A WARDROBE FULL OF CLOTHES BUT NOTHING TO WEAR?
Did you know that most women only wear 20-30% of the clothes in their closet? That is the reason why you have a closet full of clothes, but some days stand in front of it and wonder why you have nothing to wear.
Here are some reasons why:
· Clothes that don’t fit but still taking up space in your closet.
· Your clothing-style has changed.
· Some items are out of style.
· Your clothes do not fit in with your current lifestyle.
· Your body has changed and some styles don’t fit your body anymore.
TIP: Everything in your closet should fit you now and be ready to wear.
Choose a day when you have some time, grab a cup of tea or a glass of wine/bubbly, put on your favourite music, and tackle that closet.
1. The first step to a working closet is a difficult one: Take out EVERYTHING and put it on the bed. Empty your drawers and take out all your shoes as well. This might sound overwhelming, but it is necessary to see exactly what you have in there.
2. Next step is to sort clothes into 3 or 4 categories:
I. Clothes that you are never going to wear again.
Sell or give away clothes of good quality; donate clothes that somebody else can still wear; throw away worn-out clothes.
II. Clothes you want to keep.
III. A pile of items that need cleaning or repairing; nothing goes back into the closet that cannot be worn straight from the hanger.
IV. Clothes you are not sure of. (Come back to this group later.) It could be Items almost never worn; clothes still with tags; you still like the colour, but something about it is just not right; somebody convinced you that it looks gorgeous on you, but you never found had an occasion to wear it.
TIP: If you have not worn it in two years, chances are that you are never going to.
3. Now the keep-pile can go back in the closet. Note: Only clothes that are ready to wear after being cleaned or fixed. There should be a lot less items, but all of it should be something you want to wear.
4. Look for any similarities or themes in your keepers because it is a good indication of your style. Are there any style preferences like pants or jeans, leggings or pants? Dresses and skirts or pants? Do you know the most flattering hem length for you? Do you like bright or more muted/soft colours? Do you prefer flowy or more crisp fabrics?
5. Make a list of items to fill any gaps in your wardrobe and keep the following in mind:
Your clothes should reflect your lifestyle. For example, a closet full of smart clothes will not work for you if you attend a smart occasion once a year.
Your work environment also has an impact on your wardrobe; it could be anything from conservative to creative.
Working from home means your clothes could be less formal but bear in mind that dressing for work will enhance productivity.
Retired people usually have an informal lifestyle, but informal and comfortable can also look good. Looking good is always a mood- and confidence booster.
Prioritise and stick to your list when you go shopping. Take your time to acquire new items; you do not have to buy everything in one go. (Even if you have the money.)
Some suggestions:
Buy the best quality you can afford.
Decide on one or two neutral colours like Black, Navy. Taupe, Stone etc. and build your wardrobe around it.
Choose smaller items like blouses, shirts, scarves etc. in your best accent colours: Pink, Green, Blue, Red etc.
Choose some of the smaller pieces in a print but having a majority of plain colours; it will be better for mixing and matching your clothes.
Remember to have something for a special occasion in your closet. A well fitted, plain black dress or one in your favourite colour can be dressed up or down to suit any occasion. It really is not necessary to buy a new outfit for every occasion.
You should be able to wear every new item with at least two other items in your wardrobe.
Pack away out-of-season clothes and only leave the clothes you need for the next six months.
It is a good idea to repeat this decluttering process at least once a year.
After a day of hard work to sort out your clothes, mornings in front of your closet should now be a satisfying experience. Make an occasion of it and enjoy decluttering your closet.
Next time I will show you a few ways to mix and match and how to wear the same item in an formal or informal way.
Kindness and grace till we chat again.
Shirley Rose