If your wardrobe is stressing you out, you’re not alone. A new year calls for a huge clear out, and if you haven’t mastered your unsightly rails yet, you need to read these tips first. Angie Smith - the fashion stylist who dresses the likes of Holly Willoughby, Rochelle Humes, and Emma Bunton - has revealed via her hugely popular blog about how to do a wardrobe clear out.
Much like the Japanese organising consultant Marie Kondo, the author of The Life Changing Magic Of Tidying Up and the star of Netflix’s new hit show Tidying Up With Marie Kondo, Angie advises you start by clearing your entire closet. She says: “Take everything, that’s right EVERYTHING out of your wardrobe and draws - and pile it on your bed.”
Angie Smith tends not to show her face on social media
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Although Marie Kondo recommends considering the feelings of your belongings and whether they bring you joy or not, Angie’s method is far simpler. She says: “Pick up each item individually and ask yourself if you have worn it in the last year.” But that’s not all, you need to ask even more questions before you decide whether you keep or throw. If you’ve not worn it, ask why not, whether it needs mending or whether it needs a trip to the dry cleaner. You also need to ask yourself the tough questions. “Does it fit? No? Are you likely to fit into it again without following a nil by mouth diet? No? I think you know what I’m going to say - these items go in pile one - straight to the charity shop,” Angie advises.
“If the item is sentimental then pop it in pile two, does it need to be dry cleaned or mended pile three, and everything else goes back in to your wardrobe, hung up neatly in order of style and if you want to be really fussy, colour!”
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If this sounds like pure tidying hell, Angie says you’ll feel fulfilled doing it. “Even if you start off like this it will give you a real sense of wardrobe achievement.”
Interestingly, Angie recommends putting your pile number two in a zip lock vacuum bag and “hiding it somewhere” in your home - not the usual tip but we like it! But here’s the important bit, you need to take action with the other piles, she says: “Take items to charity, dry cleaners, get your sewing kit out and get mending.” She also advises keeping your friends in mind: “If something makes it into the charity pile that you know your friend has had their eye on, why not pop it to one side and give to them next time you see them.”
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She also suggests ironing and washing anything you are keeping in your wardrobe “so everything is available to wear as soon as the occasion arises.”
Her final tip: “Do NOT buy anything in the charity shop when you drop your items off.”
