Making your wardrobe a happy place

Going from one season to another is never easy work. No matter the size of your wardrobe, it will never be big enough to accommodate every item you have. You can't keep coats next to summer dresses as you will never be able to see what you have tucked away inside. Now is the time of year to store away your seasonal summer clothes otherwise where are you going to put that amazing Mango leopard printed jacket you just bought? It's time to make a choice, and I can help you make it a clever one!

Here are five steps to organize your wardrobe that I use when helping clients detox their wardrobes...

1. Organisation is key

You need to be able to see everything you have in your wardrobe otherwise you will just never wear it. Hang up the important pieces, maybe on the same hangers as it gives your wardrobe a calm vibe and also looks luxurious. Fold your jeans and stack them so you can see each one, and purge your t-shirt drawer as there will definitely be some squashed up tee's in there that you no longer wear.

2. Make three distinctions

Make three piles, what you are wearing, what you can’t wear this season and what you are (honestly) not going to wear again. Keep everything you wear every day, even if it’s only a few tops and jeans. Make a separate pile for things that aren’t seasonally appropriate anymore. Put away these things in a suitcase and store them until it starts to get warmer. Now, nicely fold the clothes you keep and tidy your wardrobe. It feels more spacious already right!

3. What do to with the clothes you don't wear

Some pieces may have some value left in them, depending on the brand so sell these pieces on Ebay or Facebook. A bit lazy? Your niece/sister/cousin will always be happy to have some of your clothes. Want to do a good deed? You can give your beloved clothes to a charity shop! All you have to do is walk in with the bag of clothes and hand it to the till.

4. Filling the gaps

Now you can see what you have in your wardrobe and you can identify any gaps that you need to fill to pull outfits together. Make a shopping list and stick to it. If you often spend money on things you don't end up wearing then shop smarter. Before buying a piece refer back to your list and be honest with yourself on whether you will actually wear it or not. If you do bring the item home, if after one week you haven't worn it, take it back to the shop before your refund expires. No shame, you have one month to decide, take advantage of that!

5. Less is more...

Even if you have a large wardrobe or even dressing room, you don't have to fill it. Go through your wardrobe every six months when the seasons are changing and asses whether you have worn the item or not. If not pack it away, sell it on Ebay or give it to charity - you will feel much better afterwards so it's a win win situation.

If you need help with organising your wardrobe then I have plenty of experience in editing wardrobes big and small, this is a recent testimonial from a client-

" I cannot recommend Nina highly enough!  We met last week to do my colours and then to de-tox my wardrobe and I feel so much better now about how I look.  I finally have a wardrobe of clothes that suit me and colours that complement me, rather than a hotchpotch of items gathered over many years that I will never wear again.  Nina was kind enough to be available for me on email when I went off to Westfield to get my "must-buys" from the list she gave me, giving me advice on items to avoid and her views on the colours I'd chosen.  I was stuck in a major rut until last week - my confidence had been rock-bottom and I just felt dowdy.  Now I feel energised and have the confidence to go bolder and to carve out a style for myself.  Thank you Nina! xx "

Contact me now for your Autumn Winter appointment - nina@edits-styling.com

your style evolution

As we grow and change, so does our taste and style preferences. There usually comes a point where we feel like the style we have embodied for the last 10 years no longer feels like us.

If this sounds like you then read on for some image consultant tips on your style evolution?

There are a few courageous individuals who embark on a complete style overhaul, and change everything in their wardrobe within a couple of hours and come out the other side looking immaculate. Then there are the rest of us. The ones who feel anxious about change, about looking different and about having to talk about themselves in a personal way, as style is personal. So what are the options you have in taking tentative steps towards a change in your image?

The good news is style does not need to happen overnight. All good things take time. It can take weeks, or even months to find and develop a new style that embodies you for right now. The key is to focus on discarding items that you no longer wear or feel comfortable in and slowly add in some newer basic items that suit and flatter you. Giving your wardrobe a good detox will allow you to see past the pieces you haven't worn for years, that no longer fit you, that have holes in them or you have just plain forgotten about! Starting from scratch can give you a sense of relief and excitement at the thought of creating a whole new wardrobe - and a whole new you!

To learn more about the type of style you want, I suggest starting a pinterest board every season for the styles, looks, images and items you are drawn towards. Keeping upto date with trends and styles will ensure that you will allow yourself have a contemporary and stylish look. If you are unsure about how to put items together or how to accessorize, finding inspiration from your style icons could help your create modern and and stylish outfits. From this you will then be able to create a 'shopping list' of items that you want/need and must-have in your wardrobe to help you become the modern stylish woman you want to be.

When going shopping, the best advice I can give is to save items in your shopping bag as you go along. Don't knee jerk and buy things that you think you need, take your time over spending your money - set yourself a budget. Refer back to your wardrobe, refer back to your pinterest board, refer back to your shopping list at all times to ensure you don't make new mistakes that are just replacing the old ones.

If all of the above still scares you and you still don't know where to start then I am here to help. My job is to take the pain and frustration away of not knowing what to wear. I will work with you to create the perfect style that suits your personality, lifestyle and budget AND is easy to maintain.  By showing you how to dress in a way that flatters your body shape and introduce you to stores that are perfect for you, not only will you avoid those expensive mistakes you've made in the past, but you will have an image that reflects the woman you want to be.  I can also show you how to build on your existing wardrobe to create new outfits that you will look and feel amazing in.  Never again will you utter those words “I've nothing to wear”!

Style and fashion are ageless, and they evolve with you.

If you have lost your style and need some help getting back on track and then contact me now for a personal styling consultation.

Follow me on pinterest and instagram for regular style updates.