As September is the month of sustainability, it’s worth remembering that the most sustainable garment is the one that’s already hanging in your wardrobe. Last week, I shared some styling ideas to help you re-wear your clothes more often and you can revisit the blog here.
There’s been a nip in the air here in the UK which is a clear signal that autumn is definitely on the way. With the changing seasons, you may be switching out your summer clothes for winter ones. Your thoughts may also be turning to what else you may need.
So, on the sustainable theme, I’ve got four tasks for you to undertake to your wardrobe before you hit the shops, or start searching online. Plus, I’ve recorded a quick video which you’ll find on my YouTube channel. Keep reading for details.
What’s your most worn items?
The first place to start is what you’ve already got!
If you’re a photo-taker, check your camera roll for the items you’ve been wearing on repeat. Don’t worry if you’ve got no photo evidence as I’m guessing you know your fave, and most lived-in items. Because I turn my hangers round, I can easily identify what I’ve been wearing. (revisit this: Simple way to identify clothes you’re not wearing if you don’t know what I’m talking about!).
These items are useful to know because you’ve got your money’s worth out of them. You’ve had multiple wears and no doubt reduced your £s per wear as you’ve been wearing them lots. Your £s per wear is basically how many times you’ve worn it based upon how much you spent on it. A ‘bargain’ £10 item worn once doesn’t compare to the item you send £50 on and are still wearing after 10 times, year after year.
Layer up!
Items that you can wear through different seasons (also called transitional pieces), can help with any capsule wardrobe goals you have. This will likely mean wearing them with other items in the cooler months. So, a pair of tights with a summer dress. Throw on a fine knit jumper or cardigan over it instead. I prefer to think of these as staple items because you can wear them all year round. For me, these are t-shirts (both long and short sleeved) and vests as I’ll wear these in the warmer months but layer them underneath dresses or jumpers in the cooler months.
Fine, thin layers are always better than thick layers if you want to avoid feeling like the Michelin man. Revisit this: The secret to layering your clothes and still look stylish (without adding bulk)
The ability to layer items of clothing also means that you restyle them and wear them in a different way too.
Do you have the latest trend?
Trends do tend to repeat themselves and you might already have that new cardigan that everyone’s raving about tucked in the back of the wardrobe. Burgundy is the colour of the season, but I already know I have my colour version of burgundy hanging in my wardrobe to wear in the coming months because I’ve bought well over the years and I know what suits me! For reference, it’s claret or damson for me. If you’ve had a colour analysis, check your swatches for your version.
If you’ve spotted something in a magazine, online or in the shops and you’re thinking how much you’d like to add it to your wardrobe, just check whether you’ve already got something similar. You may have and I can give you some ideas to restyle what you already have for the new season at my next seasonal update workshop. It takes place online at 12pm on Saturday 5th October and tickets are available here.
My seasonal updates aren’t about making you fashionable, but I will be sharing what the new colours and trends are for autumn and winter. This year, my aim is to try and avoid the fast-fashion stores as much as I can with the examples I share in the workshop, Recorded Masterclass and the Shop The Look guides.
This coming season, see if you can make better, more informed decisions about what to buy and wear. If you need some inspiration, my autumn/winter guides will be available from 1 October. Join the wait list and you’ll receive discounted access to the guides five days earlier. (Select ‘seasonal updates’ and register here).
Be specific
I know it sounds a bit boring, but making a list concentrates the mind. Specifically focus on what items of clothing you actually need. What are you missing in your wardrobe? What has been worn so much that it’s fallen apart and beyond repair? The more specific you are, the more refined your searches will be. That’s why I always say to start with your wardrobe. After all, if you don’t know what you’ve got (and you can’t see it), how do you know what you need? Don’t discount accessories – these can be a cost effective way to update any outfit.
My wardrobe charts will help you work out where the gaps are in your wardrobe. Download the FREE Wardrobe charts.
Being able to identify the specifics like the colour, the style, shape, fit, fabric and how you want it to make you feel will all help to narrow your search. Clothes in the right colour and style for you that fit and flatter your shape, will always make better choices in the long run. Book a consultation if you need any help.
This guide has had an update to the design this year. It’s still a handy-sized guide to pop in your handbag, but it’s now slimmer, so it fits inside your 
