Wardrobe Chaos Made Right

Talking to a friend the other day and she mentioned that she had been entertaining herself while in isolation by cleaning out her wardrobe. She now has a big pile ready to donate to the op shop. I thought this was funny, because she told me only two months or so ago that she had just had a big clear out in her wardrobe. So I asked her if she has anything left in her cupboard. She said ‘oh yes, I made myself keep a couple of things.’

She said that since she has not been going into the office and hasn’t been wearing her stuff, she now likes it less!

I contrast this to a friend who I did a recent wardrobe clear out for. She has a huge amount of stuff. In four hours we didn’t get through everything. We are going to have to zoom to finish it up. But she hasn’t been buying things in recent years, in fact, as well as suggesting what she might want to get rid of, I found myself making a list of what she needed to buy to pair with things that she had already. She had tonnes of jackets, but was short on nice pants to wear them with, and nice tops to go under them too.

Ethically she was averse to just throwing out the clothes, she was still happy to wear them, she just wasn’t sure what she should wear them with. And she didn’t need that many options all in her wardrobe at once. I wrote her out a detailed report on the garments we reviewed and how I would style them. I have de personalised the report and include it at the end of this article to give you an idea of what I mean.
In our own lives, how do we handle our wardrobes? We have more clothes than our grandmothers did at our ages (probably). They used to buy for a season and wear them out. Some of us still buy just a few things and wear them out, some of us have collections that are overwhelming.

If you have a big closet of clothes that you want to tackle here a few steps you can take

1. What do you actually need – where do you spend your time? If you are at home with children full time then you can probably pack your work wardrobe away, even if you do not want to get rid of it. So make a list of where you spend your time and how you want to dress in these situations. What clothes have you got that works for these situations? Can you make enough outfits to cover you from what you already have? If not make a list of what you need. If you have enough to cover you, consider packing away or getting rid of the rest. If you know you are going to want to wear your spare clothes again then keep them, just store them out of the way.
2. Do you have enough stuff to make outfits, but not enough to make outfits that you like? then make a list of things that you would like to replace.

Do you know what you would like to replace the items with? If not you will need to think about your personal style goals, what you like, don’t like etc. You may also want a personal style consultation to discuss this as well as other such issues as whether or not you are in proportion, what kind of body type you are etc as this also impacts the kind of clothing styles that suit you.

Do you just like to replace things with what is currently fashionable? This is totally fine, but then try not to buy too much if you won’t love it in a season or two, it is better to buy just a couple of things that you really like and wear them out before you get sick of them!

What’s your budget? Generally 2-5% of the family budget for family appearance costs is what financial planners recommend. You may get a greater or lesser share of this depending upon need. If you work in a high end retail shop then you will need to look good, if you wear scrubs in emergenfcy you will not spend as much on fashionable work clothes!

Once you know your budget prioritse your replacement purchases. Start with actual lack if you have any, and start with things that will have the most impact. New shoes for work probably beats new yoga leggins. Things worn a lot and or in important situations are the place to start. Make a list, but be prepared to change it if your tastes change before you have made the purchase.

For e.g. if you no longer love skinny jeans then find a bottom that suits your current sartorial preferences.

1. When cleaning out the wardrobe things that should go (even if only eventually) are things that don’t fit, that you don’t like, that are too old to be nice (we do not need 10 house painting outfits – normally) or that are an unflattering colour or style.
2. When adding new things, try to love them. Even if it is just a pair of black pants to wear with loose comfy jumpers, make it be a good fit, a good fabric etc. It is better to go to the shop and not buy anything, thus saving your money for an excellent purchase than to come home with the best thing that you found that still isn’t very good and that you actually find you don’t really want to wear.

SAMPLE Wardrobe Edit File: Client receives

Wardrobe Edit and Outfit Creation Session

AIM

Mrs X feels that she has a lot of clothes but struggles to find things to wear.
We will therefore remove unwanted clothes
Spend time creating outfits
Identify any areas where the lack of a clothing item is making it hard to form outfits.

Types of outfits that Ms X needs

Church outfits/work outfits
Home outfits
Going out with husband – dressy but a little casual
Going out to more formal events – quite dressy

Personal Information

Preferred Personal Style
Feminine, elegant and classic
Likes to make her existing clothes work rather than just go for something new (very environmentally friendly)

Mrs X has a petite and slender frame, so a few general styling rules will help stop her clothes from overwhelming her.

1. Use a column of colour – e.g. dark jumper and pants with a bright jacket over the top. The dark top and pants form a long visual line.
2. Volume on either the top or the bottom. For example, if you wear a wide boxy jacket, pair it with pants that are streamlined – either narrow pants or a slightly wider leg but in a soft drapey fabric – not a stiff pleated fabric that stands out like a skirt.

Mrs X Is a Deep Autumn, – so she looks good in dark rich colours with warm undertones, and the dark rich versions of lighter colours – for example oyster for white, and mustard for yellow. She also looks good in all dark outfits, and black. Her best outfit choices will have at least some colour, not just black, such as brick red, or deep plum or a lovely deep forest green. She should be able to mix and match various colours from her palette together, but will have to be careful when wearing a colour not of her palette, to pair it with colours from her palette that don’t clash. For example the cool toned pink skirt looks good with black on her palette and white and grey but not a lot of the other deep autumn colours.

Comments on items of clothing

Mrs X’s dressy black shoes that are slightly too large-
You can get sticky gel or padded inserts that take up room at both the heel and toe, and effectively make the shoe a little smaller.
Also – Get low cut socks, try to get quite thick ones. They sell them at Big W, Kmart, Myers etc in multi packs. You want black ideally, as if a bit of sock shows it won’t be too obvious. e.g.

Black leggings –
we talked a bit about wearing black leggings under various skirts, I will mention which skirts as I go through the list of outfits, but here is a comment on the leggings. They would be best going to or just above the ankle. As they are for wear in winter they will keep you warmest and look the best at this length. Ideally, as they were for wearing under skirts/dresses, their texture would be more like panty hose than like a trouser (some leggings are thick and patterned and would not look quite right. You want them to fit snugly, not be loose, otherwise they would look like pyjama pants. e.g.

Items to Consider Purchasing – Basic items that will go with lots of wardrobe pieces.

Soft, fine, drapey knits –
I would look for ones light enough for summer as well as ones that could be layered for winter. I would purchase them in any colour that is on your palette that you can find. I am happy to show you over zoom, as I own a large collection of these useful items.
e.g., for winter

For summer

Both are from Marks and Spencers Australian site. The summer image is to show weight, as it is a fine cotton blend.
Slim fit dark blue or black pants.

This was a big hole in your wardrobe. You had a lot of nice feature jackets, that would look great over slim dark pants. You could wear a work pant, but they tend to be baggy in the leg. I would look for a classic pant styled as a ‘jean’ but in a solid colour, no distressing or fading.

These ones are from ezibuy. I have had jeans from them last for YEARS, but it can be pot luck. They do always have huge variety and they deliver to you.

OUTFITS

A lot of these outfits were good for work/church/more casual going out (or you may choose to save some of the less dressy outfits just for home, because you need to wear something there as well!)

Light coloured flared floral skirt – warm weather – a colour from the palette of the skirt eg red or green or a light coloured light weight drapey jumper, t shirt, blouse (not a button up shirt).

Cool weather – thick tights or leggings, either black or a colour from the skirt. Worn with a winter weight jumper, high neck if you like, in either black, dark green, dark red or perhaps beige/mustard.

Hot pink pencil skirt – this is a beautifully made skirt in a wonderful bright colour. It is not on the dark autumn palette, but as it is not next to your face that is ok. As it is a cool colour it will not tone with everything on your palette, but should work with most neutrals in you palette.

Green jumper – dark bottle green in quite a fine knit – good with your two pairs of blue pants, your red pants, your jeans. This green was a very flattering colour on you and I would look for another like it. There is quite a lot of green around this year! This jumper was casual in style and getting a little bit old looking, so if you can find a replacement, it is a very flattering colour!

You had a few black straight (pencil skirts) and they can be worn with fitted jumpers in a large variety of colours and also looser jumpers are fine too.

When wearing jumpers that are quite long, remember that wearing your jumper to finish at about your hip bone is most flattering as it makes your legs look long and you look taller. So either roll the jumper under if it will stay put, or tuck it in to the waist band of your skirt or trousers.

Black and white checked skirt – a line, or flared. This skirt, because it has volume, is good with fitted jumpers or t shirts or blouses in summer. Some of your jumpers that would work with this skirt are your yellow one, beige one, grey jumper or if you purchase a new light weight jumper that would also be good.

Brown corduroy pants – brown and beige jumpers

Apricot jacket with lace on the sleeves – blue pants ok. New fitted blue jeans would be great. Pair it with either a blue, apricot or white blouse, t shirt or fitted jumper.

Black jumper with beading – as it is a large jumper it looks good with a straight skirt or pants (not a wide skirt or baggy pants). It would look good with new blue or black slim fit jeans and your straight black skirts.

Brown cardigan with fur collar – brown pants or blue pants

Black and white striped jacket – good with all black pants and skirts, blue pants and would be good with new jeans.

Red, blue and green jacket -good with black skirts, blue pants and could be quite fun and bright with the bright pink skirt. It will look best worn open. With a black skirt it will look good with a black jumper to make a column of colour.

Silver grey long fur look coat – for a formal event it is good over black outfits definitely, such as your black pencil skirts. Would be nice over drapey wide leg evening pants and with other grey items or nice blue pants or a dress or skirt outfit in any of those colours.

For more casual dressy event you could wear it with jeans and your black and white stripey jumper and smart shoes and jewellery

The black and white stripey top (wide stripes) would also look good with jeans alone, the pink skirt, blue pants, black skirt and new fitted blue pants if you bought them.

Fitted silver and black cue jacket – it is a statement jacket, it already has high visual impact and so looks good with fairly plain items in similar colours. For example silver, black and white. Pants and skirt could be straight or a micro pleated skirt would also work, as would wide leg drapey pants in the right fabric. Of the clothes that you already have your black pencil skirts are best. As far as a top to wear under it, a fine knitted jumper in black or silver would be best. The neck could be high or crew, v , scoop, round etc.

Brocade fit and flare dress – good with a black top and either black tights or long leggings. A black blouse that is see through would also be nice.

Red jacket with elbow length sleeves – good with fitted blue pants or new fitted jeans and a white t shirt, back t shirt, red or blue t shirt. By t shirt I mean a t shirt that is preferably very new and in nice quality fabric. It would also be good with a long sleeved fine gauge knit in a complementary colour

Brown crinkly skirt – because it has quite a bit of volume itself, it needs to be paired with a fairly sleek top half. Again, a nice t shirt, a nice light weight knit. Your fine mustard type yellow jumper would be good. If you were buying a knit to wear with it, then I would say most colours on your palette would work ok. Reds and muted pinks would be especially nice. Remember that the top you wear with it should end at hip height, so tuck it in or under if necessary. (Don’t pull down over the hips).

Brick coloured dress with black embroidery. – Good either with black panty hose (semi- see through stockings, or skin tone ones). This is an elegant dress and quite dressy. As far as shoes go, your dressy back ones or navy ones with the flowers on them.

High waisted jeans with the decorative panels down the side.- these are quite an amazing statement pair of jeans. They are dramatic and will look great with fairly plain tops. Good quality t shirts, jumpers in flattering colours. Again they are good with jumpers that don’t hang down too low.

Sleeveless checked vest – this vest is longer than hip length and to keep it really flattering you can wear it open or belt over the top if you button it up. The vest will look good worn with your straight black skirts, or if you buy a pair of plain dark slim jeans or slim black pants it would look good with them as well.

Feather trim vest – it is fairly casual, so might not work with the slim black skirts that you already have. It would look ok with the jeans that you already have and if you buy some slim jeans or black pants then it would work well with them. Looks good with your taupe jumpers. It would also look good with burgundy, grey or cream coloured jumpers.

Light pink and black jacket. Would look good with pink tops that tone in with the pinks of the jacket. Would also look good with a black or white t shirt. Would look great worn with nicely fitting black pants and a black t -shirt/jumper to make a pink jacket over a black column of colour. Or with white top and white pants to make a light column of colour.

White vest with black trim and gold buttons. It would look good with one of your slim black skirts and if you buy a pair of slim black or white pants it would look good with them too.

Black lace see through top that buttons up the front. This top could either be worn open as a jacket or done up as a shirt. If you were going to do it up as a shirt, then it will look best tucked in or worn with a belt over the top. Whether it is being worn open as a jacket or closed as a shirt it will need something underneath. In warm weather it could be a nice camisole or sleeveless top or light weight short sleeve t shirt. In cooler weather it could be worn over a longer sleeved t shirt or fitted light weight jumper. The under top could be black, or just about any other colour that works with the colour of your bottom half and your coloring, so check the dark autumn palette. This top would look good over your straight black skirts and could also be worn as a jacket over a straight black dress, or straight dress of another colour. It would look good over your bright red pants as well.

Pink and white marl jumper – quite a casual jumper and would look good with your existing pairs of blue pants and jeans. If you bought some straight plain blue jeans or black pants then it would look good with them as well.

Tartan skirt – look good in winter with fitted long leggings or with tights and a jumper.

Long (maxi) skirt with flowers on a creamy yellow back ground. This is a big skirt with a lot of volume, so it will look good with a slim volumed top, such as a nice fitted t shirt or light weight jumper. Again, this top should be tucked into the skirt, or end at hip length. Good colours for the top would be ones that are found in the pattern of the skirt or that tone in with it. Compare the skirt to the dark autumn colour swatch.

Red evening jacket – It looks good over either red or black items. A black top with black pants or skirt would be fine. The skirt could be a slim fit, or a soft drapey one, like the black one that you are putting new elastic into. The pants can be fitted or wide at the hem (as long as it is not baggy around your bottom).

Drapey skirt in a red black and white print that is see through – needs a good slip.

Soft black skirt that needs new elastic – a very versatile skirt. It is a fashionable silhouette currently and it is heavy enough to be worn with both heavy and delicate tops. It would look nice with both your dressy dark shoes.

Where to from here –

I recommend trying some dark pants/jeans in a slim fit (doesn’t have to be tight, just not baggy and can have elastane content to keep it comfy.
I would also prioritise what outfits you like best and store the rest (if you don’t want to get rid of them). 12-15 regular outfits and dressy outfits that you wear would be about right.