By Sam & Jordi Woods
Time to tackle your wardrobe head–on as we teach you how to audit and detox your closet so that each season you have a wardrobe that:
- contains outfits, not just items
- is modern and fresh
- is organised and functional
It’s time to say goodbye to a full wardrobe with nothing to wear and hello to an organised space with plenty of options.
How to do a wardrobe audit
Auditing each season is essential if you want to have a wardrobe that is functional and serves you well. Detoxing is time consuming and tedious at times, but the results are well worth the effort. To get the most from this article, allocate at least half a day of uninterrupted time – more if your wardrobe is extensive – and wear something easy to slip on and off as you will need to try on multiple items throughout the audit.
Step1: Divide your clothes, shoes and accessories into these three key sections Summer (kaftans, shorts, sundresses), winter (woollens, coats) and transeasonal (lightweight knitwear, denim, mid–weight cottons, silk, polyester mixes).
Step2: Work with the existing season only If it is summer, work with your summer and transeasonal piles and pack winter items away out of sight.
Step3: Start with your clothes, then shoes, bags and accessories and assess every item Ask yourself the questions to the right and place all the items to which you answered “yes” in one pile and those that get a “no” in another. The items you are not sure about or can’t possibly part with get placed in the third pile.
Your third pile can either be packed away and reassessed next season or given to a good home. Either way, the third pile must be out of sight and out of mind, you can always revisit this pile half way through a season. Often what is in the no pile and the third pile is what makes our wardrobe look full but useless. The no pile must go!
Questions to ask of each item
- Do I love the colour and does the colour suit me?
- Do I love the fit, shape and style for me?
- Does it serve a purpose this season?
For example, is it a workable shape, length, colour, print or pattern for this season’s fashion or is it outdated?
If no to any of the above then in the no or third pile it goes! Be honest and ruthless! Don’t hoard items that will only be worn if you lose/or gain weight and fit into it one day.Remember you don’t have to toss your third pile but you must remove it from your functioning wardrobe.
TIP: Don’t be surprised if your “no” pile is huge and your “yes” pile is tiny! Clients are often amazed at just how much in their wardrobe is inappropriate. If this happens for you, take stock – did you ever wear those items? And if so, did you ever feel good in them?
My bet is the answer to both is no!
What to toss – what to keep
This next section we will outline how to decide if an item is worth keeping or if it needs to go!
Things to toss
- Ill–fitting garments.
- Worn or damaged items.
- Incorrect colours.
- Anything you haven’t worn in two years that doesn’t fit the “things to treasure” criteria.
- Items you wore when you were a different size.
Things to treasure
- Sentimental items (if they don’t make the audit above but you still want to keep them, pack them away and reassess next season).
- True vintage pieces – jewellery, hat, evening bag, scarf, gloves
- Items that will do the “fashion circuit” and be back in style within 10 years – lace, satin, silk, floral, animal print, stripe, spot, denim, linen, velvet or taffeta.
- Evening shoes and bags – these items often work back beautifully with new season after five wear and can give it an element of individuality.
- Any item that is timeless in its design – the LBD, leather handbag, court shoes, pearls, linked chain necklace,
- metallic clutch.
I (Sam) love this quote by William Morris and I believe it very much applies to our wardrobes too…
Happy wardrobe detoxing!
Sam & Jordi xx
Understanding styling and fashion is one thing. Having a super natural flair for making everyday people look incredible is another. Once you’ve met Sam & Jordi Woods, it’s hard not to catch their infectious passion for dressing to match your own lifestyle, personality and charisma. Through their consultancy ‘Vibrant Concepts’, Sam & Jordi have transformed the lives of thousands. Let Sam & Jordi show you how to look and feel fabulous every day at their Style Studio in Erina – learn the art of illusion dressing, colour matching, styling, translating fashion trends and savvy shopping with their unique VC Signature Styling Systems and services that are truly personal and really work! To contact Vibrant Concepts phone 0425 221 676