Wardrobe Detox

Fiona Tuite, Image and Style Consultant
The Whole Shebang Image and Style

So it is that time of year again…the days are getting shorter, the mornings more brisk and there is a definite nip in the air. Autumn is here, and our old friend Winter is just around the corner.

The perfect time to clear out your closet is NOW!

It’s time to take a good look at your Autumn/Winter “collection” and have a think about what should go, stay and what other pieces you need to add to make it a JOY to get dressed.

Make yourself your favourite cup of tea (best to leave the champers in the fridge for the moment), put on some energetic music that makes you want to have a bit of a boogie, light a candle and give yourself a couple of hours to get this done.

Firstly, look only at Autumn/ Winter clothes. You will get overwhelmed and have a melt down if you take on everything at once.

Take everything out of your wardrobe so there is nothing left of your Autumn/Winter season hanging. Ideally use a portable hanging rail if you have one to hang you clothes on, otherwise lay them on your bed.

You are going to make 3 piles of clothes:

1. Yay: You love this item. It fits, is the right colour for you and makes you smile when you wear it. It reflects who you are today and where you want to go. You have occasions to wear it. It is a definite YES!

2. Maybe: You quite like this item, but don’t have anything to wear it with, or it needs dry cleaning, or it may need some mending (hem down, button missing etc), or it might need to be altered in some way. It has potential.

3. Time to say Goodbye: It has served you well…but now it doesn’t fit, is worn out, is out of fashion, or just doesn’t feel like “you” anymore. Be strict with yourself. You only want items in your closet that you are actually going to wear and look fantastic on you- no room for “oh it’s OK”. That is just not good enough for you. It has to be a clear and definite “YAY” to make it back into your closet.

Understand that this process will take you some time. Take a break and make yourself a new cuppa, put on a tune that will get you dancing for a mini “dance break” and just keep going until you are finished.

Trust me when you start seeing the garbage bags filling up with clothes, it will give you a great deal of satisfaction.

Now that you have your 3 piles of clothes, it is time to put them back you’re your wardrobe.

You may have already discovered a way to organise your clothes that works for you. If it is working, stick to it. Some of my clients find that having tops/shirts/jackets altogether, arranged by colour in one area, and pants and skirts together arranged by colour is an easy way to really see your clothes and play matchmaker putting together outfits. I like this way best. Other clients like to arrange by work/casual/party clothing. I think this is a little limiting as you are less likely to mix and match and may have lots of potential “outfits” in your closet that you might never discover. So, take a good look at your wardrobe and decide what is going to work for you in the space you have.

Put everything back in that is a definite YES. You will breathe a heavy sigh of relief and may even do a Cuba Gooding Jnr impersonation of jumping up and down in excitement when you see how much extra room you have!

Take the extra time now to organise it the way you want to. Ideally buy a new box of coat hangers and aim to have them all the same make. Take out any wire hangers and have all the coat hangers facing the same way and the right clothes on the right type of hanger. It will look so much prettier and make you feel like a true fashionista.

Now, go through your “Maybe” pile. Make some new piles: one for alterations, one for dry cleaning/washing, and one for pieces that are perfect for a “Swap My Style” event. Really have a good (rational and truthful) think about the item and decide if it is a YES or Goodbye Item and place in the appropriate place.

Finally, your “Time to Say Goodbye” pile. Divide into a charity bag to give away, a “Swap My Style” bag to have some fun with at the next event, and a “trash” bag. You really are doing the right thing in letting it go. It is good clothes karma and opens up new space for allowing the “new” to come in.

Now take a look at your new and improved closet. What is missing? Do you now realise you need a new black dress? A new crisp white shirt? A new coat? A new belt? Some “fashion” pieces to update it and make it look fresh and current? Make a list.

Now it is time to go and get some champagne or your favourite type of treat and celebrate. This is a major achievement. You will feel so proud of yourself. It is very freeing and a wonderful feeling to be organised.

Clothing is something we have to deal with every single day of our lives. You should love what you wear and wear what you love! You deserve to look and feel your very best and let the real essence of you shine through. Take this time for yourself. You will be thrilled you did!

Fiona Tuite
Image and Style Consultant
The Whole Shebang Image and Style
Fiona {at} wholeshebang(.)org
043 441 2458

Fiona is available for personal consultations to detox your wardrobe to ensure that it is 100% right for you and your lifestyle