Sue's Hot Tips for November
Winter Wardrobe Workout
Following on from the radio interview I did earlier this month on making more of your wardrobe in a recession, I’ve used this topic for my November tips!
Research into the shopping habits of women give us some shocking statistics.
Twiggy announced on her TV programme “Frock Exchange” that the average woman spends £13,000 during her lifetime on clothes she will never wear. That may breakdown into only a few mistakes a year, but as a total it is a stunner!
IF YOU ARE NOT 100% SURE about a new purchase, TAKE IT BACK and get a REFUND!!!!
The average woman wears only 20% of her wardrobe for 80% of the time. If this is you (be honest), that represents a huge waste of money, time and energy shopping for things you are not using. With the credit crunch biting, this is a great time to examine that 80% and do something with it!
1. Get organised.
If you want to save money on clothes, don’t rush off to Primark! Cheap clothes are not good investments for the basic foundation pieces in your wardrobe like jackets, trousers and skirts as they won’t wash and wear as well as a better quality garment. If you really need to shop think quality not quantity, and consider the “cost per wear” that any purchase will give you. However, if you like to keep right up to date, you can have fun with inexpensive fashion forward tops and accessories as their life in your wardrobe is destined to be short.
Why not take a rain check on shopping for a while? Rather than adding to your wardrobe with new purchases, take some time this month to have a stock check? Look at the clothes you seldom or never wear (the 80%?). How many pairs of black trousers do you actually need?. When you know EXACTLY what you own (and there may be some forgotten gems buried in there), you can get down to the nitty gritty of which items have proved to be wise investments (those you wear the most), and which were not (may even have the tags still attached!). No point in beating yourself up as this should be a very useful exercise.
The favourite items can go back into the wardrobe. The most effective way to organise your clothes is to hang them by category – trousers, skirts, jackets, tops etc. rather than hanging clothes in outfits. Arrange garments so that you can see everything. Anything that is covered or hidden away is unlikely to be worn! An organised wardrobe saves a huge amount of time when you are dressing as you know exactly what you have and where to find it. Quickly!
Look very honestly at the rest. Try them on. Do the clothes fit? Are they flattering? Are they versatile? Sometimes you need to just let things go (more about that later). Don’t listen to the gremlin on your shoulder. If you don’t wear it, get rid of it. It is quite cathartic!
If you need a helping hand, I offer a wardrobe weeding service which includes helping you re-organise your clothes to suit your storage and lifestyle.
A successful wardrobe does not need to contain lots of clothes. It needs to hold the right clothes for you. And those clothes should be versatile. By thinking “how many combinations?” not “how many clothes?” you may be very pleasantly surprised how few clothes you actually need, and how many different outfits you can create.
2. Get creative
Hanging your clothes by category may breathe new life into your wardrobe as it allows you some lateral thinking and hopefully you will enjoy finding some new combinations. More outfits from fewer clothes. Then most garments are worn regularly and your “cost per wear” becomes much lower.
Can you re –vamp a garment? It is amazing how different things can look. Shorten the sleeves to ¾ length? Alter the hem length? Change the buttons? Sew on some beads? Add some lace to tops? Recycling can be very rewarding and haberdashery shops are doing a roaring trade as women get more creative and budget conscious.
3. Get cracking
The sooner you start, the more you can make of your wardrobe this winter. By weeding out those clothes that no longer work for you and organising your remaining clothes so that you can see what you have, you make dressing faster and less stressful. As you start to make better use of clothes you own and you find you don’t need to shop as much (if at all for a while!).
What will you do with the clothes that have been weeded out?
Rather than hang unloved in your wardrobe, they may be an asset to someone else.
Can you sell them on eBay?
Charity shops always welcome donations.
Or organise a “swishing” (clothes exchange) party with your friends? And if you feel a professional eye will help, I will be happy to come along and advise for a small fee.
Good luck!
Have fun!