JO SEAGAR:

A big autumn decluttering session gets Jo thinking about clothes that are absolute treasures and the ones that hang unloved and unworn.

time for a serious wardrobe clear-out

It’s that change of season time, so I’m having a wardrobe sort-out. It’s known as a “do-thru” in our family and this one’s proving to be quite the major production. We all have too much stuff, and decluttering and downsizing are buzzwords. I’m just jumping on the bandwagon and doing my little bit for the planet – and, to be honest, I can’t fit anything else in the wardrobe, so it has to be done.

My big clear-out is not just for environmental and ethical reasons either. Call me old-school, but it seems common sense to own a few pieces of fabulous clothing that you really love, rather than have a wardrobe crammed full of mass-produced clothes that you took only a passing fancy to.

I’ve ended up with piles of clothing all over the bedroom, including the worn-out, not suitable for anything let alone a duster pile, and the gone off them in a big way pile – you know, the ones you bought in a sale or a crazy, late night internet shopping spree, wore once and realised were a complete disaster. Or worse, never wore at all. These items, some with labels still attached, go into the Hospice pile. It’s not a coincidence that the really classic pieces in my wardrobe stay in prime position year after year. I wear these familiar, iconic items of clothing every season, again and again, and have done for decades. Take for example Exhibit A, a classic taupe Burberry trench coat that I purchased with five slogged-for pay cheques in 1978. I love this coat and I’m still way in credit on a times-worn-divided-by-cost equation.

I’ve worn this coat when travelling and over smart outfits – even ball dresses. It’s my go-to piece for job interviews, speaking engagements, cutting ribbons and judging cake competitions at A & P shows. And of course, I wear it whenever it rains. The quality has far overridden the price.

Exhibit B is a well-worn, much loved bottle green suede jacket that I inherited from my mother. She bought it with overseas postal orders in the very early 1960s. I think you were only allowed to purchase one or two pounds worth a week. I remember queuing up at the Havelock North Post Office to buy them with her. She saw the coat in a catalogue that ladies at the tennis club subscribed to, and it came from Hong Kong. Apparently Mum fell in love with it when she saw Grace Kelly wear it in a movie. This jacket was one of only a few items contested by my siblings after our mum died. My sister says it’s on a library loan system and has to do the rounds.

This all goes to show that it makes perfect sense to buy the best you can afford. Well-constructed garments of good quality fabric will give you great mileage. How many cheap little black tops do you really need? Buying less of better quality and buying second-hand is my new mantra.

Also, it’s better for the planet if we get over our “wear it for five minutes and into the wash it goes” mentality. Of course, undies and socks are the exception to that rule but seriously, many garments just need to be looked after more carefully. I love a padded hanger and have told my grandchildren, “Granny can never have enough of these,” so they are the go-to present (along with chocolate of course). Hanging clothes on the line or in a steamy bathroom is often enough to freshen them up and dewrinkle. If the label says a garment needs a careful hand wash that’s exactly what I do, and I take a “dry clean only” label as a non-optional command.

Also, find yourself a good shoe repairer, and get out Nana and Pop’s old Nugget tin. I enjoy polishing shoes and Dad’s long-ago shoe cleaning lessons on our Clarks shoes still serve me well today. The same goes for leather handbags and coats.

Here’s the sum of my wardrobe wisdom – buy the best you can afford and only buy things in sales you’d seriously want if they were full price. Trawl second-hand shops. I totally recommend Hospice shops’ pre-loved collections – you can find classic pieces that will last the distance, save you money and do the environment a favour.

On a side note, I’ve culled the little black tops down to nine – not so major for the planet but, for me, that’s life-changing.