How many times have you opened a wardrobe bursting with clothes and declared ‘I’ve got nothing to wear’. How much time have you wasted pulling out a skirt and thinking ‘what do I wear with that’, or ‘that’s a bit tight’ or ‘I’m saving that for best’ and then ended up wearing the same thing you always wear?
The average person only wears a quarter of their clothes. If that isn’t enough to encourage you to sort out your wardrobe, look at all the clothes you have which you never wear. Put these clothes into an imaginary pile. Are there more items here than are left in your wardrobe? Does anything have the sales label still attached? Add up their value. Starting to feel guilty? You are not on your own. Recent studies suggest that women spend an average of £500 every year on clothes which never see the light of day.
With each New Year we all make time honoured resolutions about what we are going to achieve – lose a stone in weight, get fit, get a new job etc. We run out of time and it’s put on the list the following year. What could save you lots of time and hard-earned money is sorting out your wardrobe so that rather than being an expensive stress zone it actually works for you. So detox your wardrobe as well as your diet. It’s time to be ruthless! You want to have a wardrobe which works for you and suits your colouring, shape, life style and style personality. Arm yourself with a few large bin liners and as much space as you can and de-clutter that wardrobe.
Review each garment
- Does it suit you? Try it on and review in a full length mirror, it’s the only way to tell. If something doesn’t feel right you won’t wear it.
- Do you feel great in it?These are the items which tick all the boxes and you are sure to have had compliments when wearing them.
- Does it fit you? There is nothing more depressing than having clothes a size too small and hoping to fit in to them one day. Unless you are seriously going to lose weight, get rid of them and buy something for the here and now. Chances are if you do lose weight you will buy new clothes anyway.
- Does it go with anything? It may be a fabulous skirt which you just need the right top to go with. Keep it and start your shopping list.
- Have you worn it in the past year? If you haven’t and you can’t bear to be parted put it aside. If you still haven’t worn it six months later, get rid. Take it to a charity shop or a dress agency or even have a clothes-swapping party with friends.
- Are you saving it for best? Unless for a special occasion, like the little velvet number you keep for Christmas, then wear it now. Saving it for best means you just don’t wear it.
- Does it suit your lifestyle? Consider an average week’s activities, does your wardrobe match? If you only go out once a week and have the wardrobe of an It Girl no wonder you wear the same thing for work day in day out.
- Is it still in fashion? Fashion moves in circles but there may be a style in tartan that suits you better than the one when the Bay City Rollers were in the charts.
- Organise. Put your clothes back in your wardrobe in a way which means something to you e.g. tops, skirts, trousers. Hang on shaped, not wired hangers. Stick photos on your shoe boxes or buy clear ones. Hang your accessories so you can see clearly what you have. Don't put anything back in which needs cleaning or mending. Look at any gaps and create your shopping list, so when you next go shopping buy to complement the wardrobe you already have.
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