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?

The key to effortless wardrobe management and looking good is money. Sadly.
Not all wealthy women dress in finery but many can simply afford to buy well. A high fashion item, animal print synthetic, anything marketed at much younger age group is not likely to get you ‘well dressed’ comments. Neither is the cruise ship look.

Simplicity and suitable for the activities is the overriding theme. People stumbling around the countryside in a pair of replica Laboutins and a sequinned crop top are never going attraction positive comments. People might admire your muckboots though.

I don't have capsule and I tried to MK but I have a swathe of wfh/rennovating/gardening clothes that I've kept. I have a list of everything I have in wardrobe and I tick off as I wear them. I often realise there are things I'm not going to wear and I will then get rid unless they spark joy. I still have more to get rid of but this is a manageable way for me.

I found that my mistakes were things bought because they were cheap (charity shop/ebay/sales/outlet park) or things bought when I went shopping with someone else, or they were duplicates.

I admit to having bought a replacement dress off ebay because I couldn't find the one I have.

IME some women tend to say something looks amazing when it doesn't because they think I like it.

@KirstenBlest

I found that my mistakes were things bought because they were cheap (charity shop/ebay/sales/outlet park) or things bought when I went shopping with someone else, or they were duplicates.

I admit to having bought a replacement dress off ebay because I couldn't find the one I have.

IME some women tend to say something looks amazing when it doesn't because they think I like it.

Same here. I struggle to resist a bargain but lockdown has helped and I did a lent clothes detox. I also joined the board here about buying no new clothes in 2021. I've failed and bought a handful of items but they've been much more considered than my usual approach. (Considered by thought process not price!)

I've sold tons of stuff on eBay recently. It's very cathartic! What I do now is pull something out, put it on and if it's not 100% right then it goes in the eBay pile. I'm trying not to replace stuff

I think it's good advice from pp to be more considered. There are so many clothes now, and so much choice, sometimes it's difficult to navigate with different demands on our lives. I used to buy things if they were on sale, because I love a bargain! I'm much more selective now.

I was the same with sale stuff.

I might have to try eBay again I stopped using it to sell a d moved to Facebook but not having much success.

How good are the hand steamers do they work on shirts or better for getting the creases to drop out of dresses and skirts?

I often feel like I'm lacking in either things to pull everything together or basics but I'm not sure what I'm missing if that makes sense! I could do with working out what I'm missing and actually need.

On a day to day basis, what would improve your outfits? Basics, like white top, blue trousers, grey jacket? If you think of what would maximise wear of what you have in your existing wardrobe. I bought an ecru jacket recently and found it pulls together lots of different outfits, so you get more wear, iyswim.

I'm swapping my wardrobe around at the moment. Bit late in early July! Usually when I do this, I try to think about what's been worn or not and put the things that haven't been worn in the bag to go to the charity shop. However, as I've been stuck inside most of this winter, there's no point doing it this year.

@Sooverthemill

The thing about keeping clothes you like but don't wear is that they never actually look right 10 years later because your 'eye' changes unless they are stuff like vintage Chanel etc but my work trousers from 10 years ago despite being good brands ( lk bennett, reiss) just aren't right any more so off they go

My old work trousers don't look right either, but I still wear summer dresses from 20 years ago. I only wear them on hot days so they're not really 20 years old in terms of how many times they've been worn.

I have a Summer and Winter wardrobe now dd has moved out.

I did seem to buy a lot recently and I'm not good at getting rid of stuff. I tend to buy loads of tops but not many bottoms

The weather hasn't been great either so couldn't wear some of the stuff I took away

I have got rid of some stuff though and have other stuff to ebay

I lived out of one suitcase for about a month, which I presume is similar to having a capsule wardrobe in the sense that you only wear a limited number of things. My friends were getting bored of seeing me in the same things.
I now use a laundrette and go as seldom as I can to do two loads at a time so there's no way I could cope with a small amount of clothes that need to be washed often.

How do people keep their clothes smelling fresh?

I know the obvious answer is to wash them but I'm loathe to wash clothes after they've only been worn for a few hours and not dirty/smelly; currently I hang them up to air and give a quick steam. I'm not keen on fabreze so don't want to use that. Any other ideas?

Don't they stay fresh with that, @DustySpringboard? I wonder why they don't smell fresh after a few hours wear? I know what you mean about frequent washing, and I'd certainly avoid febreze. Could you hang them up outside? I usually hang jumpers up outside just to give them a bit of an air.

@Maireas yes they do smell and look ok after doing that but was wondering what others did. I guess I'm looking for the holy grail solution!

Hanging up your clothes and spraying them with neat vodka is often recommended for freshening up clothes - I admit, I haven’t tried it myself!

Ah, maybe no Holy Grail! I'm sure they smell fresh, although I'm conscious of that with clothes as well.

Question for regular EBay sellers :
If you are selling coats / bulky jackets etc. How do you / what do you use to send them off in ?

@Serenster

Hanging up your clothes and spraying them with neat vodka is often recommended for freshening up clothes - I admit, I haven’t tried it myself!

Or maybe drink the vodka and you won't notice the problem 😉 !

@Sunnyday321 I would probably use a black bin bag! But packaged as nicely as possible. I reuse all the packaging that comes into the house but usually wrap the item in tissue ( reused) or place in a plastic bag that clothes come in eg Boden .

Regarding freshening up clothes: I wash undies daily obviously but bras every few wears and T-shirt's after 2 wears unless I've cooked a curry in them or something. Jeans and jumpers rarely get washed. All my clothes that don't go in laundry basket get hung on outside of wardrobe for a night and a day then get put away. If stuff gets dirty then I wash it so jeans sometimes get washed more often in wet weather as I have two dogs who like to rub their wet heads on my thighs to dry themselves! I wash everything before storing it so summer dresses get washed then put away in the autumn for example.

Hmm that sounds like a better idea @Maireas

Re posting items sold on eBay, I reuse all the packing I've received. I take off/rub out personal details and turn the bag inside out. I'm using a John Lewis bag today to post. Sometimes I wrap in tissue paper especially if it's a higher priced item.

I find hanging an outfit in the bathroom while I have a bath / shower can freshen it up quite effectively and also get rid of the worst of the creasing (although not as well as ironing )

@DustySpringboard

Hmm that sounds like a better idea *@Maireas*

Re posting items sold on eBay, I reuse all the packing I've received. I take off/rub out personal details and turn the bag inside out. I'm using a John Lewis bag today to post. Sometimes I wrap in tissue paper especially if it's a higher priced item.

Yes or stick a label over it.

You can make a DIY solution for freshening clothes if you search Pinterest. Some recipes have ingredients like vodka and essential oils and others have witch hazel & baking soda. I haven’t made any yet although I have bought some of the component parts to try. Other than that The Laundress has sprays that you can use on cashmere or silk etc to freshen them up…. Not cheap by any means but a nicer fragrance than Frebreeze.

@LemonRoses

The key to effortless wardrobe management and looking good is money. Sadly. Not all wealthy women dress in finery but many can simply afford to buy well. A high fashion item, animal print synthetic, anything marketed at much younger age group is not likely to get you ‘well dressed’ comments. Neither is the cruise ship look.

Simplicity and suitable for the activities is the overriding theme. People stumbling around the countryside in a pair of replica Laboutins and a sequinned crop top are never going attraction positive comments. People might admire your muckboots though.

I actually beg to differ. When I think back to having dressed myself for 56 years I always think I looked better in my 20’s - less disposable income meant I was a more creative dresser - wearing more unexpected combinations and looked more interesting (of course I was 10 plus kilos lighter at that stage 😂😂) Now in my 50’s I reminiscing about that time and trying to do same thing. Women with lots more money than I will ever have often look boarding - clothes are beautiful but a whole lot beautiful clothes together hides the women wearing them.