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.

Watch: 4 wardrobe tasks to do this autumn to help you be more mindful and sustainable this September on YouTube: https://youtu.be/_zNtg6A4ZEE

September’s theme is sustainability. This month, I’ll be guiding you on how to be more conscious with your clothing choices.

Revisit last week’s blog here. This week I have some styling ideas to upcycle what you have to help you re-wear your clothes more often.

Your clothes and your wardrobe

The most sustainable garment is the one that’s already hanging in your wardrobe.

You’d be surprised by what you have that you can re-style and upcycle.

After all, when you understand what suits you, (colour, style, shape, fabric to fit and flatter who you are) and how to make them work, you’ll be able to make better, more informed decisions about what you buy and wear.

I consider myself to be more of a slow fashion and conscious shopper. I don’t buy masses of clothes, although I browse and help clients. I intentionally buy clothes which I know work for me and that I’ll wear. I’ve had some garments for many years and wear them time and time again. This includes some less sustainable items, because I re-wear them and take care of them. My wardrobe isn’t minimalistic or creative, but varied and colourful.

How functional your own wardrobe is will largely depend upon your style. Everyone has a different style, and this can help, or hinder your wardrobe and buying habits. With a little guidance and knowledge, you can make your wardrobe work well for you. Clothes in the right colour and style for you that fit and flatter your shape, will always make better choices.

When you have been to see me for a colour or style consultation, I encourage you to assess your clothes. Do the garments that you have fit and flatter you? Do they represent who you are and how you want to show up to the world? Are they representative of your lifestyle and how you spend your time?

You’re likely to find that certain garments just don’t work for you. You’ve not been wearing them after all, you just didn’t know why!

Don’t just wear your clothes, style them

Before deciding whether to keep them or get rid of them, how about if you can actually change them. Doing so may mean that something does then work for you. With a couple of tweaks, you can go from wearing your clothes, to styling them.

Let me show you a couple of examples. In first picture, I am wearing a merino wool jumper. It’s a little long and a block colour. Break it up and styled with a clever tuck, a necklace and colour to my lips it looks so much neater and flattering.

: Jumper tweak

: Top tweak

In my second example, the cotton top left loose over a satin skirt hides my shape and proportions. It makes my legs look short and adds length to my upper body. Neither are flattering or required, but a few tweaks and hey presto! Simply adding a necklace, bracelet and a twist and tuck to the top was all the changes I made which transformed the silhouette and style of what I was wearing.

Tweaks to try yourself

Some changes require skills, whereas others do not. For anything you can’t do yourself, is there anyone you know who can? Or, can you join a crafting group to get guidance and help you?

A bit of needle and thread can transform the buttons on a jacket or cardigan. Switching up an old fave to modernise or simply add a velvet or lace trim detail.

When garments are too long, they can swamp a frame. A seamstress or guided sewing group can help, if it’s not something you can tackle alone.

Got a dress that doesn’t fit your proportions? Cut it in half to transform it into a skirt and top! This will take more skills, but if you’re good with a sewing machine, why not give it a go!

Sleeves all wrong or too long? Take them off or cut them down!

The tricks above require very little skill as adding jewellery is an easy way to elevate an outfit. You could add embellishments, buttons or some embroidery detail to a plain top, jeans or jacket instead. Why not wear it back to front instead to change the look of the top – trust me, it’s worth a go.

Changing the colour of your clothes requires some effort, but not a lot of skills! So, if something is the wrong shade of colour for you, you could simply change the colour. It’s exceptionally easy to do with a clothing dye. Dylon do some fabulous ones which you pop in the washing machine. Ryt do dyes for synthetic based fabric, like polyester. You could also experiment with vegetable-based dyes too! I’ve used the Dylon dyes to change the colour of a few garments over the years.

Get more use out of your summer dresses by wearing with a jumper in the cooler months. Try a long-sleeved top or blouse underneath to add layers for autumn. Pull on some woolly tights and boots for winter or wet weather.

By extending the life of your clothes and wearing them for longer or throughout the year, you’ll get more joy from what you wear! Sometimes we lack inspiration or confidence to try something different. But, what’s the harm in giving it a go? You could create yourself a brand new outfit, without spending a penny!

Gaining the knowledge can take time if you’re not sure what to look for and it can be costly if you keep making mistakes.

My consultations are designed to guide you so you understand what works for you, and why. Get in touch to book your session.

sustainable September

Sustainable September: autumn wardrobe tasks