How to audit your wardrobe
New year, new style (sort of)
‘I hate all my clothes’ is a line I’ve heard a lot recently. If this soMuynfdolsdfinagmskililalsr, the chances are you might have outgrown your cucorrueldnnt (emotionally or otherwise) and are looking to take your style in a new direction. Maybe you’ve had the same going-out dresses since your student days, or perhaps your clothes just don’t feel very ‘you’ any more. Whatever the reason, refreshing your wardrobe can be equal parts cathartic and overwhelming. Enter: a fashion editor’s guide to navigating your 2023 aesthetic.
FIRST: LOOK AT WHAT YOU HAVE
Contrary to popular opinion, rather than starting with a cull, we recommend sorting through everything you want to keep. This builds the foundation of your wardrobe and gives you a sense of what you love before you move on. Once you’re clear on what’s staying you can tackle the rest.
The key to an effective audit is being realistic about what you will wear again. Next, make a pile of the clothes that don’t fit any more, along with the pieces you can’t remember wearing in the past year. Then, go back for round two and be a bit more ruthless. Ask yourself: ‘Do I actually wear it, or do I just like the idea of it?’ When you’re done, pop your ‘keep’ clothes in your wardrobe.
THEN: START SORTING
Now it’s time to decide what you want to toss, donate, upcycle and sell. A few things to keep in mind as you make your way through: 1. If items are damaged (ie, ripped, stained or worn through), put them in a clothes recycling bin. Alternatively, if you think something is worth saving, The Restory specialises in repairing and restoring high-end designer items. The Seam and Sojo are both great for fixing and altering pieces at any price point – and Sojo even lets you arrange for items to be collected from your door. 2. Pieces in good condition that you just don’t want to wear any more are perfect for donating or selling. Depop is great for unique, on-trend pieces. Vinted is a go-to for your favourite high street labels and eBay is a one-stop shop. 3. If there’s anything you think could be repurposed (turning a dress into a top or cutting an old tee into cleaning cloths), these are your upcycles. For inspo, the #upcycledfashion hashtag on TikTok has over 656m views, offering endless ideas for reinventing the items in your wardrobe.
FINALLY: MAINTAIN
Now that your wardrobe is more cleansed than your chakras, take a minute to think about how to approach your clothes going forwards. Not only will this save you money and space, it also reduces waste by making you a more effective shopper. 1. Look for commonalities (colours, print, shapes) in the items you have – this helps you better understand your personal style and prevent endless umming and ahhing at the checkout. Allison Bornstein is a stylist on TikTok and Instagram who champions the three-word rule. Basically, review your fashion vibe and come up with three words that sum it up best. Hers are classic, 70s and elegant – but it could be anything; playful, bright and Scandi; androgynous, minimal and relaxed. You get the gist. Once you have those, use them to guide any future purchases. 2. If, in your sorting, you found that you wear one item a lot (to the point that it’s been worn out), note this as something to buy more of. 3. To keep your wardrobe lean and efficient, try using a ‘one in, one out’ rule. This means that whenever you acquire a new piece, take a look at your wardrobe and see if you can swap out something you no longer wear and could potentially upcycle, sell or donate. 4. Try downloading an app such as Whering (aka the Clueless app), which is designed to help you get the most out of your wardrobe by keeping a record of everything you have, letting you piece together new outfits you might not have considered with the help of different mood boards.