As the days are getting longer, the time has come to do a quick clean out of your wardrobe. This will make you feel fresh and new!
Go through the below process, print it out and present it with your new wardrobe list at one of our boutiques and our taylor girls will give you A FREE 1 HOUR WARDROBE STYLING SESSION to ensure your wardrobe is working the best for you.
1) Go right through every garment in your wardrobe from start to finish. TRY ON EVERY GARMENT- do not leave one garment untouched.
- Take out anything you have not worn in 2 years. Separate these into ones you haven’t worn in the last 12 months and put these on your bed. Remove the rest and put on the floor and do not put anything back. Watch out for that analysis by sentimental value…. these pieces need to go into your children’s dress up box!
- Take out anything that never fitted very well, or you need to lose that little bit extra weight before you can wear it again. Put these on a chair. Look at these again after going through the wardrobe, and ask yourself… “Am I in a weight loss program? Is this a realistic fact that I will wear this again? Or would I be better taking the recycle value and putting it towards a new purchase that I will wear?”
- Remove anything that looks like it has been through the wash one to many times… or is stained, torn or in need of repair. Is wear starting to show? Decide to repair or depart with these – put the departed on the floor.
- Remove any garments that, when you put them on, never feel right, or you feel you do not look good in. Put these on the floor.
This is the hardest part of the New Look process but you will feel fantastic when you have done this. (We suggest you take these clothes on your floor and/or chair to a recycle boutique or give them to the charity of your choice.)
2) Put the ones you have worn often back in your wardrobe. Go through those on your bed one more time and make sure you have been careful and have a valid reason for keeping them.
3) Optional – Go to The Warehouse or supply shop and purchase new wooden coat hangers for these garments. If you keep them looking nice and take care of them they will last for you.
4) Now make a write down a list of what you have left; for example, 2 jackets, 1 coat, 3 dresses etc..
5) Make sure you still have the basic wardrobe building blocks. Do you have:
- A great Coat and/or Raincoat
- A nicely tailored Jacket or Blazer
- A good flattering Dress or Tunic for day-wear
- At least one flattering pair of Trousers and/or a Skirt
- A good pair of Jeans that are dressy enough to wear out
- A Wrap or Classic Cardigan
- A classic well fitting Shirt
- At least 3-4 daywear Tops
- A Dressy Top for going out
- A gorgeous Evening Outfit that you feel fabulous in
- A warm Merino or other wool Sweater
- Excellent Scarf or long Nnecklace
It is not about having a lot, but having the right pieces to put together to get the right looks. Buy one good quality piece rather than 3 average pieces and over the next year you will enjoy the difference.
6) A quick BODY analysis
Take a look in the mirror and list 3 things you like about your body.
List any parts of your body you want to take attention away from.
7) Now do a quick Lifestyle Analysi, as often our lives changes and our wardrobes have different requirements because of this.
What does your lifestyle involve? Formal work environment, casual weekends, looking after children, activities like going to the gym, coffee with friends, casual work environment, relaxed but smart daywear, dinner out with friends, casual BBQ’s, lunches out with friends, Christmas parties, formal business dinners with husbands or work colleagues???
8 ) Do you have clothes on your wardrobe lists that you feel comfortable wearing for these activities?Write down anything you feel is missing to complete your outfits.
9 ) Pin this list to your wardrobe door. Now, when you get your money back from the recycle clothing shop, treat yourself to something new. Never go shopping without this list… or you will get sidetracked into buying wants rather than needs.
Top tips for buying good building blocks for your wardrobe.
1) The best investment you can make is buying ‘basic’ clothes that can be worn any time of the day or night, and which just need accessories to be dressed either up or down. Accessories are a great way to stand out.
2) Shopping should be seen as an investment; don’t fall into the ‘impulse’ shopping trap. No matter how good a sales assistant says you look, you will look and feel so much better knowing you have a well thought-out purchase. Justify your purchases with a cost per wear… buy a $380 trouser but wear them once a week for a year and it’s $7.80 per wear. Wear those trousers for 2-3 years as they were such great fabric and they cost you $2.44!! You will spend more a day on coffee or lunch!
3) If you are going to buy expensive shoes or handbags then try to avoid buying shoes that reflect current fashion styles as they will date too quickly and go out of fashion before you know it. Buy style rather than fast fashion.
4) Buy your size! Don’t be a ‘vanity’ shopper who needs the size 6. If you buy clothes that are too small you will regret it in the coming weeks if not days, I promise you! Also, as women do not come in off the rack figures or sizes, if you do not get that waist or hem altered to fit on those trousers you will never wear them as much as ones that really fit. A small alteration cost will save you heaps in the long run.
Print this out and present it in-store at taylor PONSONBY, NEWMARKET or WELLINGTON, and you’ll be entitled to a free 1 hour Wardrobe styling session with one of our fabulous stylists.
