As leading stylists in Melbourne, we find a common dilemma for most women is carrying out a wardrobe makeover. Most people usually think that it is associated with high costs and a lot of time and labor. Furthermore with fashion constantly changing and causing items in your wardrobe to become old and outdated it is no wonder why this is considered a big problem by many people.
A wardrobe makeover need not be expensive, as a matter of fact, you can revamp your closet without even spending a cent. Being frugal after all when it comes to fashion will simply push you to play more with your existing wardrobe collection. This is a good thing as no purchases will be needed, hence no cash out, plus the whole exercise will liven up your closet and have a positive effect on you.
One of the most important parts when carrying out a fashion makeover on a budget is maximizing the use of your current items. You can do this by dividing your task into three steps, namely culling your existing clothes, dust collection and then making room for the things you want. All you need is a dose of enthusiasm and creativity to make this all come together, treat it like one of the many makeover games there are and you’ll have fun. Trust me, you will be seeing your closet in a different light after.
Step 1: Classification.
Trimming your wardrobe can be a big headache for a number of reason but pulling on those heart strings can be a major one, after all, your clothes were purchased with love right? To help you feel better about this have a box ready for all those special items that do not fit, are out of date or old and worn. If they have very special memories then put them in this box for you to store and access whenever you feel the need. Next, sort your existing wardrobe into dresses, blouses, skirts, shorts, jackets and outer wear. At this stage do not identify which ones are your working and casual pieces. You would be surprised how your casual items can be teamed with others to make it suitable for work.
Step 2: Culling your wardrobe.
After classifying your pieces, it is time to edit them. Identify which ones are keepers and which ones are not. This is best done by trying each item on to see if it flatters your body shape or not, make sure it balances your horizontal and vertical proportions. Remember that you want all your wardrobe working for you, if it does not fit or you do not feel comfortable in it or it is old, worn, out of date, then it is best that you put it in the pile that will be going to another home. If you are unsure if it looks great on you, you could ask a personal stylist, a friend and even your mother if such piece is worth keeping or retiring. However, a word of warning if you are going to ask a friend or relative, only do so if you know they have good style and fashion knowledge and that they will be totally honest with you.
Another approach in weeding your closet is to identify items in accordance to frequency of usage. This is particularly useful when going from season to season. You might want to sort in bags and in boxes. For instance, you can put your loved items that are in season and you use frequently in your wardrobe and off-season garments in a box or bag for storage leaving you with space a clearer picture with what you have to wear now. Once again, put the unflattering ones in a bag that will need to find another home. During a wardrobe makeover you must have the right attitude to toss pieces that are not working for you, if you are struggling with this try a glass of your favorite liquid, it can take the edge off some of the pain.
Before you send this pile to another home it is worth going through a second time with fresh eyes. If it does not fit look to see if it can be adjusted to make fit. Is it up to date? Do you think there is a chance of it making a fashion comeback? If you cannot answer yes to any of these questions then it stays in the pile to go to another home or you may consider selling or swapping it. Selling clothes is now made easier, thanks to the power of the Internet. If setting up a garage sale at home is not your forte, you can snap photos of your items and post them online. With many fashion savvy people looking for a bargain you could generate some handy cash to help fill the gaps in your own wardrobe. Swapping clothes can save you a lot of money too, searching out your fashionable friends and having a clothes swap party is becoming very popular.
Step 3: Replacing the gaps.
Now that you have cleared out the items that just were not working for you, the next part of your wardrobe makeover is to fill those gaps with items that will mix and match with what you already have. However, before you start filling up your wardrobe, take the time to go over the basic fashion guidelines which should take in account your personal style, body shape, age, lifestyle and colouring. Create a list that aligns with these guidelines in mind and put a large focus on the basics that will maximize your wardrobe through mix and matching. Once you have this foundation further purchases will be much simpler to blend in with your wardrobe.
There you have it, the three steps to a wardrobe makeover. If you feel you would like a professional to help support you through this process. Or you just wish to do this quickly and efficiently then give us a call and discuss our wardrobe makeover service.