wardrobe dilemmas Archives - Kate Waterhouse

Why spring cleaning your wardrobe can help solve style dilemmas

2nd April, 2023

A good wardrobe spring clean is one of those things that can result in a tidy closet and even better, less style dilemmas. The start of a new year or a new season is always the perfect time to examine what you own and do a big cull to ensure that you’re not taking up valuable space with things that you don’t use or no longer work with your lifestyle. Apart from all the extra room you’ll acquire post-spring clean, there are some great side effects that will make dealing with any dramas that come with getting dressed in the morning a whole lot easier.

Here’s why wardrobe spring cleaning is the key to minimising style dramas.

You’ll know exactly what you have to work with

The thing with a wardrobe that’s overflowing is that you generally don’t see what you have at your disposal. The key to being able to get dressed with minimal fuss is that you can see everything at a glance without having to rifle through piles of clothes in the process. This also results in you having a little more variety in your looks as you can discover some long lost pieces that may have been buried in the deep dark recesses of your closet.

You have a tighter edit of clothes

You’ve no doubt heard of the wonders of having a capsule wardrobe and it’s because you’ve essentially got a number of pieces that work well with each other which takes out the hassle of having to figure out what to pair with what. If you’ve done a genuine spring clean, it means you’ve narrowed your wardrobe down to the clothes that you love and work for you which makes it a little easier to style a look (yes, even on the most frantic of mornings!)

Having a tight edit of clothes can be effective in sides stepping wardrobe dilemmas

You’ll fill all the style gaps in your closet

One of the annoying things about an overly full wardrobe is that you’re not sure of the things that you need to replace or add which means you’ll inevitably come across said problem at the most inopportune time. Having a perfectly organised closet means that you’re able to identify these gaps ahead of time so you can take steps to rectify them before you actually encounter the issue.

You’ll only have wearable options to work with

Everyone has those pieces in their closet that never see the light of day because they don’t fit/are damaged/don’t look all that great. By doing a closet clear out you can gift yourself the ability to dress yourself using only pieces that you know genuinely work and are flattering. By taking out all the unusable pieces out of the equation, you’re simply left with only the clothes that genuinely work.

In the mood to do a spring clean? Check out my tips here.

Fashion

How to minimise wardrobe dilemmas this year

8th January, 2023

Wardrobe dilemmas are the worst and can often strike at the most inopportune of times — like when you’re already incredibly late and was supposed to have walked out the door ten minutes ago. And while sometimes the unexpected occurs (coffee down your top, a split seam, for example), most of the time, they can be avoided with some pre-planning and organisation.

Think of it this way, if you had to perform a task every single day of your life, wouldn’t you try and employ a few strategies to make it quicker and easier? So, if you’re interested in making a less stressful year on the fashion front, try these techniques—you’ll banish style dramas in no time.

Get organised

Organisation really is key when it comes to avoiding wardrobe dramas. If your closet is in constant disarray therein lies the problem—finding what you want, when you want is made all the more difficult when you actually have no idea where anything is.

You want to see everything, and I mean everything. You should be able to see what you own at a glance, so you can take in an entire outfit in one go without having to sift through piles of clothes or shoes. If storage is an issue, you could consider doing a seasonal swap where you put your current season clothes on display, while everything else hibernates for a few months under your bed or in another cupboard somewhere (this is where vacuum storage bags come in handy). Your aim should be that you can neatly put everything away. If this is definitely a problem, then keep reading.

Keep it streamlined

While it’s nice to have clothes, it’s even nicer if they have the chance to be worn and don’t just sit in your closet gathering dust. Having a tight edit of clothes means you’re more likely to wear what you own. Less options = more in rotation.

This means regular wardrobe culls should be on the cards. I know it can sometimes be hard to let go of certain items of clothing, but it’s time to summon up some courage and let go of those things that you know you haven’t worn in years. You know what I’m talking about, it’s the dress you’re hanging onto in case you “can wear it in future” or that jumper you wore on year 12 camp.

If it doesn’t add to your wardrobe but is simply there gathering dust, it’s time to bit it adieu.

Plan ahead

Here’s where organisation comes in again. By planning your looks ahead of time you can free yourself from regular morning wardrobe dramas. Take some time before the start of a new week and go through your schedule, and what your outfit requirements are for the week. By doing this you can set aside what you’re wearing ahead of time. This also allows you to do things in advance like iron or fix anything that may need repairing.

Also, by planning ahead you’re also encouraged to play around with what’s in your wardrobe a little more. If you’ve got time on your hands you can work on creating different looks a little more freely without the pressure of time constraints.

Have a back-up outfit list

This is a must. There will come a time when you’ve got to get out the door fast and if your other outfit options fall through it’s a good idea to have a few others up your sleeve that you know have been tried and tested. Document a few looks in your phone that can be your ‘crack open in case of emergency’ contingency plan. This helps mitigate the stress when you’re faced with an ensemble that just isn’t working.

What’s the number one cause of wardrobe dilemmas in your life?