Tidy Wardrobe, Clear Mind, Better Style
The spring cleaning checklist for your closet.
Let’s just say, I’m pretty grateful for the chance to turn the page to a new month. I needed some new energy, and as a Type A girlie, a physical change to a fresh month satisfies that. This morning I’ve worked out (the Hilary Duff x Ladder marketing worked on me), eaten a salad and actually gulped down all my supplements for once. I’m a changed woman!!
Also contributing to the spring in my step is that I finally tidied, organised and reacquainted myself with my wardrobe. It’s not that it was bad per se, but it felt messy. And I know when I’m not excited to get dressed, or even walk near it, that it needs my attention. So this post is a rundown of what I did to get enthused again. How to tidy, how to organise and most importantly, how to get that spark back.
If you’re new around here and don’t know my Internet backstory, I began with a blog (now defunct, as all my writing lives here), then started making YouTube videos, which I still create 16 years later. They tend to be a little more vlog-like, but from time to time, I make style videos there, too. If you’d prefer, this post is available in video format below, and you can find more fashion-related videos in this playlist. Subscribe! No one does anymore! It will make my day!
WHERE TO START
When you’ve got any sort of mess to clear, there are three approaches you can take:
Move from left to right - that’s it. Simple. Don’t move on until you’ve tackled what’s at hand. Just do a physical sweep of the room.
Make piles - it might make sense to make piles and then work through each one individually. This works best when you have items to return to various rooms in your home.
Work on a specific area - eat the frog!! Work on the spot that you’ve been dreading first. Get it out of the way and then move on to the easy stuff.
HOW DEEP DO YOU WANT TO GO?
When you’re working on your wardrobe, you can decide how thorough you want the clearout to be. On this occassion this was my ticklist:
Do the ironing and hang everything up.
Do a dry-cleaning drop-off/pick-up.
Package up any returns.
Log any new items into my Indyx.
Make a pile of anything that needs repair (I tend to use The Seam).
Make a pile of anything that’s not floating my boat and could be sold on Vinted.
A TRY-ON INTERLUDE
Ok, we have a small haul interlude here, as I recently stress-shopped my way through my husband’s hospital stay (he’s all good now!) and, annoyingly impressively, everything was pretty darn great. Let me talk you through this jumper that actually is as good as everyone says…
Items mentioned:
J.Crew 2025 Rollneck Sweater* - I’m wearing a medium
..also lol I’ve done a 180 on the Luna Pants* and now LOVE them
DONNI The Pop Drawstring Cargo Pants* worn with The Row Estelle Bag* (Etsy dupe here*)
If I lived in the U.S, I can imagine my wardrobe would be 80% DONNI*. It’s that good. However, the shipping fees and taxes and duties to get pieces over the U.K. are pretty darn steep, so I don’t make as many purchases as I’d personally like to. There were, however, four things that had been on my mind for the best part of a year, so I finally clicked purchase…
Items mentioned (code ANNA10 gets you 10% off):
DONNI The Pop Drawstring Cargo Pants* - I have the black and the white, in the medium
DONNI The Linen Simple Pants* - I have the creme in the large (I might tailor these a little)
DONNI The Baby Rib Boat Neck* - I have the colours jet and creme in the medium (you could size down in these, especially if you have a smaller bust)
Flore Flore Steffi Top* - sizing up here is recommended
ORGANISE YOUR WARDROBE
You’ve tidied! Nice. Now it’s time to organise. This is going to be different for everyone depending on what space you’re working with, but here’s what I did.
I knew this wasn’t going to be a major clear-out session for me, so I wasn’t too interested in trying on everything in my wardrobe. But if there was something I was doubting or had a niggle about, I stripped down to try it on, which I believe is the only true way to know whether an item is worthy of a spot in your wardrobe. Nine times out of ten, I fell back in love.
It’s that time of the year when I like to move things around. I move wool coats and heavier layering items to my lesser-used rails, making more space for shorts, vests and lighter jackets. It helps make things feel new again.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by your wardrobe, then reduce your amount of visual choice. Lean out your denim collection by storing away pairs you haven’t worn in a while, or pull back on your white tees and keep some under your bed or in drawers. You know that feeling when you’re on holiday, and you’re loving working with less; sometimes it’s fun to replicate that at home too.
Often it’s the little side project that makes the most difference. Like stacking your jumpers, or sorting through your activewear collection or underwear drawer. Try not to have any space where you’re stuffing clothing, I can guarantee that you won’t want to venture back in there to pull out what you need.
CREATE OUTFITS
You could leave it there, but I always like to go one step further. Why not enjoy the fruits of your labour and play in your freshly tidied wardrobe, which should be feeling all shiny and brand new to you?
You don’t necessarily have to do this all on the same day, but dedicating a pocket of time to puzzle piecing together your clothing to create new formulas, silhouettes, or ideas is an exercise that will pay off in the long run. I like to put 30 minutes on the clock to see what I can come up with. I take photos, and then the next time I’m feeling a bit ‘meh’ when I look at my wardrobe, I refer back to them.
Thanks for being part of The Wardrobe Edit. If you like what you read, I’d truly appreciate it if you liked, shared, or left a comment - it makes all the difference.
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Is a Donni postal charge of $75 dollars to the UK normal? At checkout Donni's also further estimated $95 of duties and taxes. I love this brand but £125 for UK delivery is extortionate! Sadly I can't find the scallop trousers and jersey top in Espresso that I'm after from other sellers. I may have to give this great brand a miss. Such a shame.
You’re great at what you do and always seem to send the perfect content when I need it most!