The ever-stylish Nikki at Styling You did a great vlog on Friday where she mentioned ‘shopping your wardrobe’. As a person who rotates the same six garments at the front of a seemingly packed full wardrobe, heading into my own stash before I hit the shops seems like a great concept. I think it could definitely work at my place except…
My wardrobe looks like a shop at ‘sales time’. You know, when the shop has ‘Everything Reduced By 50% BUY NOW NOW NOW’ signs on the window and inside everything is strewn everywhere and all the colours are clashing like a giant exploding firecracker and you think ‘there is absolutely nothing I like in this store’ (although, hell, at 50% off you darn well find something, right?)
It got me thinking that if I did a big wardrobe clear out and then hung and folded everything all colour-co-ordinated by outfit like they do in the stores when it’s not sales time, I might actually want to shop my wardrobe. I could even have items stacked the way they should be stacked in the shops – with the big sizes at the front, decreasing down to the smaller sizes. Because, yes, I have all those sizes – my weight is too unstable to risk not having ‘back ups’!
So, I could do all that and no doubt find loads of really lovely outfits to wear in my Wardrobe Shop that cost me absolutely nothing…
Or do they?
Just thinking about this a bit more. What would be the cost to my sanity having to maintain my Wardrobe Shop? I worked Saturday mornings at Rockmans circa 1989, I know how much folding and hanging and refolding and rehanging and folding is involved in clothes-shop keeping. Even the memory of my time at Rockmans is crushing me with boredom. And that’s not even including the washing and ironing of said clothes. As a naturally messy person, the amount of work and stress involved would be phenomenal. I would have to give up my day job so I could work in my Wardrobe Shop full time. Eek.
It’s true, I lust after many a thing for my home. But a walk-in wardrobe with all those open shelves is absolutely not one of them. And while I can certainly take Nikki’s excellent advice about auditing the piles I have, I think I’ll stick with the sales.
And speaking of wardrobes… have you entered my giveaway yet?
Karen Wilson says
I have a wardrobe full of clothes, plus two suitcase of “small” clothes and a stack of “big” clothes (including maternity wear) and I STILL live off the same half dozen items which never make it into the wardrobe because it’s more of a wear-wash-dry-wear cycle (with no folding in between).
I tend to arrange my wardrobe into tops, pants, skirts and dresses, then I know which direction to head in depending on what I feel like wearing.
But don’t take advice from me, my wardrobe needs an overhaul. I was making a new skirt for clubbing the other day and had tried it on. I then took it off and put on the clothes I’d be wearing and my mother commented “back to normal”. My current wardrobe feels the most un-normal it has all my life so I hate to think what image I am projecting about myself.
Cate says
Ahh, see this is one of the big bonuses about being a pe teacher! Will I wear the black cargo pants or the black tracky pants? Decisions, decisions!!
Eeek, but it’s holidays now! What to wear?? Better win me a reeeeeally good competition! (*hint*)
xxxCate
Amy xxoo says
My wardrobe sounds a little like yours – kind of all over the place. But hey – that works for me! However, there are things that i wore pre-baby that i think i may now fit back into ( 18 months later ) so maybe i could shop my wardrobe….?!
Cathy says
“a person who rotates the same six garments at the front of a seemingly packed full wardrobe”… yep, that’s me too! I did a big clean out of my wardrobe not so long ago and ended up with hardly anything in the wardrobe…I let go of some favourite pieces when reality hit and I realised I would never be that size again lol. I think a wardrobe overhaul would be so much easier if I had the body overhaul to go with it…but it’s winter and I’m not giving up yummy food…so back to square one *sigh*
Laura says
I would love a walk in cupboard. I dont have the clothes to full it but I still want one.
Currently I am the “too fat for normal clothes but too thin for maternity clothes” stage. So I currently have nothing to wear apart from some tired looking track pants
I am hoping to loose a little more by the time summer comes otherwise I will have to go shopping :-/
Miss Pink says
My wardrobe is awful. I need a stylist to style me and teach me how to shop, because I just cannot get my shit together.
Sarah says
Mine? Complete disaster. I live in a few trusty pieces. I’ve stopped buying clothes because I just don’t seem to be able to do it right and I had to stop spending money on stuff I never wore.
I am thrilled that you are naturally messy. Me too, I lurve tidy, but I can’t maintain it for long. I must say, your house does not have the look of a naturally messy woman at the helm.
Diminishing Lucy says
My good friend Saloni is a style consultant. She is a bloody godsend.
I now have clothes that fit and that suit me that I like. For the first time in my life. And only half of it is black.
Becasue I know (now) exactly what suits and flatters me, I shop for clothes quickly and cheaply…
I ♥ my wardrobe. It’s safe and nice and not scary. But I still love bags and shoes best…
Naturally Carol says
I probably wear half of what I own on a regular basis..that’s ‘cos if I find I’m wearing a basic kind of look I like I just buy more of the same in a variety of colours that go together..cheating, I know. It saves a lot of angst though but can be a bit boring I will admit. That’s me though..safe and maybe a bit boring!
Mum on the Run says
My ‘sale time’ wardrobe is my guilty secret. When the doorbell rings, I check that my wardrobe door is closed en route to the door!
I regularly do the unpack, ditch the odd really shabby item and repack in a much neater state – but within a few days it’s back to chaos.
I have ooodles of clothes – but nothing appropriate to wear anywhere apparently!!
🙂
Salamander says
Did you sneak into my house and have a gander at my wardrobe?? Seriously woman. I wear the same five tops on a rotating basis, with three pairs of jeans. If I need to go out (like last Friday night) I look in the ironing basket, look in the wardrobe, look back in the ironing basket, shreik, wring my hands…and then put on something that makes me look pregnant. Probably because it’s an old maternity top. I think I have a problem, yes?
wendy hill says
I have no idea what I think of my wardrobe at this point in time…hmmm food for thought, x
Ms Styling You says
You make me want to jump on a plane and surprise you! So, here’s the thing: having less in your wardrobe really is more. Those fallback sizes? Keep them if you must but store them away from sight. When you open your wardrobe you should only see things that make you look fabulous when you wear them. Having it organized does help but giving valuable wardrobe real estate only to clothes that give you a lift is the most important factor. X
Jana Miller says
I’m doing the 30 item challenge where you pull 30 items and only wear those items during the month…it’s fun to feel like I’m on a trip and planning out how to wear it all.
xo Jana
Wanderlust says
I have my clothes hung up by color (I do have the luxury of a walk-in closet, at least for now), and my t-shirts folded by plain and design. Separate baskets for socks, undies, bras, etc. My closet is probably the only organized part of my life. Makes it easy to get dressed in the morning.
In the last year or two I’ve gotten rid of things that didn’t suit me and bought items that I really liked, so for the most part I’m happy with my wardrobe (or on the way there). I’m fairly frugal, so I don’t have expensive clothes, but I’m not a big clothes horse, just need something to cover the nakedness that suits my taste!).
Glen says
I wear whatever the ironing fairy has hung up at the right hand side of the wardrobe – job done
About Last Weekend says
Great post! I just wear a “Uniform” every day, finding one outfit I like, than thrashing it for three weeks, then moving to another. realised – its taken me to age 49 – that I have way too many going out outfits and not enough round the neighbourhood Vince stuff…
sascedar says
my wardrobe situation? currently it’s ALL OVER THE FLOOR after i decided yesterday would be a great day for a sort and chuck. I am with most everyone else, so many clothes but nothing to wear. I think I will take the advice above, and if it doesn’t make me look and feel fabulous, it’s not going back in the wardrobe.
Squiggly Rainbow says
When we moved to our simpler life a few months ago – I did have a walk in wardrobe in our old home. I decided to cull all my clothes and op shopped all those I knew I would not wear – no saving for a rainy day.
I continued to cull once we moved, and then did a spot of shopping for my teaching placement. More mid-30’s syle. I now have a small metre wide IKEA wardrobe and two deep drawers. It’s simple, not too many clothes, but clothes I love.
Rach xx
nicole says
though if you did have a wardrobe shop, you would be the only one to mess it up, rather than the vicious hordes at rockmans 😛
my wardrobe situation? i’m a bit the same, i wear the same things mostly as i have quite deep drawers so i only wear what’s on top!
xo
The Beetle Shack says
ahahahha ooh yes, my wardrobe is on sale too. I do keep things colour coordinated though… except for those 6 items at the front!
I used to love having stacks of clothes (designer, thanks very much) when i worked out of the house, a new outfit ever day and so on. These days, i’m annoyed if i have to switch the trackies for jeans. I sold the designer threads on ebay to buy a sewing machine… how life changes- for the better!
xo
Suz says
Your clothes look lovely! My wardrobe is very scarce – I wear jeans and long sleeved top with boots mostly – just picked up some beauties from wittner. The box is fab for my scraps!!
Kate says
Ahhh Susans early 1990’s, memories of folding t’shirts using those plastic square templates and making sure all the hangers faced the same way with a finger’s width between…
These days I shop the pile of clothes on the chair next to my bed. I like to imagine that there are treasures at the back of my wardrobe waiting to be discovered but I know the truth.
Have a happy day lovely. x
Hi I'm Rhonda. says
I have a fairly big walk-in closet and my clothes are arranged by type..dresses, skirts, pants, etc. Although it’s not completely orderly. Jeans are all stacked on top where I absolutely can’t reach them. I’d like to pay someone else to totally organize my closet, but I don’t want to do it.
Sandrine says
Oh what a timely post, was taking people though the house yesterday and just though…hmmm I could do with a clothes sorting out exercise! I think the problem is staying at home mum do not need much so the rest in there is my hope…I just hope I will need to wear them again one day! 🙂 lol
Mrs Woog says
OH MY GOD! I am anal when it comes to my shit. I have very little space so everything needs to earn it’s rent. I like setting my wardrobe up as a shop. I jsut need to get rid of about ten pairs of trackies. x
ange_moore says
My wardrobe is reasonably organised but as I’m currently 29 weeks pregnant with baby #3 I find that all the clothes that fit me are living in a washing basket beside my bed and I just rummage around in that until I find a suitable ensemble – difficult on work days, easier on home days!!
Tammi says
My wardrobe is filled mostly with things I can’t fit…pre baby #5 and a handful of items I can and wear constantly…it is however really tidy as I tend to hang according to style and colour. I’m at the point now where I need to face reality and either drop the weight or the clothes!
Ava says
Hmmm. I have a vintage cane blanket box stuffed with clothes I don’t wear, but will sort one day, and around six matchy matchy clothing items which I switch around depending on the occasion. Always thought I’d like to be a clothes diva, but have never got passed the thought and into the moment <3 Ava
Lib says
I love the shop analogy….although in my case it’s the type of shop that doesn’t go up to my size given there’s so much in there that doesn’t fit!!! I should complain to the store manager about that one 🙂
PS I’ve changed my blog name…you will find me at katsontherun.blogspot.com
Lib
Teresa says
I have a wardrobe “A”, “B” and “C” all crammed into a single wardrobe. My husband has the larger side of the wardrobe – that is a whole other story (he is quite the show pony). Wardrobe A, I wore for about 8 weeks in 2002 but I keep everything from that time in the hope that I will one day fit into them again. Wardrobe B is pretty standard…unless its winter…or I’m pregnant, in which case, I’m in wardrobe C. I’m in wardrobe C at the moment – total bummer!
Brenda @ Mira Narnie says
ooh yes, the wardrobe debate. i would love a huge walk in wardrobe, but alas i have a small little cupboard and a antique chest that the handles keep falling off! i use my son’s cupboard to store some spare jackets and formal dress, but every few months, i need to take all my clothes out, re-fold, re-assess, re-hang, re- organise to make sure i’m seeing the whole picture. i found a jumper i completely forgot about because it slipped behind the back. Shopping in our own wardrobe – i do love the sound of that!
therhythmmethod says
I cleaned out my wardrobe at the start of the year (and blogged about it too). It was therapeutic to get rid of all my old clothes (from uni, early 20s, pre-babies), and just have clothes that suit me Right Now. Life just runs smoother with less stuff. And with less stuff, there’s less folding 😉
therhythmmethod says
Don’t normally do this, but I think this might make you rethink your wardrobe approach:
http://therhythmmethod.wordpress.com/2011/01/22/growing-and-shrinking-and-decluttering-oh-my/
And listen to Nikki from Styling You. She knows things.
Michelle says
I’ve just sorted out my wardrobe and lined my clothes up from casual, work and dressy. I have a lot of clothes but I dont spend a lot of money, they are passed down from friends, op shops, or most often bought on sale. I dont buy trends, I buy what I feel good in and if I try it on a few times but dont end up wearing it, it goes in the give away to the next clothes swap party or op shop.
Jane@flightplatformliving says
i have to tidy mine to get to sales standard…i am more your clothes recycling bin kind of gal x