How I created a capsule wardrobeFor years and years, my wardrobe was bulging. It seemed that for every occasion I was invited to, I didn't seem to have quite the right outfit, which prompted a shopping spree for a whole new outfit. However once purchased the items I'd chosen then never seemed to quite go with anything else I owned. So if one item from that new outfit was in the wash, or damaged or borrowed by a friend, I couldn't in fact wear any of it. The result was that my wardrobe was bulging and my wallet was shrinking. Throw in having a baby and giving up having a 'proper' job, and the result was that my wardrobe just wasn't working for me. I was feeling overwhelmed, I was facing too many decisions about what to wear and feeling stressed that I couldn't pull together an outfit despite having so many items. It was time to call in the professionals.... I'd recently attended a style evening at a local village hall, the evening consisted of styling various women of all ages, shapes and sizes, giving hair and make up tips and then transforming these ladies images in an instant. They all looked amazing and effortlessly pulled together for each of the occasions they represented. Their looks we're dressed up and dressed down, keeping the basic clothes as a foundation and I was hooked. From that evening I took away 5 important yet very simple rules for how to create my own capsule wardrobe at home. Here they are. 1. Limit your colours This may seem counter intuitive, but actually the less colours you have competing in the wardrobe the more compatible your clothes become. More of this in rule 2. First chose two colours you love to wear or that look fabulous on you. For example mine are blue and pink. Now strictly speaking I don't just stick to one type of blue, I have also included a bluey tourquise, and my pink also includes some shades of red, orange and coral. The main point being that I don't have any yellows, greens or purples. And I'm very very strict about this. Next choose your neutrals. You can have three of these. Mine are beige, grey and white. Then chose between black and navy. I have chose navy rather than black as this is more flattering for my particular skin tone. I have one exception which is a little black dress and pair of black heels for those times when only a LBD will do. 2. Everything has to have a friend By this I mean that you need to try and match up some colours. So for example, if you are wearing a pair of blue jeans, try to incorporate some blue in your outfit elsewhere, this could be in a pair of earrings, a scarf or a bag. Even a pair of blue eyes will work. The blues don't necessarily need to be the same shade, just be able to work together. The point is that even the smallest amount of extra blue added will make sense of the blue jeans. So for every colour or neutral that you wear, give it a friend, bring in the colour somewhere else. This will help you feel and look pulled together. 3. Can you build at lest three outfits from it? When shopping for clothes or decluttering your wardrobe, make sure you ask yourself if the item in question can help you build at least three different outfits from the pieces in your existing wardrobe. If the answer is no, then the item isn't going to help you create the capsule wardrobe you so desire. Of course if you are starting out from scratch then you may need to invest in a few new pieces but keep this rule in mind when doing so. No single one item should be reliant on only one other item for its use as this reduces its flexibility and usefulness when that one item is in the wash! For example a plain navy blue top could be paired with a pair of blue jeans and pumps for the school run, a cream coloured skirt and heels for work and a pair of smart trousers and jewellery for an evening out. 4. The 80/20 rule 80% of your wardrobe should be made up of classic investment pieces and 20% made up of frivolous fun or high fashion pieces. If you are a keen follower of fashion, the challenge you face is keeping up with it and the continual turn over of trends means countless hours shopping and planning your outfit. Or maybe the thought of following fashion strikes you with fear and you struggle to find a style that you like in the shops. The answer here is the 80/20 rule. If you spend 80% of your budget or allow 80% of your wardrobe to focus on classic investment pieces (such as smart trousers, blazers, quality neutral shade heels) then you'll have a brilliant foundation. You can then dress up these classics with the remaining 20% and you can go as wild with these as you feel comfortable.The result is that you'll only need to choose a couple of new pieces each year to keep up with the trend. Meanwhile if you've chosen your classic investment pieces well, they could last you years before they get worn out or go out of date. This mean more versatility, less spending and less waste. 5. Invest in accessories In some respects the clothes that we wear can be seen as a foundation, you don't always really notice them but they do provide a very important backdrop for what you choose to wear on top. And we call these accessories. Now don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to encourage you to go out and buy more, I am a declutterer and minimalist after all, but I do believe that a few well chosen accessories will give your wardrobe a huge lift as they can completely change your look. The results Shopping is easier as I'm only looking for certain colours and styles that fit my lifestyle Dressing is easier as I have less decisions to make in the mornings Looking good is easier as everything goes together I feel better about how I look I'm saving money and feel the need to go shopping My clothes last longer I can still take part in fashion but on my own terms So give it a go and let me know how you get on
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How to declutter and organise your wardrobe
With the cool autumn air firmly here and the crisp white mornings showing their faces, it is certainly time to dig out those winter coats and hats from storage and pull together a winter wardrobe. But if your wardrobe is already full to bursting, how can you make room for those bulky coats, jumpers and thermals in your wardrobe? What's more it would be nice to be able to see everything clearly and not cause a clothing avalanche every time you try to take an item out to wear? Here is my step by step guide for sorting out your wardrobe this autumn. Get everything out on your bed! And I mean everything, you'll need a blank canvas to work with here, so remove all items; clothes, shoes, scarves, hats, swimming goggles, old Christmas cards, that picture that you're waiting to hang up etc etc... and then give the wardrobe a clean. Wipe away any marks, flick a duster round and get the hoover out. You want the wardrobe to look like an inviting space to store your clothes so don't skip this step. If you cover your bed with clothes you'll have an incentive to finish by bedtime. It goes with out saying you are going to need a put aside some time for this. Does it deserve your space? Next you need to look at each item individually, pick it up and see how the item makes you feel. Clothes and accessories can make you feel great or can prompt less positive feelings. If an item makes you smile because it looks fabulous on you, you love the colour/style or has happy memories then it has earnt its right to live in your wardrobe. However if an item makes you feel sad, guilty, too fat, too thin, too something else, doesn't look right on you, has seen better days, or hasn't been worn in ages then it is time to say goodbye. You don't need to open up your wardrobe every morning and been confronted with those sort of negative feelings before you've even started the day. This stage can be quite tiring and even emotional so don't be surprised if you find it a bit overwhelming and time consuming. This is often the hardest bit for many people but also the most rewarding. Sort your items into piles as you work. Those items to keep can be stored away at the end of the sorting season, but you may also need piles for things that need to be repaired, dry cleaned or washed. Decided if the discarded items are good enough to donate to charity, sell on eBay, recycle or throw away. You may want to donate some items to friends, but just be awear that others might not be so supportive of your decluttering efforts and could question your decisions. So you will need to stand firm if you plan to pass onto friends or family. Well done the hard work is now over. The next phase is to place all your items back into the wardrobe and it's going to look amazing if its just holding your favourite pieces. Let's start with the seasonal clothes that you are going to need easy access to this season. That way if not everything fits you can pack away non seasonal items. Personally, I like to keep everything out (except strictly holiday clothes) as I tend to just layer up in the winter. Store like with like. For example, hang all jumpers together, all blouses/shirts all together, all trousers/skirts together. And if you really want to go for it, by colour. During this phase you should aim for no more than 80% capacity. That way you can easily see and access everything (with out that clothing avalanche) it looks nicer, your clothes will have room to breath and are less likely to get creased. Hanging verses Folding? It is worth investing in good quality hangers, you clothes will last longer and it gives a luxurious feel to your wardrobe. These can be easily obtained from Ikea and other outlets at an affordable price. When it comes to folding I am a big fan of the Marie Kondo method of vertical storage, your clothes can all be seen at the same time, you don't need to dislodge items to pull out something from underneath and they remain cease free. When it comes to deciding what to hang and what to fold, I think this depends on how much hanging and drawer space you have, but for what it's worth, here's what I do. Hanging - Dresses, coats, jackets, blazers, blouses, jumpers, smart tshirts, trousers, skirts. Folded - Vertical folded tshirts, long sleeved tops, vest tops, tights, leggings, sports wear,night wear Good luck and do let me know how you get on. For further ideas and inspiration check out Courtney Carver's "Project 333" on Capsule wardrobe Marie Kondo's book "The Life Changing Magic of Tidying" Autumn - Four things to declutter this season
I love it when the seasons start to change and I think it provides a natural time for us to change with it. As the long warm summer days give way to crisp autumn mornings, we inevitably start to spend more time indoors and notice those things that may have been neglected over the last couple of months. It's also the time of the autumn equinox, when the length of day time is equal to the length of night time, natures way of bringing equilibrium and balance back into our lives. Autumn is also a time for new beginnings. New school years, new routines, new foods, warm clothes and of course we start to put renewed energy into our endeavours. So, as we draw into our homes and thoughts turn towards the next seasons activities, we notice our domestic surroundings again and often feel the need to start getting organised again. So with that in mind, here are my suggestions of where to focus your decluttering energy at this time of year: Paperwork Paperwork and post inevitably build up over the summer. Bank statements remain unopened, magazines lie about not read and bills not filed away are the main culprits here. But it's easy to get on top of these quickly and reclaim your work surfaces and coffee table again. Put aside 30 mins to tackle this and you'll be surprised how much you'll get done. First open everything and sort into piles for filing, action and scrap (or shred). Then file, scrap and shred straight away. Next action as much as you can in the remaining 30 minutes. After that add any remaining actions to your to do list and schedule a time to get them done. When it comes to magazines, ask yourself if you really need to read them. If you haven't read them by now, chances are you probably won't. So either put them straight into the recycling bin, pass onto a friend (after checking they definitely want them) or donate. A local children's nursery or play group is a great place to donate to as colourful magazines make great material for cutting up for all sorts of artwork. Wardrobes. If your wardrobe space is too small to comfortably accommodate all your clothes, shoes and accessories then it's time to start thinking about packing away warm weather items. Shorts, holiday clothes and summer dresses can all be packed away. Aim for no more than 80% capacity in in your wardrobe and cupboards. This ensures enough space for all you your winter items to breath, not get creased and more importantly be seen by you. Start by removing all of your summer items and sort into piles for donation, rubbish, wash/mend and keep. Donate anything that you no longer wear which is in reasonable condition to a local charity shop. Put aside some time to make any repairs to the items you wish to keep. Check everything is clean and dry and then pack away your summer clothes and shoes in storage boxes or vacuum bags. You should aim to keep everything flat, crease and dust free and ideally sealed, in order to protect from the dreaded moth. That way it's all bound to be in great condition when you excitedly unpack it again next spring. The Fridge As we change seasons from summer to autumn we also change the type of foods we regularly eat. Farewell salads, hello root vegetables and hearty stews. So why not start to use up all those items floating around in the fridge or cupboard that are likely to go out of date before next summer such as salad dressing and condiments. Not only will your fridge feel decluttered, you'll have avoided waste and saved money. You could also do an audit of the freezer and use up any odds and ends. And if you're feeling really motivated, go for a defrost and clean out when stocks are low, it will be easier to use the freezer and it will work more efficiently. The car If you've had a busy summer of fun, then chances are that your car is still showing signs of those fun days out and is looking rather cluttered and a bit shabby. Tidying up the car is a really quick job and it always amazes me how much better it feels when you next come to drive it. Start by having a good tidy up, remove anything that doesn't belong in the car and put it back in its proper home, remember the car is not a storage item. So those beach toys, crisp packets, sports equipment, water bottles and any other debris floating around has to go. I once found an MOT certificate floating about in a client's car! Next hoover up the sand, compost, grass and dirt. Flick the duster around and wipe down the insides of the windscreens. Chances are, now that autumn is coming you'll be spending more time in the car so give it a spruce up and it will be a joy to drive. What will you be decluttering this Autumn?
Choose your vision Quite simply, how would you like your space to feel? What would you like to achieve? How do you imagine living and what would that look or feel like? Forget interior design for now, we are talking about how you are going to live and function in the space and how that is going to improve your life. You might choose a picture from a magazine or Pintrest, but I prefer my clients to put it down in writing. This really focuses the mind on the outcome and when the decluttering gets tough, the vision brings us back to our overall objective and keeps us motivated to continue. Choose bulky When deciding where to begin, chose an area in your home where you will be able to make a reasonably big impact. Basically we are thinking bulky items here. Getting rid of larger items first such as clothing or old electrical goods creates extra space quickly and when you start to see immediate results you will gain motivation to keep going and maybe even feel a spark of excitement. Don't start with a filing cabinet of old paperwork, you're likely to get fed up with it before you've made any visible progress and it could put yourself off the whole thing. Choose easy Decluttering can be really tiring. As you are faced with decision after decision over every single item you own, decision fatigue can quickly set in. I recommend starting with items that are really easy to make decisions over. Avoid personal and sentimental items such as photographs, letters, diaries, cards and school reports as you'll have a tendency to spend your decluttering time reminiscing rather than letting go. Just as with any new habit or exercise routine, you need to warm up first, so think about tackling your wardrobe or old magazines or out of date food in the pantry first. Choose grouping When working with a client, one of the things we find most useful is to group similar items together first. By gathering together types of items you can see just how many Stanley knives, spatulas, biros or post it notes you actually own. Sometimes seeing the shear quantity of unnecessary items is enough to encourage you to pare them down. Secondly once items have been grouped they are then far more easy to store. Everything has a natural place within the home and once sorted it become a joy to decide on these natural places. Choose help If your are feeling totally overwhelmed then by all means get some help in. A trusted friend can often help us to see our clutter in another light and encourage us to let go. Not to mention another pair of hands is going to come in very useful when all that stuff has got to be moved and shifted. If you're not keen to get a friend involved but really do need some help then a Professional Declutterer may be what you need. Professional Declutterers cover a whole range of services from streamlining technology, helping you move house, decluttering wardrobes, organising paperwork and even working with hoarders. They operate discretely and without judgement. Check out the Association of Professional Declutterers and Organisers to find one near you. Choose small Setting yourself one small objective at a time is the way forward here. Don't start by thinking you're going to clear the whole house, the whole attic or even a whole room in one day. Firstly you'll really have to go some to achieve such a big objective and the danger is that you could lose motivation and wear yourself out. Instead, choose a small area such as a kitchen cupboard or underwear drawer or your shoes. Set aside some time and go for it. The psychology of achieving something small will motivate you to continue far more then if you'd tackled twice as much but not finished. Choose patience Rome wasn't built in a day and you didn't accumulate a life times worth of clutter overnight. If it has taken years to accumulate, it is going to take a while to let it go. So be patient with yourself and the process, work steadily at a pace you can maintain. Rather like going on a diet or training to run a marathon, don't expect to lose all the weight straight away or be able to run 26 miles after one weeks training. This will be rewarding but you'll need patience and persistence. Choose action And by this I mean as soon as you have finished decluttering a particular area, take action straight away to get it out of the house. You might be tired after making all those decisions and shifting stuff around, but honestly making one final push to physically remove the items from your home will be worth the effort. So put it in the car straight away and take to your local charity shop or recycling centre without delay. Rather than procrastinate and think you can drop it all off next time you are in town, make time to do it right at the end of the decluttering session. For a start, you will be able to see the impact you've made as soon as you walk back into the house, you won't be tempted to change your mind and sneak things back into the home and the house won't be cluttered up with your discarded items, ironically causing you more clutter! So, what are you waiting for? Good luck Got your own decluttering tips? Then please share them here. |
AuthorHelen Cousins Archives
November 2017
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