A fine mess
WHAT BETTER t i me of t he year to give y o u r war d - robe a detox a n d muchn e e d e d spring clean. Sifting and sorting through heaps of clothes is also a great opportunity to recycle, be charitable and get reacquainted with some of your old favourites. Make sure your wardrobe earns its keep with these top tips to a successful clothes detox. 1. Face up to the fact that your room will look as if a bomb’s hit it. Ensure kids, pets and any other distractions are far away. First and foremost, remove EVERYTHING from inside your wardrobe. 3. Put the ‘maybe’ pile with the ‘no’ pile. My comment about altering it? You won’t! The pile will sit in a black bin bag in the corner of your bedroom and end up collecting dust until you give it to a charity shop. Save yourself time and just admit it’s a no! 4. Restock. Although a little OCD ish, match your hangers, they make everything look more organised and tidy. Wooden hangers keep clothes in good shape. Any wire hangers or dry cleaning plastic covers — throw. Box and label your shoes so it’s easier to navigate when you’re looking for a particular pair, plus it keeps shoes in shape. If any shoes or boots need re-heeling or re-soling, get it done before placing them back in your closet. 5. Organise underwear into bras and briefs rather than colour or design. And don’t forget to check your tights for ladders or moth holes. However nice the fit, they belong in the nearest bin. Tights are affordable for a reason! 6. Anything more than 6 months old that still has tags on it was a mistake and impulse buy. If it doesn’t excite you or doesn’t work with the rest of your wardrobe then begone. 7. Storage is key. For items that attract moths, like velvet or silk, store in a breathable, synthetic garment bag, which will keep the moths out. If you have furs in your wardrobe, cover each loosely with a thin pure white muslin and keep in a cool room.
then try everything on. This is no easy task and may be extremely depressing when i t comes to tight waistbands but it’s absolutely necessary. Create three piles: yes (keep), no (chuck) and maybe (you could alter or restyle it). Be ruthless: if you wouldn’t buy it today, don’t keep it. If it’s ill fitting, chuck it. And if you haven’t worn it in the past year, you won’t be wearing it the forthcoming year either. 8. Add a few pieces of cedar and/or lavender sachets in your wardrobe and on your shelves to keep them free from insects indefinitely.
If all of the above seems too daunting, sional wardrobe-sorter. They’ll sort and sift through your wardrobe while giving you style advice too. Try jude@wearwhatwhen. biz for a bespoke experience.
an emptier wardrobe means you have room for some new purchases. Well worth the hard work then!