The mysterious art of wardrobe management

[OublietteBravo]

Has anyone perfected the mysterious art of wardrobe management? Because I certainly haven’t, and I’m looking for tips.

Currently I swap from summer clothes to winter clothes around October, and then from winter clothes to summer clothes around April. I manage to motivate myself to iron about once every 18 months . I mostly ignore anything that needs to be dry cleaned as that’s just too much effort. Oh, and I’m really bad at getting rid of clothes and shoes. Even though I’m really good at buying new clothes and shoes.

I’d like to get more on top of my wardrobe. But how?

I have too many clothes but think the following is needed for a tighter wardrobe, I’m not saying it’s attainable or even much fun!

1. You need to stay the same size, otherwise half the things perpetually don’t fit
2. I’ve read plenty about getting rid of stuff, I think the criteria needs to be much stricter. A positive choice, not evaluating things. If you’re evaluating it already isn’t something you would obviously miss. Only keep items that you absolutely love, the things you always reach for. If you could only have five tops, say, which would make the cut? Make those the things you wear and wear and then you’ll need to keep them laundered
3. Do not be tempted by new things if you don’t need them, think of new clothes as potential future clothes in the charity pile (and the money and waste that represents). Realise that we can only normally wear one outfit a day maximum, that doesn’t need hundreds of garments. I’m hoping rental takes off as all this is very dull, people like new things and to keep up with fashion. Rental actually means you wouldn’t have to buy a safe black dress
4. Stick to a similar colour palette to increase versatility

I don’t swap around clothes each season, you should really be able to keep everything in a single wardrobe. Stylebook is good for showing you what you have, as pp said, and I also track what I wear each day, really good for showing the workhorses. Things I think I like don’t actually get worn.

Steamers are the best. A proper one like they use in shops, not a hand held.

And don't ever steam anything you are wearing!!!

Ooooh - I’ve never even considered a steamer. Maybe that’s what I need. Is it less hassle than ironing?

I can’t work out whether I think renting is the way to go or not. Possibly because I do sometimes use a seamstress to do alterations (my rib cage and shoulders are big for my build, which makes dresses tricky), and I’d be stuck with the standard fit if I were to rent.

I hang stuff up and hand steam it. Way easier than ironing, which I hate and don’t do. Will check the brand of mine but it probably came from somewhere like Lakeland.

@OublietteBravo I've just bought amazon.co.uk/Tefal-DT3030-Garment-Handheld-milliliters/dp/B08BJSGVKN/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=Tefal+DT3030G0+Access+Steam+Pocket+Garment+Steamer+1300W+0.12L+White+%26+Rose+Gold&qid=1624996382&sr=8-1 this one]]! Refurbished so cheaper. I haven't actually used it yet as I've had it only since the weekend. I needed something light I can lift ( I can't lift the ironing board at the moment due to shoulder pain) and it seemed okay. If I worked still I might just use an ironing lady which I loved when I did!

Why didn't that work?
amazon.co.uk/Tefal-DT3030-Garment-Handheld-milliliters/dp/B08BJSGVKN/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=Tefal+DT3030G0+Access+Steam+Pocket+Garment+Steamer+1300W+0.12L+White+%26+Rose+Gold&qid=1624996382&sr=8-1 here]]

I give up

Was it this one @Sooverthemill?

On dry cleaning, I stopped taking my clothes to the dry cleaners when they ruined a coat, and I had just had enough.

I have realised that almost anything can be washed on the gentle cold cycle of the washing machine. I’ve not had any shrinkages or damage. The only thing I don’t wash is coats and jackets with a lining, I just sponge clean or steam those.

I've never understood why S&B is so anti ironing. I'd rather spend the time ironing my outfit than putting on make up.

@KirstenBlest

Was it this one *@Sooverthemill*?

Yes well done you! I'm usually good at links but my iPad hates me

@Floisme yes it's weird. I used to like ironing and literally ironed everything including bedding ( Egyptian cotton always) and tea towels. Not underwear! But when I worked FT I sent it out and then when I was ill with cancer I couldn't manage it and couldn't justify a service so I only ironed essential stuff ( don't get me started on whether DH should have done it, he would just take stuff out if the laundry basket). Now I do t wear much that needs ironing but I do miss wrinkle free t shirts! Hence the steamer which I will feed back on when I've used it

I would catch up with tv or a radio play

I don’t wear un-ironed clothes and I would certainly not send my kid to school in anything un-ironed. ( unless we were ill) I don’t wear tons of clothes at the moment that need too much though. I certainly wouldn’t trade my iron for a steamer… they can be useful but I’ve never seen a finish on a cotton shirt as good as an iron.

Re the capsule wardrobe discussion, I don't feel like this is what I want either. I also feel that a lot of the oft-quoted staple pieces don't necessarily suit me/my lifestyle. Partly because I love colour, so buying a lot of basics in neutrals/darks isn't really me. Also I love coats. I own more coats than trousers/skirts. I feel like this is a confessional!

I’m definitely interested in hand steamer recommendations as I am quite anti-ironing.

My wardrobe is too full and I don’t believe that a capsule wardrobe is right for everyone - I just don’t believe in the concept I guess.

My one tip is using those dividers they use in shops to separate sizes, in your wardrobe. I have some from Amazon which I have used to divide it into sections. You can write on the plastic dividers. My sections are:

Work clothes
Casual (stuff I wouldn’t wear to work)
Evening (going out clothes)
Formal (weddings or posh things)
Summer (mix of work dresses and casual)

I find this really helpful when searching for something to wear.

I wouldn’t be getting rid of much at the moment because of course for the last 18 months I have not worn any work, going out or formal clothes. So I’ll get rid of stuff that doesn’t fit or just don’t like any more but not just cos I haven’t worn it in a while.

At the moment my summer section has got out of hand so I have taken it all out and hung it on a free standing hanging rail, going to see what I wear over the next few months then get rid.

I also put away wintry clothes, jumpers, boots etc for the summer and put away sandals etc for winter.
I have a bag of clothes I only wear on holiday - swimwear, tiny little shorts, beach cover ups etc. That lives in the spare room.

@Snoopsnoggysnog as I'm Definitely not a capsule wardrobe person I would have three sections! I dont work and I don't go out really. I have one funeral dress ( I used to use a work suit but no longer have work suits) and 2 'going out' shirts. Then I have a gazillion summer dresses and everything else is jeans, T-shirt's/ shirts and jumpers. I have far too many of everything though. Stylebook tells me I have 41 jumpers.
I put stuff away for the opposite season because otherwise I couldn't see what I have, I am in awe of people who have 3 pairs of jeans for example

I am very impressed with everyone who has managed to obtain super organised wardrobe status, whilst everything is hung up on decent hangers, there is absolutely no order to anything - need to get a handle on this.

I have however taken Marie Kondo’s tips on folding garments and this works really well and there is more organisation here and very easy to keep organised.

Definitely can’t do capsule although have a lot less clothes nowadays and definitely do iron where items need it. I also have a steamer this one which can recommend.

I've decided to work around a few 'key' pieces (granted those key pieces are bags and boots!) and work out what works with them, what I love wearing and get rid of anything that I don't love, don't wear or don't go with what I'm keeping. I think I'm going to have to be ruthless (no good at that) and I dread to think how long it'll take me to work my way through it all, but I'm hoping by the time school breaks up for summer it'll be done!

I'm late to @OublietteBravo party story of my life

I'm definitely not a capsule wardrobe person and actually think I need more I don't but I like variety

I used to iron everything then I had knee problems and was already spending long hours on my feet as a nurse eventually had knee surgery and I just couldn't spend much time on my feet for a while so stopped ironing some things. And now practically nothing gets ironed in my house unless it is visibly creased.

My children even go to school with unironed clothes 😱 you couldn't tell any difference as most stuff is very anti crease anyway. Well maybe with the eldest but only because she doesn't hang anything up for days and organises on the floor!

I colour code my wardrobe and have a casual section and a work section. I've tried the outfit thing before but found it annoying as some tips/bottoms go with loads.

I am being ruthless and anything I don't like is going I "inherit" a lot of clothes from a family member and sometimes I actually wouldn't buy the item but it's free. I also used to always buy in the sales which is fine if you actually wanted it but half the time it was oh that's cheap and kind of okay.

Know what you mean @Justonedayatatime11 about wanting to get rid of everything more because a lot of what I used to buy was actually because that was what I could afford at the time and really I wanted something else.

& I do know what punctuation is just obviously not today!