Isabel Marant Etoile playsuit, £269, matchesfashion.com
Stylish yet functional, this piece will take you from lockdown to summer holiday, even if it happens to be in your own garden.
By
5 years ago
A step-by-step guide to your clothing renaissance
Are your cupboards stuffed with clothes you don’t wear anymore? There’s never been a better time to get ruthless with a wardrobe detox, says Nicole Smallwood
Is it a struggle to find the clothes you’re looking for in your wardrobe? Are you a hoarder with things that you’ve had for years and never worn? With all this extra time on our hands, it’s a perfect opportunity to sift through what you have, choosing the classics to keep, rediscovering your wardrobe icons, recycling or repurposing the old and even making space for a couple of well-chosen new pieces.
A full wardrobe detox can often feel like a task so overwhelming that we regularly put it off, but think of the positive. Hangers will once again move freely on the rail, no longer will clothes be double or triple layered and you’ll finally find that LBD you’ve been missing since A/W 2006. Being able to see what you actually have, recycling, giving to charity or putting some of your pieces on rental websites will help give you a fresh new look and have you ready for the new season ahead.
The only way to start this cleanse is to get everything out. Yes, empty those wardrobes, drawers, cupboards, boxes – everything you own needs to be out on top of your bed in plain view. This in itself can be frightening, but it will give you the motivation to sort, retain, discard and make room for the new.
Daily Shopping: The Luxury List
When was the last time you wore that purple batwing top? Go full Marie Kondo on your wardrobe detox (if you haven’t read her book, The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up, order it now). This involves picking up each item, asking yourself, ‘do I love this item?’, ‘when did I last wear it?’, ‘does it fit, or does it need mending or altering?’.
Be honest and split your clothes into piles accordingly; remember, it may not be the case that what suited you 10 years ago still suits you today.
As we can’t drop our surplus/unwanted items to charity at the moment, just bag up and label items in advance to be given to charity, rent to bin when you can. The ‘Store’ pile can be put into vacuum packs, which are much easier to store and also keep the moths away, while the ‘Keep’ pile can be filtered back into your wardrobe.
This is the fun bit: here are some great tips for making your wardrobe easier to view.
The golden rule with new purchases is to avoid going crazy and filling all the space you have just created through your wardrobe detox with pieces that aren’t perfect for you. Choose pieces you love that will see you through several seasons at least, which support ethical practices and, where possible, use natural and organic materials.
Isabel Marant Etoile playsuit, £269, matchesfashion.com
Stylish yet functional, this piece will take you from lockdown to summer holiday, even if it happens to be in your own garden.
ADVERTISEMENT
Acne Studios Morris cropped denim jacket, £350, brownsfashion.com
Everyone needs a jean jacket.
ADVERTISEMENT
Eberjay pyjamas, £52, net-a-porter.com
Perfect for sleeping, lounging and even nipping to the local shop in.
Zimmermann Edie linen dress, £416, matchesfashion.com
Ready for the out of lockdown party.
ADVERTISEMENT
Alexander McQueen oversized sneakers, £450, alexandermcqueen.com
Versatile enough to wear with everything from jeans and dresses to jumpsuits and shorts, they will be sure to take you through this season and beyond.
Paper Coconut swimsuit, £195, paperlondon.com
I’ve had my eye on this for a while. It’s perfect for sunbathing on my terrace and is made from sustainable, recycled materials.
ADVERTISEMENT
Donna Ida Never Too Late jeans, £185, donnaida.com
Looking to give your wardrobe a little ’70s update? These jeans will be the perfect addition.
Featured image: Adrienne Leonard on Unsplash
READ MORE:
Arizona Muse: A Model Manifesto / The Best Luxury Pyjamas / Stylish Activewear for Your At-Home Workout