Due to nationwide lockdown, you probably find that you have a lot more downtime on your hands than usual. Being stuck indoors with not much to do can have negative effects on your mental health, so it’s super important to find activities that keep you distracted and occupied.
Cue the wardrobe detox. While the idea of organising your closet and drawers might sound daunting, what better time than now to tidy, detox and prepare your wardrobe for when life returns to normal? Plus decluttering your surroundings also helps declutter your mind.
Autumn and winter are fast approaching and with them warmer clothing and warmer colours. “I am the first to admit that I can’t remember everything I have in my winter wardrobe,” says Kyla Blackwood-Murray, image consultant and owner of Image Innovators SA.
If you’d like to use this time at home to declutter and rediscover your wardrobe but don’t know where to start, Kyla’s advice will help you kick off the fun and freeing activity.
Clear it out
The first step is to remove all the clothing from your wardrobe. You are going to sort your clothing into four piles: Keepers, Maybes, Giveaways and Throwaways.
Let it go
Found a jacket that still has the tag on from two winters ago? Or a dress that hasn’t quite fit you right since 2000-and-something? Place any garments that you haven’t worn in over a year in the Giveaways pile – trust us, someone needs them more than you. Anything with irreparable holes or damage should go straight in the Throwaways pile.
Try it on
Pick up a garment and ask yourself what you like or dislike about it. If you’re not sure, try it on! If you’re immediately drawn to it or it makes you feel extra confident, pop it in the Keepers pile. If you don’t feel great in it, that’s OK. Your body may have changed shape – ours all do over the years – or maybe the colour just does nothing for you. Toss it or add it to the Giveaways pile if it’s in good condition.
If you’re not sure
“I love this garment but I have nothing to wear with it.” Sound familiar? Put the item aside in your Maybes pile and think about whether it’s worth buying a few garments to work with it. If you get stuck on a particular item of clothing, ask yourself if it resonates with your lifestyle and style personality. If you are answering no then you know which pile it needs to go into.
Hang in there
Now that you’ve successfully sorted your clothing, it’s time to pack everything away – but not so fast! You want to hang your garments so that they are organised by type, colour-coded and that all the hangers are facing the same way. It may sound overkill, but it really is essential for an inspiring, joy-inducing wardrobe. Remember: important items like wedding dresses and matric dance dresses don’t need to take up valuable space in your wardrobe. Instead, wrap them in tissue paper, pack them in a beautiful box and add a bow – they are your treasures, after all.
If you need backup
Right, so if you’ve read this guide, opened your closet and thought “No way am I equipped to carry this out”, don’t fear – help is just around the corner, well the virtual corner. An image consultant (a.k.a. fairy godmother) can help guide you through this process and will advise you, challenge you, nurture you and leave you with a wardrobe of clothing you can actually wear and feel fabulous in.
