How to: Weed Your Wardrobe

How to weed your wardrobe

Rain has stopped play today.  Autumn is surely here, so I’m preparing for a little post-summer wardrobe weeding.

 

The heatwave earlier this month might have delayed my seasonal wardrobe switchover, but I’m starting to layer up.  Wearing my jeans again, with light knits and shackets.

 

The washing basket is, of course, laden with the last remnants of my summer wardrobe.  They’re ready to wash and store away.  However, before I do, I always find this a good time to do a little weeding.

 

If, like me, your storage space is tight, you’ll store and unpack your hanging clothes, a top drawer and shoes, twice a year.  In hiding for half the time, it feels like a whole new wardrobe when I switch the rails up.  There’s always a lovely piece I’ve forgotten I own.  Winner winner chicken dinner!

 

Keeping my home uncluttered and organised is important to me, so before I pack summer stuff away I detox.  Because a) I’ll get rid of the stuff I didn’t wear, there’s a reason so why keep it; b) it saves on storage space; c) I can sell it on Vinted and make some cash to buy new autumn/winter pieces that I need.  Read. want.

 

If you want to join along, here’s how to do it.

 

Weed Your Wardrobe: step-by-step guide

 

  • Split your spring/summer clothes into two piles. What you wore and what you didn’t.
  • Put all the pieces you enjoyed to one side ready to go into storage.
  • Do check the condition of these clothes at the same time. Damaged pieces can be mended and clothes too worn can be taken to a clothes recycling bin.
  • With items you haven’t worn, it’s time to get up close and personal with them and consider why not.
  • Try on each piece and give it an honest appraisal.
  • Does it suit the look/vibe you want to achieve? Peoples’ style evolves over time.
  • Are the clothes no longer fitting you? Are they too loose or tight?  Holding on to any that don’t work for you anymore can have a negative effect.
  • Does each piece suit your current lifestyle? For example, corporate summer dresses may no longer be needed if you work in a more casual environment.
  • Similarly, are pieces too loud or subdued to suit your personality? Perhaps the pattern doesn’t really match your vibe, or the colour drains the life from your face. In either case, let them go.
  • By the end you should have a clearer understanding of what’s working and what’s not. Don’t feel guilty about the pieces you need to let go of.  You’ve had your fun with them and they no longer work.  It’s over.  Let them go.  There are plenty of charities who can make good use of them.
  • With everything else. All the good stuff. Use vacuum storage bags that suck the air out to reduce space. The bags can then go under the bed or in your suitcases.

 

Et voila.  Summer is over for another year.

I promise that taking the time to do this now will serve you well. You don’t want to get to next year and unpack a bunch of things which you’re still not going to wear.

Like some more help from me?  Check out my Wardrobe Reboot service here.

Selecting a Staycation Swimsuit To Suit Your Body Type

notgivinin | personal stylist

 

If you’re staying home this summer let me make selecting a staycation swimsuit to suit your body type a little easier with this guide.

 

Apparently, we’re going to be blessed with more gorgeous weather towards the end of August.  So, with more beach or, if you’re like me, garden sunbathing time ahead, now is the time to grab a new swimsuit if you don’t have one.

 

Even though we’re a fair chunk of the way through British summertime there are still some gorgeous swimsuits available.  Wherever you are catching the rays, it’s still very important to feel confident in what you’re wearing, so I strongly suggest choosing a costume that works well with your figure first, and follow what’s popular second.

 

To that end, here are my suggestions on which to choose depending on your body shape.  I’ve included some guidance on what to look for and some ideas that fit the bill.

 

Selecting a staycation swimsuit

 

Rectangle

The aim of the swimsuit here is to help give you the appearance of curves.

Look for: strategic cut outs, higher cut legs, pleats/frills/embellishment on the chest and hips.

 

 

Hourglass

The aim of the swimsuit here is to support your curves.  You don’t want to lose your waist.

Look for: built in boob support, retro styles, belted swimsuits, wider straps, one colour elegance.

 

Pear

The aim of the swimsuit is to help balance out the hips.  Draw the attention upwards.

Look for: more fuss on the top half, halter necks with thin straps. Frills and flounce on the chest.  Horizontal necklines.

 

Apple

The aim here is to elongate the torso, create more of a waist and show off legs.

Look for clever ruching, darker colour panels down the sides and tankinis.

 

Inverted Triangle

The aim here is to balance the broader shoulder shape with the hips.

Look for V or sweetheart necklines to add focus away from the shoulders.  Padded or underwire cups give support to bust and asymmetric styles break up the neckline.

 

 

Hope that’s useful!  It’s little tweaks that can make a big difference to help you look good and feel great.

 

There’s lots of information there to let you make wise choices, but if you’re feeling confused about your body shape, don’t worry everyone’s shape is different.  If you want to learn more do drop me a line and sign up for my Body Shape and Colour Consultation.

 

Whether you are going away or not this year.  Have a great time.  You deserve it!

 

To get more styling tips, do come and join my new Facebook group – Style with Gail.

 

Gail xx

 

4 Steps to Creating Your Own Style Mood Board

 

Creating a mood board is hands down one of the best ways to finding your own true style identity.  If you’ve ever looked in your wardrobe and wondered who the hell is the woman wearing the clothes in it?  Or you find that clothes are purchased on a whim only to be hung in the closet for the rest of time, then it’s likely they don’t represent the real you.

 

Don’t worry, we all get ‘influenced’.  It’s super easy to get caught up in following the trends or making rash purchases when you get an invitation to go out.  But what if your wardrobe is always prepared, always ready with smart choices that you love and wear with confidence.  It can be done.  You just need to know your own true style and stick to it.

 

One way to do this is by creating a style mood board.  It acts as a reference point to help you make wise choices, inspires you on days when you’re feeling a bit lost with what to wear, and is a constant source of inspiration to motivate and empower you to express your true self to those around you.

 

Style Mood Board Tools

 

So how do you create a style mood board?  Personally, I really enjoy using a cork board.  I bought mine for a couple of quid from an online shop and it was therapeutic to do a little cutting out and pinning.  I have the board in full view in my home office to refer to when I’m not sure what to wear.

 

Similarly, and great if you want to compile more than one board and have easy access where ever you are, there’s Pinterest.  A great app that you can download to your mobile, Pinterest offers oodles of fashion images from across the globe.  The options are endless here and it’s super quick and easy to delete and add at your whim.

 

Collating Styles You Like

 

If you’re going down the cork  board route, start by looking through magazines and pulling out images that inspire you.  You might have old mags in a drawer (or is that just me!) that you’ve kept because the looks in it inspire you.   Now is the time to dig out any scraps of inspiration you’ve held on to over time.   Also, go online and download pics from your favourite fashion websites.  You really need to draw together any looks that resonate with you.

 

4 Tips to Creating Your Own Style Mood Board - Gail Painter - Notgivinin.com

 

You’re looking for colours, patterns, cuts, items of clothing, and complete looks that appeal to you.  But also keep in mind that you are building a collage of styles you can/will want to wear so the looks must fit in with and support your lifestyle.

 

If you’re stuck on where to start with Pinterest, I would start by looking up your style icon/s.  There’s a reason why you love their look.  Perhaps you look similar, or love the way she/he wears their clothes.  You can then really deep dive into searching for more pieces. For example, I love Victoria Beckham’s style, which led me down a road looking for wide leg trousers.

 

Re-Load Your Own Style

 

You can also include pics of yourself.  Dig out pictures of you wearing your favourite outfits. My advice would be to look as far back in the photo album collection as you can.  You will likely spot a look that has got lost in translation over the years that you need to be drawn back to.

 

Your Fashionista DNA

 

Once you have lots of images to hand or pinned to a draft Pinterest board, it’s time to hone down what really resonates with you?  Is there a trend appearing?  A finite look revealing itself.

 

From mine you can see that I have a real penchant for denim.  Jeans are a big part of my wardrobe, but I didn’t realise how much, they’re all over the board.  I also like light, neutral colours, and there is a bias for black too and simple designs.  Accessories are a big love too.  Handbags have always been really important to me.  I change my handbag to work with my outfit, daily.

 

4 Tips to Help You Create Your Own Style Mood Board

 

Keep whittling down the images you have, it’s actually easy to do with a cork board as you only have a certain amount of space.  Gradually you will see a pattern forming, aligning with your style at its very core, this is true fashion DNA.  Casting to the side images that are on the periphery of what you like really helps to show you how you truly want to dress.

 

Keep it Handy

 

Keep your board handy.  Like mine, in the office, in sight.  If you’re working on a board online, download a screengrab to your laptop, tablet and mobile.  Refer to it every time you go shopping and especially before you consider following the latest trends so that you can stick to your fashion DNA.

 

Sticking to your true style identity when you go shopping can be very handy.  Your wardrobe should work more cohesively, a capsule wardrobe could appear naturally, and you won’t be wasting your hard-earned cash.

 

If you want to, and you’re enjoying getting crafty, you can build more boards to help plan seasonal looks.  Try building a board or two for spring/summer and autumn/winter looks.  Or, create a couple around the different areas of your life, work (you might have more than one career), life, hobbies, etc.

 

Happy pinning!

 

 

Gail

 

P.S.  If you would like a more personal approach to finding your style I work in Bristol and Bath, helping women and men discover their style and wear it with pride.  Find out more about my services here.