The Back To School Wardrobe Organisation Checklist
It's Virgo season, baby ♍️
I’d go as far as to say that 1st September slaps harder than 1st January. The slight chill in the air, the ‘new stationery will change my life’ energy, the fact that the three days that are suitable for a jeans, jumper and sandals outfit formula are just around the corner - I am in my element right now. I mean, I’m a Virgo with a capital ‘V’! I wait all year for September to roll around!!! But instead of packing and repacking my pencil case for the millionth time, I’m sorting out my wardrobe, properly, and curating a space that holds the clothing puzzle pieces that work best for me, my body, my life and my personal style. Before you crack on with your wishlists, do this first, and thank me later.
It’s hefty. Perhaps you just want to pick and choose from this organisation mezze platter. Or maybe you want to work through every single step (you’ve got Virgo in your chart, right?) and chip away for a few evenings to work through the process. Either way, what you’ll be left with is a far more organised, clear and edited base to work from every morning…
STEP ONE: TRY EVERYTHING ON
Look, I know the idea of trying on everything in your wardrobe sounds horrific (and kind of is), but it truly is the best way to downsize your wardrobe and weed out those items that are creating clutter and making getting dressed in the mornings harder than it needs to be. Imagine a wardrobe that’s full of only pieces that you love and that fit you, work for your lifestyle and make you feel good. The cheat code to getting there? Trying everything on - *insert a chorus of groans*. I know, I know. Here’s how to break it down into something that feels manageable:
Don’t feel the need to try everything on at once. It took me about seven hours over the space of three days, and you’re going to want to take frequent breaks. Make sure you’re not in a rush and are in the mindset to do it. This is not a luteal phase task, you know?
Prep accordingly. I liked to do it in the mornings when I was fresh out of the shower. I avoided putting on deodorant, body oil or makeup to keep my clothing stain-free.
If you can, work through one category at a time. So try on all your trousers before you move onto tops. It helps you to spot any repeats and notice trends.
Don’t change your whole outfit every time. Make it easy for yourself and say you’re trying on all your tops, then throw on your favourite pair of jeans. Starting with something you feel great in will make the pieces you try on that you don’t love glaringly obvious.
Be honest and realistic. The Allison Bornstein take of ‘if it’s not a full body yes, then it’s a no’ is a good thing to keep in mind. I’d been holding on to so many pieces for ‘what if’ occasions, but it turns out that not only were they gathering dust, but I didn’t like them on my body anyway.
Take stock at the end. Note down your learnings and save them in a place, like your Notes app on your phone, where you can reference them again easily. This way, you can create your own personal future shopping manifesto.
You can find my full try on series here: outerwear, bags, tops, trousers, dresses and shoes.
STEP TWO: SELL WHAT YOU’VE REMOVED
What’s even more satisfying than the wardrobe edits of all wardrobe edits? Cold, hard cash in your bank account once you’ve sold what you removed. Your old pieces have a new home! And you no longer have that piece taking up valuable hanging space! It’s a win-win for everyone involved. My personal choice of selling platform is Vinted - damn, they make it easy. But my advice here is the same, no matter what platform you use:
Wash and launder your ‘to-sell’ pile. Once it’s dry, I take photos immediately and place them in delivery bags so they are ready to roll once they are sold. This way, they aren’t exposed to the elements, and you’re speeding up the packing process.
When I take photos (a clear, plain background is best; flat-lays work well), I usually list them on Vinted as I go. Here’s what I like to add to each listing:
Full name of each item, if possible - it helps for the buyer to double-check sizing on other online websites if it’s a piece that’s still available.
Size on the label, PLUS any notes on sizing - fits true to size, comes up long on my 5’7” frame, etc.
Notes on any imperfections. Be honest and overdeliver on this. If there’s a stain, a small hole or a repair that’s been made, it’s better to be upfront.
Sometimes I’ll add in the R.R.P - we’re doing deals here!
Just a general tip - uploading in the evenings when people are scrolling through their apps tends to lead to a faster buying time, along with uploading at the end of the month/beginning of the month.
STEP THREE: MAKE IT NICE
I spent approximately 17 minutes trying to insert the RHONY Dorinda ‘I made it NICE’ meme here and failed. But know that that was the intention. It’s the natural next step, right? To organise and make it not only aesthetically pleasing, but also functional. This, to me, is a three-step process:
IRON. I’ll admit that some items are better with a steam, but 90% of your wardrobe is going to look 100% better with a once-over from an iron. I can’t believe it took me 35 years on this planet to work that out. My routine is to do it straight away when my clothing is dry and ready to be hung back up. Little and often, instead of leaving it until there are massive piles to tackle, feels far more manageable.
THE SAME HANGERS. Having your clothing hanging on the same type of hangers just looks chic. I acquired most of mine years ago from ZARA Home, but I have added to them with these* over the years. Hanger cohesion looks easy on the eye. Although if you’ve got the space, folding your knitwear is always best to avoid stretching out the shoulders.
ORGANISATION. Obviously, this is going to depend on the space you have, but operating some kind of ‘current season’ rack is a helpful move. You don’t need to be looking at your summer vest tops in December if you’re a northern hemisphere gal. I like to have a section of my wardrobe that I’m currently working from and organise it in the following way.
STEP FOUR: ALTER & REPAIR
In sorting through every single item in your wardrobe, you’ve probably accumulated a pile of pieces that need some TLC. That’s good! Let’s action them:
Light shoe repairs (think worn-in soles and mangled heels) - take these to a local cobbler. I always request the thinnest anti-slip soles possible to avoid compromising the shoe's profile.
Heavier shoe repairs (think major scuffs and discolouration) - I use The Seam for this kind of service. It’s not the cheapest option, but it connects you with experts who really know what they’re doing. I’d use them for any kind of leather goods that needed attention, whether it were shoes, bags, or belts.
Suede cleaning. I really don’t dry clean much; mainly coats, jackets and really fancy dresses. But suede? Suede is its own beast, and most dry cleaners local to me won’t even take it on as it requires a specialist service. In the U.K, Johnsons is your best bet (and is available through Waitrose stores). The turnaround is usually two weeks, and the price is around the £70 mark for a jacket (!!!!!), but your suede pieces will come back looking brand new. Because of the high price, I’ve literally only ever done this once, and I just try to be very careful with my suede pieces.
Clothing alterations and repairs. Again, I tend to use The Seam for this. I love that they connect you with someone locally, who can usually make house calls (my local Seamstress, Hannah and I are TIGHT!). SOJO offer a similar thing, although I’ve never tried it myself. Whenever I see anyone online suggesting in-person services, I always take note. Monikh always goes here in London, Angie recommends Mika, and Liza noted that Chris is the Tailor you need in your phonebook. Nicole put together a great post the other day that included everything you need to know about tailoring, and I couldn’t agree more with her points, especially her advice, ‘always go with longer hems’ - I learnt that one the hard way!
Denim alterations and repairs. A bit like suede, denim is its own thing. I’ve been to people who do amazing alterations on silk trousers, but fall a little flat when it comes to denim. So if possible, I’d suggest using someone who specialises in denim alterations and repairs. SOJO offer that service (and you can always drop pieces off at their Selfridges concession in London), and Blackhorse Lane Ateliers really know what they are talking about.