[THE GREAT WARDROBE DETOX] Part 5

10. Keep reassessing:

Don’t underestimate the need to reassess what looks relevant – the personal shopper Annabel Hodin advises doing this every four to six weeks. If you need a little help, consider the moderately priced services of the former fashion stylist Beth Dadswell, who will come and edit everything for you (from £250).

If you’ve managed to get this far, trust me, you don’t need to fork out for a personal stylist! You also don’t need to reassess quite so regularly, in my opinion. Every three months, or each change of season should be enough.

But one thing that will help to keep your wardrobe – and future shopping – in check is to assess where holes exist in your current collection and keep these pieces in mind. If you are still unsure about what “Basics” you should have in your wardrobe, check out my Wardrobe Basics series. Another helpful post, is this one in which Garance Doré identifies her 10 wardrobe basics.

What are your wardrobe basics? Those things that provide the foundation of any outfit?

So that’s it. The 10-step plan is completed. You should now have a perfectly streamlined wardrobe, from which you can put any few pieces you care and create a wonderfully chic and elegant outfit. Now you just need to make sure that your wardrobe remains organised and easy-to-use. Geneva concluded her Wardrobe Rehab series with a few rules for focusing her future shopping. I have tried this before – remember my own rules after I completed my shopping ban a year ago? From the state of my wardrobe at the beginning of this detox, it seems that I didn’t really stick to these rules. Instead, therefore, I have decided to make a list of those things that are missing from my wardrobe and will keep this with me for any trips to the shops. Hopefully this will keep me in line in the future:

 

One thing that I recently read on Dead Fleurette which resonated and which I hope to apply to any shopping trips I take during 2011:

“Admire certain garments from afar and face the truth that they will never work for me”

What do you think of my choices? Do I need to explain myself?! What’s on your shopping list?


This is the final post in the Wardrobe Detox series that has followed my efforts to attain a healthier and lighter closet. If you have missed any of the posts, you can recap here: Part 1: the initial edit; Part 2: finding your style; Part 3: storage and organisation; and Part 4: giving to charity.

*Photo source

[THE GREAT WARDROBE DETOX] Part 4

8. Selling on:

If you haven’t got time to eBay, there are other outlets for selling clothes – although the sellers usually take up to 50 per cent of the sale price. Clothes must be good-quality, designer items. Try Sign on the Time (020 7589 4774), Susie Archer and Chic and Seek for three of the best.

9. Swapping:

Check out clothes-swap websites, such as Swapaholix or Big Wardrobe. At Big Wardrobe you pay no fees and everything is nearly new.

It’s a week now since I started my wardrobe detox and so far I am loving the feeling that shedding a few pounds of clothing has given me. If you have missed any of the posts from this week, you can read them here: Part 1: the initial edit; Part 2: finding your style; and Part 3: storage and organisation.

I usually try to sell a few things out of my clearouts on eBay but this time I decided to give it all to charity. I suppose it is my “good deed”!!

Indeed, Cancer Research UK have launched their own Detox Your Wardrobe campaign for the start of 2011. The charity is encouraging fashionistas and shopaholics everywhere with bulging wardrobes filled with clothes they no longer wear, to donate them. According to Cancer Research UK, each bag of donated goods can be worth up to £30. So my five bags of unwanted clothes could be worth £150!! Not bad for a weekend’s work?

A celebrity trio, comprising TV presenter Konnie Huq, presenter and journalist Dawn Porter, and morning TV presenter Lorraine Kelly are all supporting Cancer Research UK‘s “Detox Your Wardrobe” campaign this January:

 

Here’s what Lorraine Kelly said of the campaign:

“Before you go crazy at the January sales, make some room in your wardrobe for all those bargains by taking anything you no longer wear down to your nearest Cancer Research UK shop to raise funds for its lifesaving research. I’m a self-confessed hoarder but even I run out of space sometimes! So ‘Detox your Wardrobe’ this January and support Cancer Research UK, then hit the sales with a clear conscience!”

Of course, if you’re like me, you’ve already hit the sales and now need to make room for all of the things you’ve bought! Better late than never, as they say.

If you too would like to donate your unwanted/surplus clothes, shoes and accessories to charity, you can find your local Cancer Research UK store here.

Come back on Monday for the final post in my Wardrobe Detox series. In the meantime, you can remind yourself of the previous posts here. Make sure you don’t miss it by following Sugar and Spice on twitter, bloglovin’ or feedburner.

*Photo source

[THE GREAT WARDROBE DETOX] Part 3

5. Visual merchandising:

Do you arrange your cupboard by sticking all your trousers, skirts or tops in sections? Or should you do it all by colour? There isn’t one right or wrong way; choose whatever works best for you. What is more imporant is that you can see everything easily, and all your clothes and accessories are correctly stored.

Since I began my Wardrobe Detox at the weekend, we have discussed editing your wardrobe and understanding your style, now for accessibility and storage. Accessibility is of the utmost importance for this Wardrobe Detox as it seems that for months now I have been unable to get at anything in my wardrobes and my drawers have been so full, they have been impossible to open or close.

I have hung everything that I can fit into the wardrobe space that I have, without letting it get completely crammed. As I rent, my wardrobe is not exactly what I would have chosen myself and even though it takes up a lot of room, it doesn’t have much space inside. I tend to organise my clothes by type, my wardrobe is organised with cardigans to the right, jackets and shirts to the left and skirts in the middle:

 

And my dresses are organised with work dresses on the left and formal and party dresses to the right:

 

Then I have a drawer of trousers, a couple of drawers of tops and another couple of drawers with underwear and nightwear:

 

 

 

The very first thing I noticed when getting dressed the past few days has been how easily my drawers open and how much easier it is to see what I have when I don’t have so many things in there.My jewellery is a “work in progress”. Although I did post photos of my jewellery “box” before.

6. Proper storage:

The jury’s out on what type of hangers you should use. Some prefer wooden one (find cheap wooden hangers at Ikea), while others prefer the softly padded versions (like these waffle hangers at John Lewis), and others still prefer something more simple, like these John Lewis space saving hangers. Or even these non-slip, rubber hangers from Lakeland. If you insist on keeping the thin wire sort, it’s a good idea to pad them over with tissue paper so that they don’t spoil the shape of your clothes. Dry cleaners’ bags should be removed; keeping them on will discolour clothes. Shoes and boots should be stored with the appropriate foot trees so that they retain their shape.

It seems a lot of faff, but it is worth it in the long run. If you must keep more items than your wardrobe can reasonably hold, buy plastic boxes that you can stick under your bed for out-of-season clothes.

For hanging I use either Ikea’s budget wooden hangers or the ones I get when I buy a new piece of clothing.

I have also invested (finally!) in some drawer dividers for my underwear. It all looks so much neater – even when it is stuffed in!!

Shoes are now kept neatly on the shoe rack, no longer piled a few high (except for the ballet flats), as before. Or in shoe boxes on top of the wardrobe. While flipflops and sandals, that can be stored flat, are in a plastic box in the bottom of my wardrobe.

 

 

 

 

Scarves and belts also have their own special Ikea multi-use hanger and are neatly organised. For now!

 

 

With limited space, I decided to put any beach and “real” summer clothes into a separate Ikea SKUBB storage box in the top of my wardrobe where I can swap them over with my chunky knits when (if!) the warm weather comes:

7. Repairs:

Make the time to alter the clothes you love that don’t quite fit right. Most drycleaners have seamstresses who can do adjustments, but for anything that requires more work, find a specialist service.

I don’t need a seamstress – I have Super Stylish Sis!!

 

 

Come back at the weekend for Part 4. Make sure you don’t miss it by following Sugar and Spice on twitter, bloglovin’ or feedburner.

*Photo source

Oh my! Ikea, what have you done to me?

I seem to have mentioned Ikea a lot recently. I’d just like to take this opportunity to assure you that I am not being sponsored by the Swedish brand – much as I would like to be!

During my wardrobe detox I came to the unhappy realisation that the Ikea wardrobe and drawers provided by our landlord is sadly lacking. I’m not sure why Ikea make such furniture which is so unworthy of their brand when they also make some truly genius wardrobe solutions. Every time I see an advert for their bedrooms I just want to transport myself to that room with all of my clothes, knowing that we could all live there very happily together:

Isn’t it truly divine?

I can’t mention Ikea without a reference to the scenes in 500 Days of Summer when the two lead characters run around Ikea, playing house. I don’t know about you, but every time I’m in Ikea and come across one of their little “apartment” set-ups, I want to move in – it always look just right. To me!



Source



Source

Check back later this week for another wardrobe detox post. And in the meantime, if you have any queries about it, email me.

[THE GREAT WARDROBE DETOX] Part 2

4. Assessing what is left:

By now you should be left with an edit of clothes and accessories that you love and enjoy wearing. By clearing away the clutter, other positive aspects will emerge. Hopefully, you will see that your favourite items have similar necklines and skirt lengths, or a particular cut or colour.

You will also be able to spot things that are missing. A great shirt, perhaps? Or not enough tops – aim for five tops to every pair of trousers or skirt. Start making a list of gaps.

On Saturday I showed you the initial stage of my wardrobe detox as I edited and culled my closet. Now we move on to Part 2, where we access what is left in the aftermath.

If you’re also undertaking a wardrobe detox this January, how did you get on? Find there’s not much left? But with fewer clothes it is now far easier to see what’s there and what’s missing. I seem to have “edited” my t-shirts the most during this detox! Taking a good look aT what is left, all of my old favourites are those with a high neckline and anything that doesn’t fit too tightly. I’ll be bearing that in mind when I go shopping next. Anything that doesn’t fit properly across my (flat) chest will go back on the shelf and not with me to the checkout!

With such an edited “pile” of pieces to keep, you should now be able to start to define a sense of personal style. Geneva – of A Pair and a Spare – says:

Well, hopefully this pile says something about how you like to dress and what your style is. The clothes that are there you obviously enjoy wearing and (should) look good on you. Ask yourself, what are their characteristics? What do I like about them? What principles of what is in this pile can I apply to my future shopping so that everything in my wardrobe is immensely wearable and enjoyable?

My “keeps” pile seems to be filled mainly with:

What items do you find repeated again and again in your wardrobe?

I have also noticed whilst doing this detox that the majority of the remaining items in my wardrobe are in neutral colours: black, white and navy. In her Defining Your Style post, Geneva of A Pair and a Spare, says that her wardrobe motto has to be “keep it simple, stupid”. Pretty accurate to how I feel too. This post, which discusses the secret to the elegant of French girls, over at Dead Fleurette is just perfect for a girl looking for a simple minimalist approach to dressing. This is what is said about the French approach to a neutral colour palette:

What does a French mother tell her daughter? “She discusses colors. The basics — black, white, navy, burgundy, and beige — are the foundation of an outfit. Black is especially good because you can wear whatever you want with it. American women tend to mix too many colors, which is distracting, not chic. I’ve also noticed that they often wear trendy shoes, rather than investing in classic, well-made styles.”

For years I have felt guilty for buying black when there are other fabulous and bright colours in the same style available but now, looking at my wardrobe, I am glad that I have chosen black on those occasions as those pieces are the ones that stick, the pieces that I wear again and again. I think that I am more comfortable when I accessorise an outfit with colour (like the belt in this outfit) rather than having colour in my outfit.

What colours, or styles, do you find make up the majority of your wardrobe?

Come back later in the week for Part 3. Make sure you don’t miss it by following Sugar and Spice on twitter, bloglovin’ or feedburner.

*Photo source

[THE GREAT WARDROBE DETOX] Part 1

When I mentioned in yesterday’s Friend Friday post that I was planning a Wardrobe Detox everyone seemed more interested in this than my answers to the questions. I was so glad that I had mentioned it, as it has help to encourage me to get on and do it. Do you find that, that telling someone you intend to do something means that you’re more likely to do it? I do all the time. It means that I’m more accountable than if I just told myself I’d do it. Anyway…

Ever looked about your bedroom/dressing room/apartment and wondered how all of those clothes got everywhere? I have. Countless times. This past week it has become such a problem that no matter where I turn there seem to be piles of clothes EVERYWHERE:

After seeing an article in the Times on 12 January 2011 – “The ten-step wardrobe detox” – I decided it was high time to bite the bullet and detox my wardrobe for the new year. I am taking Carolyn Asome’s advice: “Don’t look on this challenge as a new year’s resolution, made to be broken. Think of it as the year you started dressing properly.”

Last autumn I also followed Geneva, of A Pair and a Spare, as she documented her Wardrobe Rehab on her blog and whilst writing the last Friend Friday post, I discovered that Kendi, of Kendi Everyday, is currently writing a series on how to Create a Working Closet. Now it is my turn.

Over five posts I will document my progress as I follow the ten-step plan from The Times article to detox my wardrobe and start to live a healthier life in my closet. If you fancy trying out the steps with me, let me know.

1. Sort out what suit you and what you are actually going to wear:

Find a rail (like this Ikea clothes rack, or this John Lewis garment rail) and look at your wardrobe. Stick your favourite pieces, the ones you genuinely love (and feel great wearing) on that rail. There might be less there than you’d anticipated, but don’t panic by adding less favoured pieces – that will defeat the object.

If you really can’t bear to do this on your own, enlist the help of a trusted friend/sister.

I had intended to start the detox today but I got back from work last night feeling motivated and decided to just go for it while the feeling lasted. This was the mess within the wardrobe before I started the detox:

I didn’t have a clothes rail to hand and we have no room for any additions to the apartment – the whole point of this detox is to get rid of stuff, not add more – so I emptied the contents of my wardrobe onto the bed and used the rail in there instead.

I borrowed the criteria that Geneva of A Pair and a Spare set herself when she undertook her own Wardrobe Rehab Project last year:

• When was the last time I wore this? If I hadn’t worn the item in the last 6 months (taking into account the season) I probably wasn’t going to wear it again. I let myself keep a small number of ‘sentimental’ items as well as expensive basics, but most things I hadn’t worn went out, particularly cheap items bought on a whim or on sale.
• Does this make me feel attractive? If you look at yourself in the mirror and what you’re trying on doesn’t make you feel your best (wrong shape, colour or style), maybe you should get rid of it? If it doesn’t make you feel good you’ll be much less likely to wear it.
• Does this fit properly? For each item I checked the fit by lifting my arms, sitting down, bending over etc. Bum crack or too much boobage is not a good look. I got rid of things if I had grown out of them, even if I liked them (oh the pain!). The likelihood of me being the same size I was when I am 19 again? Ummm slim to none. Perhaps you’re different and you fluctuate in size, in which case you could allow a bit more flexibility here.
• Is this item out of date? Some fashions and prints will date very quickly and if you haven’t worn it because it reflects a trend that has passed completely, you’ll not wear it again soon.
• Is this item worn out? If the item isn’t in good condition and is ripped, stained or stretched, don’t hang onto it unless you are committed to fixing the problem.
• Does this need altering? If something doesn’t sit or fit quite right but is well made and of good quality, see if you can get it altered or alter it yourself to make it more wearable.

This is what was left after my ruthless sort out:

The dress section is still considerably fuller than the other part of the wardrobe but, for me, it will always be this way!

2. Make a pile for mending and alterations:

From the selection on the rail, sort out what needs to be dry-cleaned, washed or mended. Don’t be lazy about sorting out minor repairs or getting new buttons sewn on. Your edited new wardrobe needs to look fresh and enticing.

After a cold cold winter, my coats have had a lot of wear, so I decided to give them all a bit of TLC and sent them off to be dry-cleaned. (Except for one – which will go later – as I still need something to wear!)

I am very lazy when it comes to ironing my clothes and regularly chuck stuff straight from the airer where they have dried and into the drawer or wardrobe. So I got the ironing board out. Anything with a missing button, I will sort out myself and anything that needs hemming, or turning up, I have kept to take with me to my sister’s.

3. Edit the fantasy section:

A bit of steely resolve is now required. Put aside anything that hasn’t been worn for three years, or has never felt quite right when you wear it. Ask yourself why it doesn’t feel right: is it the wrong size? Is it still age/job/life-appropriate? Now might be the time to come to terms with the fact that you are never going to look like Victoria Beckham.

If it’s the wrong colour/shape/neckline then start a selling-on/charity pile. If it can be salvaged, add to the mend-and-alter one. Repeat the above with underwear, chucking out greying bras and “comfy” options with frayed elastic. Do the same for shoes and boots and don’t forget to give your tights, socks and jewellery the same dispassionate overhaul.

This really applies to those questions I asked myself as I tried on every item in my wardrobe (above). I’ve been a shoes’ girl for as long as I can remember. But I am not particularly caring when it comes to my “treasured” footwear. So I have challenged myself to get all of my leather shoes polished and all heels – that need it – re-heeled.

My socks “section” is certainly a lot smaller than when I started this detox – when I rarely actually wear socks I realised it didn’t make much sense for them to take up half of a drawer! My jewellery and toiletries (which are all over every available surface in our bedroom) have been kept as my treat for today! I’m just too good to myself!!

Are you planning a wardrobe detox? Is this something you do regularly anyway? Any tips? I’d love to hear anything you’ve learned over the years.

Come back on Monday for Part 2. Make sure you don’t miss it by following Sugar and Spice on twitter, bloglovin’ or feedburner.

*Photo source

Friend Friday #23: I have nothing to wear

Source

Do you ever stand in front of your bulging wardrobe of a morning and think, I have nothing to wear? I know, I do.

For this week’s Friend Friday, Katy asked, how many fashion bloggers pre-plan their outfits for the whole week? How much of it is just random selection and how much of what we see is pre-determined?

1. How do you determine what you will wear that day?

I usually choose my outfit as I lie in bed in the morning. I find it difficult to get up before I have an outfit in my head. Weird – I know!! Sometimes it doesn’t always work out as I intended. Like this morning, I had bought a lovely new peachy coloured jersey blouse in the sale but when I got it out of the bag I realised I’d picked up a size 18 instead of an 8. Oops. So that outfit had to be changed!

2. Do you plan outfits out in advance for a whole week, month, weekend?

Sometimes I like to “amuse” myself by thinking up outfits and clothing combinations but more often than not these are ignored.

3. Do you have any specific way of tracking outfits and items already worn so you don’t repeat?

I regularly repeat outfits! That’s why I don’t post outfit photos very often. Shhh!!! If I find an outfit that works and that I feel good wearing, I wear it again and again! I usually change the shoes I wear with it and the accessories so it doesn’t look exactly the same. Working in a male-dominated environment, no one really notices! Possibly not the best reason but there it is.

4. How do you discover new combinations of items in your closet? (Trial try-ons? Hanging items together?)

Sometimes I’ll spot someone wearing something I own – or similar to something I already own – with items I’d never have thought of. I always save any outfit photos I see that I like in my “inspirations” folder and then use these to help me to put outfit choices together (like this recent outfit choice). I have recently started to include images and links to any inspiration behind my outfits.

5. To streamline the process for 2011 what is one new thing you can do to cut down your dressing time?

I am planning a massive Wardrobe Detox this weekend (come back for my series of planned posts on the process) that will hopefully streamline my whole wardrobe and thus help to make dressing much easier each morning.


How do you choose what to wear each morning? Do you plan your outfits in advance? A week in advance? A month in advance? Or do you just throw together whatever you find?

As always, remember to visit Katy’s blog to read the other contributions to this week’s Friend Friday conversation. And if you would like to get involved be sure to check this out.

Happy Friday!