Creating a visually appealing and organised wardrobe can help you identify your style, work out what you actually need by establishing what you already own and create room for the new. I use five key points when work-shopping a wardrobe: Refresh, Repair, Range, Rail , Rotate.
1. Refresh - throw out or store anything you don't get wear or get joy from. When you look at your wardrobe you should love every item you see. If you don't love something but can't bear to part with it, store it away and re-visit in a few months time. Opening your wardrobe should stir up the same excitement as that when you walk into your favorite store. The refresh process is one to be repeated every few months as your style constantly evolves, something you once loved might look cheap or useless a few months or years down the track or something you stored away might suddenly be relevant. Refreshing your wardrobe is healthy for change, inspiration and moving forward.
2. Repair anything that needs mending but still holds value, whether sentimental or financial. An item you may consider ruined could be resell-able or made wearable with some basic sewing. Keep a bag or box in your wardrobe just for your "Repair" items. I have a big Witchery shopping bag (which appeals to me visually and so can be kept in sight so I don't forget about it) which I keep all my repair items in- this can be things I plan to alter or update such as a shorter hem on a pair of jeans to create a more contemporary ankle grazer style or a top which could be taken in etc. If you don't sew, alteration shops are affordable and worth it if you still love an item but you are not getting much wear out of it.
3. Range is about creating a story or way of grouping clothes together, the same way retailers do in store. This means creating a group of items that run together in a visually merchandised and appealing way. I use colour blocking (it is a slightly crazy obsession of mine), but a range can also be a select group of styles that compliment each other, textures, or sleeve lengths etc. My wardrobe runs from black through to white. This is not only visually appealing but a great tool to use if you generally dress in a "uniform" way, eg- all black with a pop of colour or jeans, a blazer and a basic white tee. This makes getting dressed easy because you will generally grab from the same place everyday and be able to find exactly what your looking for.
4. Rail refers to hanging style. The more clothes you can rail the better, folded clothes in drawers are easily forgotten about but if you hang almost everything you own you never forget what you own. Hangers are important for maintaining the shape of your clothes and also for visual appeal. I only use wooden hangers but if your short on space you can use all black felt hangers which still keep clothes in good shape but are a more compact design.
5. Rotate is a system of constantly moving things around to keep your wardrobe fresh. Rotating your wardrobe keeps you excited and visually inspired by what you have. I have a display wardrobe for exactly this, it houses only my favourite items which I want on display - the pieces I adore and want to look at. These items change regularly, recently the faux fur coats have come back on rotation along with any newly acquired items or special pieces that I get joy from looking at.
Think of your own wardrobe as a store. Treat yourself like you are your own customer. Add interesting elements such as books, magazines, perfume and your favourite accessories. Remember to let go of the old to make way for the new and to challenge yourself to try new things simply by rotating what you display.
To book or inquire about a Wardrobe Makeover, contact me for more information.
