How to detox your wardrobe like a fashion editor
For me, September means packing away the sandals for another year, dusting off the boots, coats and moth-eaten cashmere, and a quick little wardrobe sort-out. You may be curious as to what a fashion director’s wardrobe looks like. And you might be surprised at how small my wardrobe actually is (see the video I took of my wardrobe above). In fact, my husband has way more clothes than I do.
Even though I love fashion, I have a minimal approach. Twice a year I like to do a mini wardrobe declutter. I take all my clothes out, try on, rediscover and reconnect with my wardrobe again. The spring and autumn are perfect transitional times of year to do this, because it’s when we start to switch up our clothes for the season ahead.
Personally, I find a cluttered wardrobe super-stressful, and I don’t feel it’s a great start to my day frantically rummaging through the rails like I’m at the January sales. So, I’ve learned to be ruthless. If I no longer love an item, whatever the reason – style, cut, fit, length, print or colour – it goes to my local charity shop for a second life.
Why detox? I truly believe smaller wardrobes are better. We often only wear 30% of our entire wardrobe. A smaller, perfectly curated collection of pieces you truly love will bring much more joy than a jam-packed wardrobe from which you struggle to find an outfit to wear each morning.
I do understand how hard it is to part ways with pieces, however, so here are my simple steps to help you clear out your closet and fall in love with your clothes again.
MAKE A START
The first step to your ultimate wardrobe detox starts with setting your intention. Don’t think of decluttering as a chore or a form of self-punishment for all your purchases; instead, frame it as a gift that you’re giving to yourself. Whether that gift is making getting dressed faster and less stressful, creating space in your home or having a wardrobe that fills you with joy every time you open it, focus on what you’re gaining from your wardrobe clear-out.
Then set aside a whole day, if possible. Even if you’re naturally organised, a thorough clear-out is guaranteed to take longer than you think. Contrary to popular belief, you don’t need to get everything out in one go – you’ll just find it too overwhelming. Instead, tackle one section at a time, such as T-shirts, trousers or your knitwear. Take them off their hangers – you need to know what’s lurking underneath (yes, I’m talking about those forgotten multiple items on one hanger) – and embrace the mess that your bedroom will inevitably become. It’s only temporary.
EDIT LIKE A FASHION DIRECTOR
Saying goodbye to clothes you’ve held on to for years, possibly decades, will be difficult.
One of the major reasons we hoard clothes is because of their financial value and the feelings of guilt that we may associate with the price tag. Though we may think that the value of clothes is rooted in how they look, the true value of any item is how it makes us feel.
There are a few questions I always ask myself: ‘Does this make me feel good about myself?’ ‘Does it fit and flatter my figure?’ ‘Have I worn this item in the past year?’ ‘Do I have other items I can wear it with?’ If the answer to any of these questions is no, it’s probably time to part ways.
KEEP, SELL OR DONATE?
It’s time to get sorting! Try on everything in front of a full-length mirror and then put every item into one of three piles: keep, sell or donate. Don’t be afraid to let go of the pieces that defined the old you and make space for the woman you are now to shine through.
It’s helpful to think about the joy these pieces might bring to others if you donate to a charity shop, clothing bank or an organisation such as Smart Works, which provides women with quality workwear, skills and employment confidence. Meanwhile, if items are damaged beyond repair, it’s time to recycle them.
Anything with a tag attached should not automatically survive the detox. Selling pieces that are brand new with tags (BNWT) is a good way of making a little money by using sites such as Vestiaire Collective for designer clothes or Vinted for high-street labels. When it comes to selling pre-loved, I’d advise using the app because you can just snap the item with your phone, so it’s quick and easy.
If you’re not quite ready to part ways with a piece, try renting it out via peer-to-peer lending platforms such as By Rotation, My Wardrobe HQ or Hurr. Keeping a total of how much money you’ve made is a good reminder to yourself of how liberating wardrobe-cleansing can be.
Don’t forget to go through your bags and shoes, too. People seem really reluctant to get rid of shoes, but they date very quickly and you don’t actually need that many. Charity shops are crying out for them.
Is there anything you shouldn’t get rid of? Never underestimate the importance of sentimental value. If a garment truly triggers an emotional response, keep it. But take it out of your wardrobe (you need to separate special pieces from what you actually wear), wrap it in tissue and store it in a memory box in the loft.
REORGANISE YOUR WARDROBE
Now for the fun bit – to rehang the slimmed-down ‘to keep’ items in your wardrobe (do give it a quick vacuum first to remove dust and help prevent pesky moths). What makes an efficient wardrobe? Personally, I have to be able to see my whole wardrobe in one go. Having several items on one hanger is an absolute no-no, and using matching hangers is a worthwhile investment because they instantly make everything look neater. Wooden hangers are great (I have them in my wardrobe), but velvet ones are better as they’re extra-slim, so you can usually fit more of them into a wardrobe, plus clothes don’t slip off. I also like to hang my clothes by category (tops, jeans, trousers, dresses, etc) and colour coordinate, as it saves time in the mornings – and there’s nothing prettier than a rainbow!
To hang or to fold? Embellished items and knitwear (especially cashmere) should be folded in a drawer or on a shelf. When you hang knitwear, gravity will stretch it out of shape and leave those annoying dimples in the shoulders. If wardrobe space is an issue, divide items into spring/summer and autumn/winter clothing, and keep out-of-season garments stored away when not in use. Only have in your wardrobe what you’re wearing now.
FIZZ BUYS
I recently received a message from a GH reader who had decluttered her wardrobe but wanted my help finding a few ‘fizz’ buys – those exciting new-season items that will make your existing wardrobe (the things left hanging after your closet cleanse) feel fresh and modern. You don’t need loads, just one or two well-chosen items, as you don’t want to overfill your perfectly edited dream wardrobe! And if you need some inspiration, these are the transitional heroes I’m loving right now, that will make saying goodbye to summer just a little bit easier.
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