
With items that you only wear once a year, decide if you will need them again this year. If you think you will, keep them but put them into vacuum packs under the bed or in the loft. This way, they will not interfere with your day-to-day wardrobe.
For example, I put mine in my son’s large wardrobe as it is bigger than mine and I can dip in and out of it when I need something. I don’t want party wear that I wear once a year clogging up valuable daywear space.
2. TACKLE PILE TWO (SIX MONTHS+)
Clothes that you haven’t worn for more than 6 months should be considered as being destined for removal. There will be 1 or more reasons you haven’t worn these items:
• They no longer fit – get rid of these or add to a pile for eBaying.
Staring at items which no longer fit will have a negative impact on your self-esteem and confidence.
• It needs repairing – add to the pile for Tailoring (only if it fits).
• It’s over-worn, bobbly or faded. BIN IT. If you love the item, add it to your Shopping List for repurchase.
• Not your style anymore. Take it to a charity shop or eBay it!
• It was an impulse purchase and you have nothing to wear it with.
If the item fits you and you love it, make a note on your shopping list of what you need to go with it: or ask me! Do not put it back in the wardrobe until you have found it ‘a friend’ as I call it.
3. TACKLE PILE THREE (DAY TO DAY)
Providing you have something to wear with each of these items, put them back into your wardrobe, checking each one for stains, missing buttons, loose threads, etc.
If they need repairing add to the Tailoring pile. Do NOT put these back into the wardrobe until they are mended or clean!
When returning items, begin by hanging all your coats and jackets together at the far end. There are two unique ways to order your wardrobe:
Put your clothes back as ‘outfits’ if you know what goes together. This way you will save time when getting dressed.
Or, categorise your items into skirts, trousers, shorts, blouses, t-shirts, vests, jumpers, etc.
I personally then like to then sort them into colours.
Black to grey to white to colours in each category: OCD I know, but it’s what works for you.
Oh and remember, get hold of some decent hangers.
Slim felt if possible or wooden - see below - click to shop.
Wire hangers are cheap and nasty and will mark your clothes eventually. Add any wire hangers to the pile for the bin.
In a nutshell, each item in your wardrobe needs to match YOU; your body shape, your personal colour palette and your OWN style personality.
You will have more outfits in your wardrobe than you think.
Use methods like 'column of colour' (left) and vodka and cranberry (right) as a reminder of how to team items for your body shape.
https://www.thestyleguide.org.uk/post/what-is-the-column-of-colour
https://www.thestyleguide.org.uk/post/vodka-cranberry
Check out the colours style secret to explore complimentary colours.
https://www.thestyleguide.org.uk/post/colour-palettes
Put together a few existing outfits which you know work and group them together at one side of the wardrobe for easy access when getting ready.
This will save you time and energy in a morning, making getting dressed stress-free!
I really hope this helps and if you still want a FACE to Face Edit - you know where I am and you can use your 20% code for being an amazing HUB Member.
Lots Of Love,
Joy x