wardrobe spring cleaning tips blog post

Wardrobe spring cleaning tips

Posted on by Toni Carver

With the clocks sprung forward and longer days ahead, it’s the perfect time for a wardrobe re-jig!

If you’re keen to update your wardrobe with some fresh new season looks, instead of diving straight into shopping, take a step back and take a look inside your wardrobe. Starting here will give you the best chance of success, and make sure that you don’t over-spend, or make impulse buys you later regret.

Spring clean with ease

If it’s been some time since you last audited your wardrobe, spring is a great time to take stock of what you’ve got and identify any gaps. Moving out of your winter clothes and into spring often means shedding a few layers. If you rotate your wardrobe, it could be time to shift out chunkier knits in favour of lighter-weight spring pieces. Given how unpredictable the UK weather can be, it’s wise to keep a few layering pieces on hand!

This is one reason I prefer not to rotate my wardrobe, but I have the space to keep everything accessible. For a little inspiration on how to audit your wardrobe, you can revisit my last wardrobe audit from the start of the year – revisit it here.

Having a wardrobe that works for you makes getting dressed each day easier and more enjoyable. When everything you own suits you and flatters you, it helps you to feel confident in what you wear.

If you’re going for a full declutter and need some steps to follow, you’re welcome to download my five step guide to spring clean your wardrobe with ease. Download the free guide here.

Identify your colour and style gaps

You want to identify pieces that you love to wear as you’ll be reaching for them again this new season.

But, you also want to try and identify those garments which you won’t be wearing. This could be because they don’t flatter you, they no longer fit, or you don’t like to wear! These are taking up space in your wardrobe, and which you could let go. Donate or sell anything in good condition if you don’t plan on wearing it. If you’re keeping hold of something due to weight fluctuations, why not remove it and store it for now instead.

You may have clothes that you’re not unsure about. The best thing to do is to try them on and see how they make you feel!

Shopping the gaps

Having identified the key items you’re short of, make a note of them. The more specific you can be about the colour, style or type of garment, the better.

The sales and pre-loved marketplaces are a great place to shop for them and you can usually pick them up cheaper. Do remember that items left in the sale are often because they couldn’t be sold at full price, so it may not always represent a bargain!

My Spring Summer 2025 Seasonal Updates come in handy if you want to introduce a new colour or style. Designed to help you shop smarter and invest in the right colours and styles that suit YOU, using my expert guidance and research. They’re available from 1 April.

Your personalised colour swatches (from your colour analysis) are the perfect tool to guide you shopping. Clothes in colours that flatter your features will always make the best purchases. If you make your own clothes, be sure to take them when shopping for fabric!

Adding staple or versatile pieces that work with your existing wardrobe will make better investments than those one-season wonders.

Refresh your wardrobe

A wardrobe spring clean isn’t about throwing everything out and starting again, however much you want to! When you have a wardrobe filled with clothes that suit you and that you love to wear, you’ll get more joy from getting dressed in the morning!

If you need some practical help refreshing your wardrobe this spring, check out my Seasonal Updates:

Colour Trends Guide – Discover seven key colours of the season for your dominant colouring type in one handy guide. (Bonus guide with more colours, wardrobe and shopping checklists)

On-Demand Masterclass – A breakdown of the season’s colour and style trends in a 35 minute video.

‘Shop the Look’ Guides – Over 60 garments in each guide, tailored to the six dominant colour types that make shopping easier.

With my Seasonal Updates, you can refresh your wardrobe with confidence, knowing that every purchase is a purposeful addition that complements what you already own.

Ready to spring clean your wardrobe and get shopping with purpose? Download my five step guide and explore my spring summer 2025 Seasonal Updates today!

dress to top blog image

Upcycling My Wardrobe: From Dress to Top

Posted on by Toni Carver

Have you ever looked at something in your wardrobe and thought, I love it, but I just don’t wear it? That was exactly how I felt about a dress I reassessed during my recent wardrobe audit (which I shared last week).

If I’m honest, it was never quite right for me, but since it was still in good condition, I wasn’t ready to part with it. Instead of letting it go, I decided to restyle it into something I’d wear more—a top!

Repurposing pieces you already own is a great way to refresh your wardrobe without spending a penny. Not only is it more sustainable, but it also allows you to get creative with your style.

The Dress: From Past to Present

This dress had already been through one transformation! Originally from Zara (bought in 2020), it was similar to ‘stone’ in my swatches. It different from the rest of my wardrobe but casual and comfortable, so it ticked a few boxes. It had a unique sweatshirt-style front, a lightweight shirt-like back, and a fabric tie belt. However, I always felt the colour left me feeling a bit flat, so in 2021, I decided to dye it.

Since the dress had a mix of fabrics, I knew the result would be unpredictable. The label stated:

  • Main fabric: 50% viscose, 37% polyester, 12% polyamide
  • Secondary fabric: 1% elastane, polyester

I opted for Plum Red from the Dylon machine dye pod range. With my basic colour knowledge, I knew this cooler tone would work well with my complexion. As expected, the dye took differently on the fabrics. The front absorbed some of the depth of colour, turning into a softer, muted shade, while the polyester back remained unchanged, creating a two-tone effect.

The result was a pleasant surprise, and I wore it much more often—mainly for working from home. However, the fit was quite loose, and I had already removed the belt. The dropped sleeves gave it a slouchy, relaxed feel, which added comfort but didn’t necessarily flatter my shape. The biggest challenge? The mixed fabrics! The back was thin and cool, while the front was warm and cosy, making it tricky to layer.

The 2025 Challenge: Turning It into a Top

This year, I set myself a new challenge—to transform the dress into a top so I could wear it more as a jumper. Armed with my new sewing skills, I measured where I wanted it to finish (at hip length), then carefully cut the fabric. Since the original dress had a slight curve at the sides, I replicated this and took in the fit slightly so it wasn’t as boxy.

I’m pleased to say it’s already had plenty of wear this January—proof that a little effort can go a long way in making your wardrobe work better for you!

 

 

Top Tips for Restyling Your Clothes

If you’re thinking about tweaking or transforming something in your wardrobe, here are a few things to consider:

Is the colour right for you?
Even though the original dress was technically one of my colours, changing the shade made it much more wearable with the rest of my wardrobe.

Does the style suit you?
The dress had a relaxed fit, which worked for my style personality, but I always felt like I was trying to make it work rather than loving it.

Does it flatter your shape?
Oversized styles can be great for comfort, but if they don’t work for your proportions, you might not feel your best in them. Adjusting the shape slightly made this piece much more versatile for me.

By choosing the right colour, finding a style that suits you, and ensuring the fit flatters your shape, you’ll create a piece you love to wear—again and again!

What’s in your wardrobe that could be given a new lease of life?

Instead of letting something sit unworn, why not see if a small tweak could make it work better for you? Whether it’s dyeing, tailoring, or even just styling it differently, a little creativity can go a long way!

If you’re unsure whether something suits you—whether it’s the colour, style, or fit—I can help! A Colour Analysis Consultation or Style & Shape Consultation will give you the confidence to make the most of what you already own (and shop smarter in the future!).

Book a session with me: https://calendly.com/tlcstyleandcolour

Have you ever restyled or upcycled a piece of clothing? I’d love to hear about it! Share your transformations and tag me on social media—I’d love to see what you come up with!

blog cover inside my wardrobe audit

Inside my wardrobe audit – what stays, what goes, and why

Posted on by Toni Carver

Like many people at this time of year, you might find yourself tackling your wardrobe. It’s a task I take on at the start of each new year, and thanks to my regular decluttering habits, it’s relatively quick and straightforward. It helps that I know the colours, styles, fabric and shapes that flatter me, of course!

2025 Audit

I start by turning all hangers in the wardrobe so they face the same direction. This simple trick helps me keep track of what I actually wear and what I don’t.

You could perform this seasonally; if you swap your wardrobe frequently, or annually, like I do.

This year, I tackled the kitchen cupboards and drawers around the house, as well as accessories. 18 garments and 10 accessories were culled from my wardrobe this year! To see this process in action, check out my YouTube video: https://youtu.be/S2L8KN193lU and last year’s audit: https://www.tlcstyleandcolour.co.uk/2024/01/15/simple-way-to-identify-clothes-youre-not-wearing/

Of these, I identified five which needed repairing or re-styling so they could go back into the wardrobe. A large box went off to charity, old towels went to a local boarding kennel, and a bin bag went to textile recycling.

The rest, in good condition, went on Vinted and eBay. A word of warning: you’ll rarely make back the money you spent, and this task is often more time-consuming than the audit itself! But, if you’ve got the time and desire, you’ll keep things in circulation and make some extra cash for yourself.

What Stays

All garments that have the hanger facing in the ‘worn’ direction are generally keepers, as I’ve been wearing them. Unless there’s a specific reason for no longer wearing it, then it stays. Throughout the year, as I wear something and hang it back up, I’ll turn the hanger round so I know it’s been worn. As time goes on, it’s a great trick to make you reach for something you haven’t already worn.

My wardrobe is organised by type and colour. All tops are together by colour, my bottoms are separately organised by type, and my dresses are organised by colour too. Visually, this works well for me as I reach for colour first so this helps me mix and match garments. It’s one of the many benefits of having a colour analysis—knowing the colours that suit you and how to combine them together. Plus, I can use my fabric swatches to check the colour or identify the colours I’m missing.

What Goes

It’s easy to identify the garments I haven’t worn with the direction of the hanger, allowing me to assess why. This way, I don’t need to review every single item I have.

Because the vast majority of my clothes are the right colour for me, they represent my style and flatter my shape, there’s usually other reasons for not wearing them:

  • It doesn’t fit.
  • I have too many similar items I prefer.
  • It’s no longer suitable for my lifestyle.
  • I’ve simply fallen out of love with it.

Sometimes I keep things on for another year, even if it’s not been worn. The key is to assess why they’ve not been worn, and challenge myself to wear them in the next 12 months.

This year, I had more unworn dresses, partly due to the weather. One has been cut into a top (more on that next week), others have either been culled or hung back up for another chance.

The Result

It’s much less overwhelming to get ready when you have a wardrobe of clothes that you actually wear!

When I’m called out to help with wardrobes, I often find people hanging on to clothes ‘just in case’. In my experience, if something doesn’t flatter you, fit you, or make you feel good, you won’t wear it. Keeping them takes up space in your wardrobe (and your head), and makes you feel guilty over what you’ve bought, not worn, and the money you’ve wasted. A simple change could be all that’s needed.

If you’re ready to tackle your wardrobe but need a little help, why not book a consultation? With the knowledge you gain from a Colour, Style and Shape consultation, we can create a wardrobe that works for you—saving you time, space, and stress!

BOOK A CONSULTATION TODAY!

Sustainable September: autumn wardrobe tasks

Posted on by Toni Carver

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

Simple way to identify clothes you’re not wearing

Posted on by Toni Carver

How many times have you discovered something in your wardrobe that you forgot you had?

Chances are, if you’ve got lots of clothes, it won’t be easy for you to identify garments you’re not wearing.

So, before you buy more clothes, I recommend this task. It’s something that I undertake every year with my own clothes, but if you’ve never done it yourself, you may find you need to repeat the task a few times during the year.

A full wardrobe audit takes time and fills many with dread, which is why this task is a little smarter and much less daunting. (But, if you do need help with a full wardrobe audit, let me help!)

The task

Undertaking the task this year, I found around 12 items I’ve not worn in the previous 12 months and 9 of these, I’ve removed to sell on or gift to charity. It took me less than 10 minutes!

It was easy for me to identify these quickly simply because I simply turn the hanger round the opposite way when I’ve worn an item! (Plus, I understand what colours, styles, fabric and shapes suit me!).

At the start of January, I turn all my hangers in the wardrobe so they face the same direction. Then, as I wear something and hang it back up, I switch the hanger to face the opposite direction. Over time, this helps me identify clothes I’m enjoying wearing, and those I’m just not reaching for.

Visually, you’ll begin to see patterns emerge in your own wardrobe and the split of clothes you do and don’t wear. I’ve recorded a quick video to illustrate the task which you can also watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/S2L8KN193lU

Try it for 30 days and see how you get on, or for for 3 months which will help you prepare for the next season (yes, I’ll be offering my seasonal updates guides again).

What to do with clothes you’re not wearing

As you identify garments you’re not wearing, question yourself for any reasons why this has been. Here’s a few that arise frequently:

  1. Not the weather
  2. The colour washes you out
  3. It doesn’t fit you (too big/too small)
  4. The fabric is scratchy
  5. No longer flattering
  6. Nothing to wear it with
  7. Other similar items you wear more
  8. Fallen out of love with it
  9. Looks dated
  10. Doesn’t work for you
  11. Not been an occasion to wear it
  12. Don’t feel like ‘you’
  13. Changed job/retired
  14. Don’t like how you feel when you wear it
  15. Sentimentally, you can’t let it go

Some of these are good reasons to keep hold of them a bit longer, but do try and wear them! For others, it might be time for you to remove them and let someone else enjoy wearing them instead.

Here’s my advice.

Not the weather

Keep hold of it so you can wear it when you feel it’s more appropriate weather-wise. Unless, you can layer it and wear it with other items you have.

The colour washes you out

Can you wear it away from your face so that it’s little more forgiving? If it’s a top, try wearing another top underneath to break up the colour or try a scarf. Change the colour by dying it or move it on. Or, seek clarity on the colours that do suit you by booking a colour analysis consultation. 

It doesn’t fit you (too big/too small)

These clothes take up room in your wardrobe and you won’t wear them if they don’t fit you! Retaining clothes that don’t fit you can make it harder and take you longer to get ready. For items which affect your mindset and how you feel, I recommend removing them. Even if that means storing them away for now and reviewing in three months or six months time.

The fabric is scratchy

If you hate the feel of something when you wear it, or you have static each time you wear it, you will not be happy when you wear it! Chances are, you’re likely to not wear it again. Move it on.

No longer flattering

Everyone wants to feel good in what they wear, so if something doesn’t flatter you and you don’t feel good when you wear it, why keep it?

Nothing to wear it with

Until you find something that you feel you can wear it with, it will remain unworn and unloved. Challenge yourself to wear it with something you already have, or make it a priority for your shopping list.

Other similar items you wear more

Duplicate pieces can replace older, worn out versions, but if you’re finding that you still prefer the older version and saving this, it means it’s taking up space. Chances are, you don’t need 5 jackets in the same colour, so try and move at least one on.

Fallen out of love with it

Put simply, you won’t wear it so it’s time to say goodbye.

Looks dated

Some items are more timeless than others. Trends come and go, so be honest with yourself if you can see yourself wearing it again, even in a different way? If you can’t then move it on.

Doesn’t work for you

Can you alter it so that you feel it does work for you? What are the reasons that you feel it doesn’t because if you can’t overcome them, you won’t wear it! Change it (tailor/sewer) so it does work for you, or bite the bullet and get rid. If you’re finding it difficult to identify things which do work for you, consider booking a consultation with me to learn them.

Not been an occasion to wear it

What occasion are you looking for? If it’s afternoon tea with The King, you’re better trying to wear it for a different occasion! Don’t put barriers in your mind and try not to save things for best.

Don’t feel like ‘you’

Trying something new to switch up your look is something I encourage you to do. But, if you’ve tried it and feel like ET in the little girl’s clothes (played by Drew Barrymore), then I’d be tempted to move it on as you won’t wear it again.

Changed job/retired

Be honest about how likely you are to wear those clothes again. If it’s suit, you might find you can still wear the jacket and bottoms separately. Give yourself some time to adjust – I often find clients struggle with their image as a piece of their identity has gone. Keep hold until you’re certain or if you’re not sure yet.

Don’t like how you feel when you wear it

Honestly? Let it go. Sure you can tweak it and how you wear it and style it. But, if you don’t like yourself in something, you won’t wear it!

Sentimentally, you can’t let it go

There will always be some things you can’t part with. My advice is to clean the garment and then store it safely away.

 

Finally, you deserve a wardrobe that works for you which is filled with clothes you love to wear! Undertaking this task regularly will help you to keep on top of it and means you’ll be able to quickly identify clothes you love and the ones you’re holding on to ‘just in case’!

Let me know how you get on! And, if you need any help, do get in touch to discuss the package which is right for you.

LEARN WHAT SUITS YOU AND YOU'RE HALF WAY TO ACHIEVING A WARDROBE THAT WORKS FOR YOU!

If you don’t know, get in touch so I can help you find the right package for you so you can feel good in what you wear.

What do I do with clothes I don’t wear (and can’t let go)

Posted on by Toni Carver

Each month on the blogs I try and address some common questions I get asked.

A challenge which many people experience is having clothes they don’t wear, which they can’t bring themselves to get rid of.

Whilst there isn’t just one solution, here’s some ideas which may help.

A new life

Firstly, if you’ve got a lot of clothes you don’t wear, it’s worth seeing if you can identify any reasons for not wearing them.

Perhaps you’ve out-grown them, or they are no longer appropriate for your lifestyle. Maybe you don’t feel like ‘you’ when you wear them. Whatever your specific reasons, it’s worth asking yourself if this is likely to change and if you will re-wear them again.

Can you give a new lease of life to any of the items? With clothes I’m not wearing because of the colour, I’ve dyed them! Refreshing the colour in an old pair of jeans or completely changing the colour of other garments has helped me to wear things again.

Are any of them the wrong length or fit? It may take more effort or skill, but these can be altered so you do wear them again – even if it means taking it to a seamstress. Re-purpose clothes into other things, like a cushion cover, a bag or make a top or skirt from a dress instead.

If you’re not likely to re-wear them or change them to make them work for you, why is it that you keep them? Let the guilt go, thank it for it’s time and let someone else get joy from them.

Having a constant reminder each time you open the wardrobe doors does you no good. It’s a shame to let them gather dust at the back of your wardrobe when others would love them. Donating them will keep the item in circulation, avoid landfill and lighten your emotional load too.

Swap and swish

When I was younger, my friends at school would regularly have a clothing swishing party. Everyone would bring items along they don’t wear anymore and swap for something new! These events still happen today encouraging you to bring along your unworn items in exchange for a ticket to swap for another garment. They’re a great way of obtaining ‘new’ items, refreshing your wardrobe and culling things you don’t wear. You could even organise your own event too!

Sell

I like my money where I can see it; hanging in my closet! Carrie Bradshaw

A famous saying in the original series of Sex and The City. This is the reason that many people can’t let things go. The truth is that you’re unlikely to get the same money back that you spent in the first place (unless it’s vintage of course, then who knows!). But, this isn’t always the best reason to keep hold of things. Especially if you’re not wearing them.

Selling clothes you don’t wear (and unlikely to wear again) will help to lighten the load you feel emotionally and put some money in your pocket. Think of it as a reward for keeping them safe! There’s a huge pre-loved clothing market which I can’t see disappearing any time soon. Sure, it means competition, but everyone loves a bargain and your lovely clothes can be enjoyed by someone else whilst you earn a little cash.

Use the money you earn to treat yourself to something new (which you will wear), pay off some debts or treat yourself to a night out or a takeaway!

Ebay, Vinted and Facebook marketplace are the common places to sell and there are pre-loved groups on Facebook for certain brands too.

Rent

Whilst it won’t solve a bulging wardrobe, if you’ve got good quality, high end clothing and accessories you can’t bring yourself to part with, consider renting them out. Hurr, ByRotation and MyWardrobeHQ will facilitate the rental of your items to people for days or weeks at a time. It’s another way to give life to your unworn garments, make some money on the side and doesn’t mean getting rid of things.

The three F’s

Opening your wardrobe and feeling fed up that you can’t wear them will not help you to feel good getting dressed. There’s nothing worse than having a wardrobe filled with clothes that don’t fit you.

My advice? Get those clothes out of there!

If you can’t bring yourself to undertake any of the previous suggestions, store them away for now. Removing them from view will improve your mindset and how you feel each day. You can always revisit the items at a later date when you won’t feel quite so emotionally influenced by them.

Your wardrobe should be filled with clothes that fit you right now. They will be appropriate for you, right now. This way, you’ll have clothes you can wear now, even if it does make your wardrobe look sparse.

Clothes which fit you, flatter your figure and which make you feel good (the three f’s) should be in your wardrobe right now! Everything else is taking up space in your wardrobe (and your head).

Having help from someone who can be more objective and who isn’t emotionally attached to your clothes can also be helpful. This could be a friend, relative or a professional so don’t be afraid to seek assistance if you need it.

Use my guides here if you feel up for tackling your wardrobe on your own or get in touch: toni.carver@tlcstyleandcolour.co.uk

What does your wardrobe say about you

What does your wardrobe say about you?

Posted on by Toni Carver

Do you feel like the contents in your wardrobe don’t actually resemble how you currently spend your life now?

Feeling like your wardrobe is filled with clothes from a life in the past? Pre-covid, you wore proper shoes, dresses or tailoring. Now; your world and life doesn’t require you to dress the same way you once did. Plus, if it does, it’s perhaps once a week or even once a month.

Dress for the life you have now, not the one you had before.

My new motto feels so relevant right now based upon a number of conversations I’ve been having.

If you’ve got to rifle through clothes you’re not wearing, frankly it adds time to your day. It makes it hard work and a little demoralising too.

It reminded me of this article from the Daily Mail a few years ago reporting that women spend 17 minutes every day deciding what to wear and your past wardrobe won’t help.

Time to change things around and take some control. Let me share my own example.

Old ways of dressing

I used to work in the corporate world and had plenty of tailored suits and dresses which I loved. When I stopped working in that industry, these tailored suits didn’t feel appropriate anymore. I felt too formally dressed to meet clients for colour and style. Over time, I gradually got rid of them. The occasional dress I kept which I felt worked for speaking events and corporate clients. But the rest; I sold on eBay!

Clothes audit

If this all sounds rather familiar then it’s time to review what you’ve got and how you spend your time. I’ve made it easy to do this using my free wardrobe charts which you can download here.

Take a look at your clothes and ask yourself if you’re really likely to wear them again. Target the ones you’re not wearing or you used to wear all the time, but not lately. If you’re not, remove them and store them away for a few months to see if you miss them.

Should you find yourself longing for certain pieces, then perhaps it’s not the time to let these specific ones go.

But, if you find that they don’t fit, flatter or suit you anymore (think colour, style and shape) and they don’t work for how you spend your time now, then maybe it’s time to pass them on to someone who can enjoy them. Give them to a charity shop or a friend. Put them on eBay or vinted if they’re still in good condition. If they’re high end, consider the rental marketplace to lend them to others.

Can’t let them go?

The challenge in keeping items ‘just in case’ is that they take up space even when they aren’t being worn. Plus, how long do you hold onto them for? If you buy new things, you’re just expanding your wardrobe further and making it harder to get dressed wasting more time looking for what to wear!

That’s why the charts will help. You can assess what you have and how you spend your time. You can probably do it over a brew too as they don’t take long.

Mind the gap!

In my experience, when you skip this step, you’ll tend to have gaps in your wardrobe that you don’t seem to fill because you’ve not identified the garments you need. You’ll buy more of the same things you already have (probably what you’re not wearing) and continue to feel that you have nothing to wear.

Of course, you do have clothes to wear, but you’re just not feeling they’re appropriate for how you’re spending your time. That’s where the charts come in!

Use them to identify the garments that don’t work for your life right now that you can store away. (Use a suitcase, vacuum packed bag or spare drawer if you have one).

For the items you have left – are they really working? Are you actually wearing them? If you’re not then ask why not? Are they the right colour for you? Work for your style personality (it may have changed if your life has changed)? Do they fit and flatter your shape and proportions?

When you’ve done the charts and the assessment, hopefully you’ve been able to identify some immediate gaps you have. Write these items down or put them in your phone notes so that you can look for them on your next shopping trip. Try and be as specific as possible. So if it’s a jacket, ideally what colour(s) would you want? Is it long or short? Buttoned or zipped? Being specific will help you focus on getting something that you need rather than wandering aimlessly around.

Give it a go – it’ll help you get your wardrobe to be more YOU!

Should you feel you need more help with any aspect, don’t be afraid to get in touch for some professional help. I’ll be happy to help you with your colour, style, shape and overall image!

toni.carver@tlcstyleandcolour.co.uk

Four tips to an autumn audit

Four tips to perform an autumn audit

Posted on by Toni Carver

Fashions fade, style is eternal. Yves Saint Laurent

You don’t need to constantly add things to your wardrobe every year.

Yes, you might need some updates or tweaks to bring things up to date and items of course will need to be replaced. But, as a good old fashioned Yorkshire girl I believe you can and should get your money’s worth.

I call it £s per wear and it’s a simple concept.

Buy less and wear more and learn how to re-style pieces you already have to remain current; it’s a simple concept and one that your wallet will thank you for too.

In my latest video, I share four tips to help you perform an autumn audit. Watch it here.

Wardrobe charts

What to do when your wardrobe doesn’t work for you

Posted on by Toni Carver

How many times have you opened your wardrobe doors and felt uninspired by what’s staring back at you?

Despite having clothes to wear, you still feel like you have nothing appropriate to wear for the occasion you’re dressing for.

This is something I find time and time again with clients. It could be that your lifestyle has changed and let’s be honest; lockdown has had that effect for many of us!

If the contents of your wardrobe no longer match your lifestyle or how you spend your time, then you’ll constantly feel like you’ve got nothing to wear.

The solution isn’t to get rid of all your clothes and start again (and nor would I advise to!). Instead, it’s worth looking at how you spend your time and what clothes you can wear which you own.

These charts have been created to help you do just that. First, map out how you spend your time. Things like walking the dog, working (from home or out), looking after kids or parents, exercising and so on. Next, review your clothes and if they fit in with your lifestyle.

You see, when your charts don’t match in equal proportion, you’ll need to focus on adjusting the balance. Seeing this will probably confirm why you feel the way you do.  And, you’ll be able to identify where the gaps are in your wardrobe. If you don’t adjust the balance then you’ll constantly feel like you have nothing to wear.

If the clothes you own do match how you spend your time, then congratulations: you have the right balance!

You can open and download the wardrobe charts below and if you need professional help, reach out and get in touch.

Download your wardrobe charts here

These charts will help you achieve the right balance in your wardrobe so you can stop feeling like you’ve got nothing to wear!

Wardrobe charts

Is it time to detox those wardrobes?

Posted on by admin

Every so often, it’s worth opening those wardrobe doors and having a clear out!

This type of detox can be a time consuming task and one which usually fills people with dread! Make sure you give yourself enough time to do this!

Often clients ask if I can help them and of course I am more than happy to do so. In my experience, people find it easier if someone else helps as it can be quite an overwhelming task. Click here for more details.

If you’ve heard me at a talk or had a consultation with me then you may have heard me mention the 80/20 rule. This is that most women only wear 20% of the clothes in their wardrobe 80% of the time. Plus, I have found that there are many women who have more than one wardrobe full of clothes!!

The key thing here is about ensuring that what you have in your wardrobe is right for you. If you’ve got five identical items and nothing to wear them with, then they won’t get worn.

It’s the same with sale shopping. We all love a bargain! But it’s only ever a real bargain if you actually wear it!

If you have clothes languishing in the back of your wardrobe and *shock* still with labels on…then something has gone wrong!

Here’s some tips on detoxing those wardrobes:

  1. Is it in the right colour for you which compliments your features and characteristics such as your skin tone?
  2. Does it fit? And I mean properly!
  3. Is it in good condition? If a button has fallen off or the hem stitching has come undone, can it easily be repaired? If it can, make sure you do or you won’t wear it!
  4. How do you feel when you wear it? This is key as if you don’t feel good wearing something, you won’t even leave the house.
  5. Have you got at least three other items in your wardrobe that you can wear it with?

If the answer is no then I’m afraid it’s time to say good bye.

If you need some help, please get in touch with me and I come and help you to detox those wardrobes with pleasure!