It sounds obvious, but it’s easy to forget what’s sitting in our wardrobes – and, for many of us, there will be great pieces hidden away that haven’t seen the light of day for years, or that will have been forgotten about during lockdown. So, before you go ahead and buy something new, make sure that you have a very clear idea of what is in your wardrobe already. If you have a clear-out and declutter, you will know what’s in there and this will prevent you from accidentally buy things you don’t need.
Invest in what you already own
So many of us are guilty of throwing pieces away as soon as they are damaged, but just because something is a little worn does not mean it needs to be discarded. Invest in the pieces that you already have in your wardrobe by knowing where to get things fixed in your local area, from a great seamstress to shoe and handbag restoration companies. It is worth spending a little bit of money to get things fixed rather than re-buying the same thing time and time again.
Embrace rental fashion
Thanks to a growth in awareness about sustainability, it has never been easier to rent clothes, with huge growth in the number of fashion-rental companies available. Renting instead of buying is a great way of getting yourself a more stylish wardrobe for a number of reasons. Firstly, you can frequently feel that you are wearing something new, which is great for those special occasions, like weddings or parties, where you may previously have bought a one-occasion outfit. Another advantage is that you can be a little more adventurous with what you try – you may step out of your style comfort zone and find great pieces that would have been too afraid to buy.
If you’re not sure about a piece’s wearability, try the hanger trick
At the beginning of the season, place all your hangers in the same direction. Each time you wear a piece, turn the hanger the other way. Very quickly within the season you will see what you wear and what you don’t. Women usually only wear 40 to 60 per cent of their wardrobe, according to Vestiaire Collective co-founder Fanny Moizant, who swears by this hanger trick – see more of her wardrobe detox tips here.
Don’t underestimate the power of a capsule wardrobe
To be truly stylish does not take a huge budget or three walk-in wardrobes worth of designer clothes – you don’t need a lot to look good. What you do need though, is to make good, sensible decisions. Buy what you need, buy what makes you feel great and hold on to nothing more. And look after your clothes. You can do it in just 15 pieces.
