How To Shop Your Wardrobe
If you are stuck at home and needing some distraction a good sort through your wardrobe might be just the solution to fill a few hours.
I would recommend that you do this regularly anyway to make sure you haven't forgotten about any hidden treasures. Clear out what you don't wear regularly to make sure your wardrobe isn't cluttered and that you can see everything. Sell good quality items so that you can use the money to reinvest in your wardrobe.
Use this time to “go shopping” in the warm and dry in your wardrobe. Rather than this being a clear out, it’s an opportunity to try different item combinations, work out which key items you need and come up with some new outfits.
Have handy a notebook, some pins and a full length mirror. Use a camera too, I keep a folder on my phone with outfit ideas that I can easily refer back to.
Pick out some items you love but don’t seem to wear very often and try to figure out why. Is it because of the fit? If so could it be altered? Is it because you don’t have the right shoes or accessories to go with it? Or is it because it doesn’t really reflect your personal style despite you loving the colour?
With each item check the following three rules to determine whether to keep it and create a new outfit or whether it just goes to a good home (Preloved resale - see link above, charity shop, friend or ebay):
- Is it flattering?
- Do you love it?
- Does it reflect your style personality?
Once an item passes, mix it with other keepers to create new looks. Try different combinations of lengths, colours, fabrics, and style. For example would that embroidered jacket work during the day with jeans and a sweater? Could a dress that you feel is too short become a tunic with leggings? Could a dress that sits in your wardrobe for best be mixed with ribbed tights, boots and a chunky cardigan, to make it less formal? Add a belt to a long top, just keep trying different accessories, and pieces together.
When you find an outfit combination you love make a note of all the items that make up that outfit and take a picture. You could be really organised and categorise the outfits into occasions - you are likely to want more casual outfits at the moment, but it's worth having some "going out" looks ready for when we can venture out again.
As you go through you will find some pieces that you want to keep but you know need a new item to make them work. Make a list of all the things you need. But BEFORE buying check the laundry basket, and any storage just to make sure you don’t have that exact item hidden away. You may also have the right item but in the wrong colour so think about dying it – this is really simple to do in the washing machine and I have had great success creating new outfits this way.
Accessories can really change the look of an outfit – I am a great collector of costume jewellery and a scarf magpie! Almost any outfit I wear will be accessorised with my signature – something on the neck, whether that is some chunky pearls or a favourite Armani scarf that is about 12 years old. Think about starting a collection of accessories to put the finishing touches to your new outfits.
Finally when you put your clothes back into the wardrobe treat them with love (after all if you don’t love them they shouldn’t be going back in!) and a plea from your clothes “Never hang me on wire coat hangers” invest in decent hangers - I like these space saving ones which are also non slip - they really will make your beautiful clothes last longer.
This job whilst filling some of that spare time will also give you pleasure when you open your wardrobe doors and see how good it looks inside. We all need our spirits kept up at the moment and one of the ways you can do that is by feeling good about yourself. It isn't frivolous to think about what you wear, don't underestimate the positive power of wearing some colour.
I hope you all stay safe and well x
