How to fall back in love with your clothes again post lockdown

I am writing this a few days after the governments announcement of dates that will see us slowly but surely start regaining our pre-covid lives again. But what of our wardrobe and our style that have been somewhat neglected over the past few weeks, months or for some even a whole year. Lockdown has pushed everyone into a sense of comfort over style, joggers over jeans and walking boots over knee high white crocodile leather boots (yes they are a thing!).

So how you do fall back in love with the things you have gathering dust in your wardrobe?

Alot of friends and clients that have been in touch or I have caught up with for walks over the weeks have said to me that they haven’t brought a lot during lockdown as they haven’t seen the point of it. Now that we have some dates to go out again and start to get our social lives back, suddenly getting into your tracksuit every day doesn’t seem so appealing. But some of those pieces that we have been neglecting might have emotional pre-covid ties to them that we perhaps need to re-establish to get us to start thinking about wearing it again. So it’s time to step back into your wardrobe and start feeling your self again, follow my tips on how to fall back in love with your clothes and if this doesn’t work then call me for my help.

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1. Step out of your comfort zone

   For weeks we have been gravitating towards the same combinations of leggings / joggers / tracksuits / sweaters / hoodies but now is the time to step away from this comfort zone and push yourself back into the groove of your pre-covid style. Try challenging yourself to wear a certain item like a skirt, a pair of jeans or even a shirt that you haven’t worn for ages and see how it makes you feel. Think about the styling, add a belt, tuck it in, layer up a sweater or blazer over the top. Slowly but surely you and your confidence will start to come back to life.

2. Re-acquaint yourself with your wardrobe again

   Hello jeans, hello blazers, hello nice jumpers I have been ignoring for months. Open your wardrobe and start to remind yourself of what you have inside. Now is a great time to reassess and detox your wardrobe. Perhaps you have fallen out of love with some pieces, some items might not feel good anymore, or have holes in due to over-wearing so need to be chucked out. But you might find a favourite top that you completely forgot about and get excited about wearing again. Clearing through the clutter that might of built up or been ignored whilst we have been in lockdown will give you a chance to see cleared and put outfits together better.

3. Try your clothes on

   Now that you’ve had time away from your wardrobe it is best to have a big try on, what fits, what doesn’t, what do you like, what don’t you like anymore? And make some piles and try to figure out why you clothes are going into the piles you have created. This will give you a clear picture of what you have, what you like and what you are missing to make your wardrobe work better for you post-lockdown.

4. Mix pieces together you haven’t worn before

   You will probably remember wearing jeans and a nice top, or jeans and a jumper or a skirt and t-shirt with trainers, before we went into lockdown. Now with what you have left mix it up a bit, try some new styling ideas by mixing some items together that you have never worn before. The key to this tip is to make sure to focus on the unexpected part as much as possible. Pair special occasion skirts with trainers, boyfriend jeans with a sequin top, or opulent shirts underneath dungarees. Some of this will work for your taste and some might not, but the important thing is that when you're doing this exercise, you'll be opening your mind to out-of-box ideas you might not have felt comfortable considering before.

5. Try the 30 day challenge

   Lastly before you start spending every evening on the Zara app buying anything you think is nice, consider taking 30 days to live back in your wardrobe before you buy anything new. This transitional period between kids starting to go back to school, 12th April when the shops open and finally 21st June is a gift of time to allow you to really re-asses what you have, what you want you style to be and make the best shopping choices for your money for 2021.

Everyone has days when they seem to hate every item of clothing they own — days when nothing seems to work quite right. But sometimes making your wardrobe work is as simple as forcing yourself out of your comfort zone and spending time looking at what you currently already own. Even if it's not the easiest task it will change your perspective on your clothes and style in the coming weeks. I know already that some clients need my help with this as it can seem overwhelming and that is why I am here to help if you cannot do it on your own. Please get in touch and book a wardrobe and styling session so we can utilise what you have in your wardrobe before you start buying anything new for Spring.

How to detox & Edit your wardrobe

There is no shame in having a bit of clutter in your life. We all lead busy lives with kids, work and life admin which is why it can be difficult to organise our time to organise our things. But with so much time spent at home right now, it’s a good time to get organised, declutter and create spaces that help create a sense of tranquility and happiness.

“Discard anything that does not spark joy”

Became a life saying a few years ago from Marie Kondo, whilst I do not practice the same decluttering techniques, alot of what she says about happiness coming from the items we own and the way they make us feel I’m in agreement with. At this time of year when the seasons are changing it is easy to continue buying in the same patterns we always do, buying things that don’t suit us, buying things that we already have, buying things that we never even wear. By starting with what you have in your wardrobe now it will set you up to spend your money better on things you need, that suit you and that make you feel good about yourself.

My wardrobe detox

As ever I did my own wardrobe detox this weekend when the weather finally turned colder. I packed away all my Summer clothes into air tight bags and popped them away in storage. I was then able to see what I had in my wardrobe and assess it for the coming Autumn and Winter months. Here is what I did -

1. I set aside the time to detox my wardrobe without any interruptions from kids, errands or having to stop half way through leaving the bedroom in a massive mess.

2. I was armed with my storage bags, bin liners, a note pad and my long mirror to try things on.

3. I started by pulling out all my favourite Summer pieces and putting them away, I also identified if there was anything that I hadn’t worn and anything that might need either repairing or throwing away. I made an honest assessment about what I wore, what I loved wearing and what were the reasons for me not wearing some pieces.

4. I sorted the Summer clothes into 3 piles; Keep, toss (charity, ebay or bin), & a maybe pile.

5. Once I had all of the Summer items out of the way I worked through the rest of my wardrobe and pieces I had packed away that were for the colder months.

6. I did the same technique and asked myself questions whilst also trying some items on. Does it still fit me? Does this reflect my style? Do I love it? Has it had it’s day?

7. After a mammoth try on session I added some pieces to my piles of charity, toss and Ebay. I kept out the things I really loved and can see myself wearing in the coming weeks. I left some pieces still packed away like really heavy knits so to save space in my wardrobe for what I want to wear right now.

8. As I was going along I made some notes of things that I had to throw out cos they had holes in or looked over worn but I wanted to replace and these pieces I added to my A/W wishlist which I will share with you very soon.

9. I cleaned my wardrobe and drawers and put everything back in neatly so I can see what I have when I get dressed everyday.

10. I now have to deal with my piles; a couple of buttons to repair on a blazer and boilersuit and a small pile of pieces to put on ebay, plus a bag for the charity shop.

How I felt afterwards is still with me now, I feel a weight has lifted off my shoulders, I know what I need for Autumn to plug the gaps and my wardrobe looks inviting once again as it is free from clutter.

Reviewing your wardrobe is the first step in finding your style. Great style comes when you discover the colours and pieces that make you feel fantastic. This is what I want to help you create. If you need professional help with your wardrobe then contact me now for your home visit consultation and let’s bring the joy back to your life.

The modern way to own a capsule wardrobe

The capsule wardrobe has had a modern update. It’s no longer about owning several timeless pieces such as a white shirt, black trousers, a navy belted coat, etc etc, a capsule wardrobe for now is just a regular wardrobe of perfectly interchangeable pieces that work for you. The number of pieces in your capsule wardrobe is dependant on your style, what your lifestyle is and whether you have a need for variety or don’t mind repeating outfits relatively frequently. There is no perfect number, but using clothes from your entire wardrobe rather than just seasonal opens up more outfit possibilities.

The reason the idea of a capsule wardrobe is current again is down to sustainability being at the forefront of fashion right now. More and more we are becoming conscious of what we are consuming, what we are spending our money on and where the product comes from. In 2020 it’s not #vintage that is the most buzzed about hashtag, now you’re more likely to see #preloved #reusedfashion #sustainablefashion #notbuyingnew and with fashion and style Instagram accounts leaning towards not buying anything new, it has become the most desirable fashion trend this year so far.

Project333 is a great example of this change in trends, Courtney Carver has written a book that is out this week outlining her minimalist fashion challenge that proves less really is so much more. "Be more with less’ is her over-riding message. Wearing just 33 items for 3 months is her challenge to the world, she has taken this simplistic approach to living and never looked back. She believes by stripping back your wardrobe, focusing on the core 33 pieces you will find joy that you have been missing. Read more and buy the book here.

The attitude to fast fashion is changing, outfit repeating is currently a badge of honour with finding new and inspiring ways to wear items of clothing is becoming the most coveted fashion idea to date. But in the real world, away from social media inspiration, is the capsule wardrobe actual attainable? Why build a capsule wardrobe and can we retrain our brain to not constantly seek something new to make us feel better about ourselves?

The benefits of a capsule wardrobe underpins all that I do as a personal stylist, I just talk about it as a ‘working wardrobe’ when chatting to clients and perspective clients. Building your own capsule wardrobe is a great way to become a smarter and more thoughtful shopper. If you have a wardrobe full of pieces that all work well together, then this will curb your impulse to constantly buy. As it’s your wardrobe you need to take a look inside it and see what works for you; what do you wear the most, what do you love wearing and what suits you the best?

You will find your own capsule wardrobe in amongst the stuff crammed into your wardrobe, and I bet you only wear 20% of what you have. That 20% is what you need to base your capsule wardrobe and your style on. It’s items you can rely on to make you look and feel good with minimal amount of effort and stress. The blazer is a building block for my wardrobe, something I can wear and rely on time and time again. I can put it with skirts, dresses, trousers and even joggers and the blazer instantly pulls the outfit together.

Pieces I find that work the best have minimal amount of fuss, can make a statement but are not trend driven and are versatile between my smarter work commitments and my casual weekend laid back styling. By identifying these pieces in your wardrobe you might start to see a pattern emerging within your choices, the things you like and what you wear the most. You now need to be able to jigsaw these pieces together to work as a versatile capsule wardrobe. The more carefully you plan your capsule and select your pieces, the better.

With sustainability non-negotiable, we who love fashion are trying to find ways to tease our passion apart from over-consumption. In 2020 capsule dressing looks cooler than ever, a streamlined wardrobe frees a little more of your time and your sanity and you might just find your happy place too. To get me putting this into practice more I am giving up shopping for Lent. Today, 26th March marks the start of 40 days of breaking the habits of consumerism and spending money on things I don’t possibly need.

Join me in this challenge, I will be showing you my daily styles over on my Instagram page and tag me using the hashtag #edits40dayschallenge and let’s inspire each other to shop our wardrobe for 40 days without adding anything new. I have a great modern capsule wardrobe and I will be showcasing my styling, giving you tips and inspiration for you to dig out pieces in your wardrobe that you might not of worn in ages. With £140 million (&rising) of clothing ending up in landfill every year it’s time to break those buying habits and appreciate what we already have.

Lessons I've learnt from my wardrobe

Working as a personal stylist means that everyday I am lucky enough to spend time with lovely ladies and gents, surrounded by clothes, talking about clothes and shopping for clothes. It also means that everyday I impart my knowledge, expertise and passion about style, styling and what to buy for your wardrobe. You can quite often find me in a wardrobe talking about how to make your wardrobe work for you, how to style what you have and what missing links you need to make what you have more versatile. Along the way I like to teach my clients how to change their style for life, give them confidence to wear things they never would of picked up before and show them how to wear it. In the consultation we learn lessons along the way about mistakes made, how to be a more savvy shopper, what shapes are right for you and how to avoid shopping pitfalls in the future.

As a buyer in my previous career on a weekly, well daily basis we would consistently analyse the lessons learnt from the pieces we have brought to be instore. Why were they best sellers? Why didn’t they sell? What can we do next time? What do we learn from this to take into next season? So that’s exactly what I have done with my wardrobe. After extensive reflection on the investment that I made in Autumn 2019 I created my best buys (see previous blog) and to go hand and hand, what went wrong, what lessons can I take for when I am buying items from Spring. By doing this I want to learnt what I did wrong but also champion the things I did right so I continue doing those too.

Reviewing, detoxing and reflecting on your wardrobe is a great way to give you some focus if you are thinking about going shopping as it gives you the confidence to shop in the best way. Write a list of do’s and don’ts and then of what you really need in your wardrobe and stick to this list. Taking an intentional break from shopping helps you make smarter buying choices, makes you feel happier and more present in life too.

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There are some big lessons I’ve learnt which I hope will help me continue to hone my own personal style and rediscover some great tips that I can pass onto my clients too.

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BE BRAVER IN EXPERIMENTING

It’s ok to be bold. I wanted to push my boundaries more in Autumn 2019 and those pieces I brought that were bolder than previous styles paid off when putting outfits together everyday. It might have been colour, or print or style of the item that meant I was being braver, but pushing my comfort zone paid off.

Dressing for yourself is a form of self care, so making yourself happy through your clothes makes you feel 100% better. It’s not about following trends but about finding the style that works for you.

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QUALITY VS QUANTITY

A couple of knitwear pieces have taken a battering because I have worn them so much and therefore won’t be lasting until next season. But ones I have spent abit more money on will last for many years to come.

Having a budget and sticking to it is important, so impulse buying should be kept to a minimum. I really think about the choices I have made this season, it’s important to spend wisely, love what you buy but be realistic and true to your bank account.

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GIVING IT LOTS OF THOUGHT

Once I had an understanding of what I wanted my style to be every piece I liked I would really give it some thought. If I brought online I would try the items on with other things in my wardrobe, if it didn’t excite me or fit right or made an impact then I would send it back.

Not knee jerking and buying online or when in supermarkets is a great way to really think about whether you need that piece in your life. I know I have done it once this season with a skirt from Zara and it will be the only item going on EBay this week.

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LESS IS STILL MORE

I have learnt that I don’t always need to have more pieces to enjoy the wardrobe that I have. It’s good to impose a spending ban for a couple of weeks at a time to give yourself time to wear the pieces you have in your wardrobe rather than continually adding to it.

We always think we need to keep buying new pieces to update our wardrobe, but that isn’t always true. Spending time rotating, restyling and trying things on with other pieces in our wardrobe makes you more confident and happy that for the next few days you feel like you have some new outfits to refresh your style.

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IT’S AMAZING WHAT A PAIR OF SHOES CAN DO

My single best buy of last year (and most expensive) was my Grenson Nanette boots. I wasn’t convinced for a long time about these boots, I thought they were too big and clumpy but they have transformed so many of my jeans, skirts and dresses that I always feel like I have a new outfit on when I am wearing them.

Don’t under estimate the power of shoes, bags and coats, I say this all the time to my clients. They are investment pieces that finish off every single outfit and you will wear the shoes, jackets and bags more often than anything else in your wardrobe.

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If you need help learning what’s right for you and your style, then contact me for a consultation now.