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 haven't found the solution for freshen up apart from the usual air outside. I used to do that a lot when smoking wasn't banned in pubs and clubs and my leather/velvet jacket reeked of smoke.

I need to organise my jewellery next but I'm not sure how I want it I think I'll find something to go on the inside of my wardrobe door so I can easily see what I have.

I'm not sure if this is the right thread but I'd like to rediscover some of the forgotten art of looking after clothes. I'm always moaning about the quality of high street clothing but I reckon I'm partly to blame for being so careless. I disagree that it's all about money - my parents had far less disposable cash than me but they looked after their stuff better.

My dad, for example, used a trouser press and I wish I knew what had happened to it. Lord knows what he paid for it It - they're £150+ now in John Lewis - but it kept trousers pristine without ironing.

Or a poster on another thread recently reminded me about clothes brushes - not those poxy lint rollers that just smear the fluff around but a proper brush with bristles. We must have had 2 or 3 when I was a child - all gone.

And shoes - I was recently on the verge of getting rid of some but instead I've just collected some from the cobblers and polished them and I reckon they'll be good for at least another year or so.

I think those are really good points, @Floisme. Clothes were more expensive, people had fewer things and looked after them better. I look at photos of my parents and they look well groomed (I know that word has a different meaning now!). Very neat and well presented.

I would say my DH is very “old school “ about his clothes… the tailored items tend to come from Jermyn Street. We don’t have a trouser press but he has a pressing cloth for the iron, he polishes shoes, uses shoe trees and a shoe horn. (He gets his shoes re-soled when necessary) He has a clothes brush and always carries a clean handkerchief.

Definitely look after my clothes: I repair, brush and hang properly. With shoes I use a protector spray for leather or suede and I brush or clean them and store them in their boxes once aired out. I look after my shoes as I tend to buy expensive pairs and want them to last. Trainers are a bit different but I do look after them too

Can I join in? Does anyone have tips for looking after knitwear? Are those jumper shavers worth it or is it better to use a comb?

Regarding clothing airing, we have jumped on the latest bandwagon and have a clothing ladder rather than the chair of doom and it makes it easier to hang clothes to air.

Well a few jumpers are looking rather shabby, so thinning them a bit is probably worth it.

Also, the jumper de-bonkers also work on woollen coats. I had a lovely wool coat which I bought more than 20 years ago but was bobbly under the arms etc where it had been rubber. De bobbled and looks almost new again!

De-bobblers!! Not de-bonkers

I was thinking of buying an electric debobbler as the comb I have isn't very effective

We dh were given a trouser press as a wedding present , it was useful but not used enough to warrant the space it took up so we didn't replace it.

We have a brilliant cobbler locally who does a great job repairing shoes, he can dye leather, alter heel heights slightly and a dab hand at masking scuffs and scratches, definitely worth the money to extend the life of a decent pair of shoes.

After another poster mentioned The Laundress fabric fresh spray, I did a little googling and there are a few on the market, &OS have one and The Lab Co has a couple. I'm also now getting a sidebar ad for one too!

@ChiefInspectorParker that looks a great little gizmo but the price is £££ - not suitable for skin apparently!

@ChiefInspectorParker yes I sometimes use drawer liners or put in nice smelling soap I've been given. Also hang lavender sachets in the wardrobe; thinking about it, they all need replacing as can't really smell the fragrances any longer.

I read a “hack” that old razors were good for de-bobbling… I guess not quite so fierce on the wool. I took an overcoat to the dry cleaners and he de bobbled it for me as well as cleaning it… my god the difference was amazing. I thought it had reached the end but I’ll definitely be wearing it again. I’ll ask him next time I’m in what he uses.

I use Lavender EDC from L'Occitane to freshen up clothes. Especially on Cashmere as the Lavender repels moths. Plus I love the scent and it comes in a huge bottle. I also find electric debobblers invaluable. Far better than the little combs.
I am also trying to buy less clothes and buy better quality when I do.

Moving away from maintenance of clothes another thing that I have started to do but still forget is checking the fabric of clothing.

I have a few polyester some cheap some not blouses and they really aren't good for the environment going forward I want to buy more natural fibres plus they are making me so sweaty and hot. Only problem is I quite like the drape that polyester blouses have over stiffer fabrics like cotton.

Apart from just hunting around how can I find blouses that fit the bill?

Just fallen down a rabbit hole of looking for eco friendly clothes rather than going to sleep and I thought I'd share this as it's gorgeous no way would I buy it as it would stay white for a milli second on me!

Oh, I'd buy that for when I grow up 😍

I arrange my clothes in the wardrobe by colour, it is a life changer for creating stylish outfits and for finding hidden items

I’ve bought these hanging dividers for my wardrobe. They come with the stickers but I’m probably going to use my labeller and do my own. Yes I’m that lame.

I love clothes but does anyone else just feel like these problems arise because we just buy too bloody much? I am ruthless these days with new purchases and wear things until they have holes or look shabby and I still have too much.