Why every woman needs a wardrobe workout

How much clothing do you really need? Hoarder Lynsey Hope gets a pro’s opinion…

The bobbled jumper, that killer dress with the tags still on, those skinny jeans you’ll never fit into again – we’ve all been there.

In fact, researchers have discovered the average British woman wears just five outfits on a loop, with 70% of us reaching for the same dress for all special occasions, leaving at least one third of our wardrobe untouched. We spend an average of £1,042 a year on clothes – so why can we never find anything to wear?

‘Our individual style is a reflection of our personality, making clothes a great way to express ourselves,’ explains professional wardrobe declutterer and stylist Chantelle Znideric. ‘Wearing what you love is important for our self-worth. Most people have the same old go-tos, but there’s always room to push our style boundaries.’ She adds, ‘It’s hard to carve out time to work on every outfit. But by streamlining your closet you can give your style a new lease of life.’

One clothes hoarder in need of Chantelle’s help is writer Lynsey Hope, who lives in Kent with her policeman husband Nick, 38. Since becoming a mum to Jacob, three, and Olive, one, she admits her style has gone downhill. ‘Before having children I had a nine-to-five office job,’ she says, ‘and I always dressed smartly.’ However, size 10 Lynsey – who owns around 150 items of clothing and 35 pairs of shoes – claims she’s since fallen into a style rut.

‘I’ve become lazy with my wardrobe,’ she confesses. ‘I spend 90% of my day at home, so I’ll just chuck on whatever is comfortable and easy. As a result, I barely wear any of my clothes now.’

Here, Chantelle gives her verdict on what she should bin, keep or rework…

‘Clothes express ourselves’