Have a clear mind about a wardrobe revamp
ON THE PARADOX OF MODERN MOTHERHOOD AND FASHION FIXES THAT WORK HARD FOR EVERY DAY
Call me crazy taking on a wardrobe detox at this time of year but new beginnings call for incremental changes and the easiest thing to tackle first is my closet. As soon as a new year rolls around, I find a good overhaul boosts my mood and reminds me that there are longer, much balmier days ahead.
Before you shudder at the concept (January is tough enough, I get it! ) it doesn’t have to be ruthless nor does it require the full Marie Kondo effect. As much as I love the idea of colour coordinated knitwear and matching hangers that sit one way, it’s not a realistic way of living, which is why my closet seldom looks as tidy as this. Most mornings there’s a toddler digging through shelves while I’m in a blind panic getting dressed. A good cleanse is simply making space (very cathartic once you get over the initial mess) and identifying the clothes that work for you day to day. Whether it’s big or small, a few hours spent clearing out will pay you back in hours of trying on and rummaging. An uncluttered wardrobe equals an uncluttered mind and all that new year energy.
MY KEY TIPS FOR AN EASY WARDROBE REVAMP IN THREE STAGES
I always start by dividing clothes into categories. These will help you to see what you wear a lot of and what’s missing. The next step is getting rid of what you don’t need, the part I (like most of us) find tricky. A general conception is that if you haven’t worn it in the past six months, you won’t again but I’d argue that our sartorial habits have changed a lot over the last two years.
I tend to hold on to investment pieces for a lot longer once they still fit me – after a good root I often fall back in love with long forgotten pieces. If you haven’t worn something and you’re completely torn, ask yourself would you reach for it on any given day? Does it make you feel good? Is it flattering?
Lastly I arrange the clothes by season and make sure everything worn in heavy rotation is visible. If space is limited, move the chunkiest pieces into the attic until next year (I find IKEA air tight storage bags brilliant for reducing space) and jot down what’s in each so you know the contents before they get packed away.
Once you’ve divided everything you no longer want (I create two piles for friends and my local charity), look at the gaps you have and think of key items you’ll need for the season ahead. For me these tend to be those capsule pieces that form the backbone of what you wear every day. A softly structured jacket that you can sling over a Tshirt or knit – the & Other Stories version pictured
I TEND TO HOLD ON TO INVESTMENT PIECES FOR A LOT LONGER ONCE THEY STILL FIT ME
ticks all the transitional boxes for winter coming into spring. A well-cut pair of jeans with some stretch is the everyday equivalent of a tailored dress. I love sustainable cotton blends in a straight leg or a kick-flare with a higher waist and I tend to invest in darker blue tones as they’re inherently smarter and go with everything.
Broderie anglaise shirt styles are my perennial but you can’t beat a classic Breton stripe, which I find easy transitional layering fodder with jeans or midi skirts coming into spring. If, like me, you love to indulge in vacuum-packing winter staples that take up a mountain of space, a trench coat is your saving grace, often layered with a chunky knit if it’s a chilly day. Lastly, a good all-year-round dress is pretty much the holy grail of a well-executed wardrobe. Find a print you love in a fit that flatters and you’ve hit the jackpot, I love the new collection at Whistles, pictured above.