A wardrobe de-clutter...

A wardrobe de-clutter is a great way to reacquaint yourself with what you have and may need.     

Here are a few tips to remember when working through your closet:

Designate an area in your room for three piles: “keep,” “toss,” and “alterations.”

It is best to do this process in categories. Start with your trousers/pants; we need fewer bottoms than tops. Find every pair of pants you own, try them on check how they fit, how they make you feel, if you wear them often, over-worn and in need of replacement, are still working for you, and do they still deserve to take up prime real estate in your closet?

Repeat the process with skirts, jackets, tops, dresses, suits, tunics, jumpers, shoes, bags, jewellery, scarves.

Experiment with new combinations that you have not worn before. We now mix colours in a non-conformist way, so don’t be afraid to clash your colours and combine different patterns.  You can wear a checked skirt and spotted cardigan, but if you are using different patterns, do not combine too many colours in the same outfit, the top and bottom need to be the same colours, if you are mixing the patterns.

Once you have finished your wardrobe audit, action your three piles quickly otherwise you may be tempted to dip into your “toss” pile.  Instead, send it to your favourite charity ASAP.     

Take your “alterations” pile to the tailor, no garment will ever look great if it does not fit you properly.  

Now concentrate on your third pile – the keepers. Put them back in the wardrobe – arrange them by categories – jackets together; trousers together etc. You should be able to see where everything is – never put two garments on the one hanger. The secret is to have a solid foundation. Making dark neutrals, like black, navy, grey, or brown for your basics, is a cost-effective way to build a functional and versatile wardrobe. Use colour strategically with a shirt, scarf, bag or tie. Worn this way, colour is less memorable and will add interest to your overall look instead of being overwhelming or distracting.

And then do a double-check to work out where the gaps are. Everything in your wardrobe must have a mate, no orphans. Any orphans must be taken on a shopping trip to find something to wear with it.

Personal branding specialists and image professionals, like myself, can help you with this whole process. Life is too short to not look and feel your best every day! Knowing the colours and cuts of clothes and accessories and jewellery that work for you ensure you have a superbly working wardrobe. 

If you do not want to buy new pieces to your wardrobe, pay particular attention to grooming. If you pay top attention to detail with your grooming, you can take the emphasis away from your not-so-new clothes. Appearance is head to toe, not just the clothes, a new lipgloss will light up your face and, if you choose the right shade of lip colour to suit you, your eyes will appear brighter – how simple is that?