My closet editing technic applied on my wardrobe
Posted by Aloïs Guinut on Tuesday, December 27, 2016 · 12 Comments
If you read my bio you know my mantra is to get less and dress better.
I recently wondered if I was doing what I predicated so I went check my own wardrobe as if I was looking at the one of a client.
It is really beneficial to do closet editing once a year – like in January – because owning too lots of clothes you do not wear clusters your space and your sight when it comes to outfit creation.
Many never do it and end up with unmanageable wardrobes. That when you can call me for help for a closet cleanse and editing.
To spare you the pain of going trough ALL my wardrobe, I only when trough the sweaters, jumpers and cardigans range.
I/ get rid of the damaged
Believe it or not, lots of of my clients who hire me for a closet editing session own a lot of worn out clothes.
What haven’t they got rid of them earlier by themselves you may wonder?
Probably because noticing that the things you love and see everyday are getting old is not always easy to realize. (For instance: I do not undoubtedly see I am 30 when I look in the mirror yet someone who sees me for the first time would probably notice (sigh)).
Which is why my fresh trained merciless eye helps (do not worry, I am kind and not judgmental. I just take action!).
At this point, get rid of the clothes that are not in good shape anymore. In lots of of my client’s closet there are clothes that are too old looking to be worn. Like for sweaters:
The whitened ones
The yellowed ones
The distressed ones
The shortened ones
The ones with plushes
The ones that have a hole (fill it or leave it)
This is why I recently got rid of a 7 years old grey V neck oversize Sandro boyish cashmere that was getting yellowish shades.
II/ get rid of the unwearables
You typically know who they are: they remain in your closet with their fancy (not) cupboard scent hoping one day they’ll see daylight.
They may be outfashioned, outsized, not comfortable, uncleanable.
Sometimes though, my clients wear them. Again, because of the fact that it is harder to see yourself than to see others.
One you have faced the truth, I recommend you donate them.
I recently made two purchase mistakes. (No one is best ^^). Both were due to the fabric that was poorer quality than expected.
A fluffy angora banana yellow cardigan because no matter what treatment I applied to it (I tried everything google and grandmas had to suggest) it left yellow plushes EVERYWHERE. It made me sad cause it looked soooo stylish. Yet I had to be merciless with my own closet and admit that plushes on my black coat where NOT stylish. (Plus now that I have read how angora is made, hurting those little rabbits… I do not want to get it anymore.)
A rust colored V neck from APC that got “white” and “small” very fast after having been washed (sigh).
III/ keep the best twin only
Often, my clients get the same thing over and over. mistake pattern.
And even if this is beneficial to have several black sweaters if this is something you wear a lot, it is not beneficial to have a lot more than two of the exact same piece.
Most of the times one of the piece is better than other very similar ones. You shall only keeps the best (s) and get rid of the other. Why wear a “meh” sweater when all you have to do is wash its “wow” twin?
Which is why I recently donated a 5 years old APC navy blue irish knit cotton square neck. truth is my newly bought similar knit looks way better.
IV/ save the symbols
Have you read Marie Kondo? The guru of tidiness? According to her, you shall get rid of any item that does not bring you joy. Although it sounds kind of esoteric it is very true.
Which is why I kept my high school’s year candy pink tight V neck. (And although because I think/hope I may style it again one day. The 2000’s are coming back you know ^^)
But do not cheat! Do NOT keep 10 items for those reasons!
V/ Find styling options for the pretty items
Usually they are those you wear on a regular basis.
However, when I check out a client’s closet, we typically find some unworn jewels. And I do is find styling option for those. In other words, I create outfits featuring other items of the closet or I counsel what kind of pieces would complete them best (shape, color, fabric…).
Here is what my own wardrobe is made of. The list can be kind of boring for you to read, yet it is beneficial to make your own. Plus I like lists (I am a maniac, maniac of the list).
It will help you realize how long you wear the items (depending on the quality) and how you could style them.
When I am with a client I do not ask how old the clothes are and just go for the look. but when you do it yourself, I think the analysis is useful. It will make you realize that quality items last way longer. especially when it comes to sweaters! Which is why my list contains no fast fashion items here.
A chunky knit in bright red wool. Bimba y Lola. 2 months old. already of of my closet’s faves.
A incredibly fine grey V neck silk and cashmere. 1 year old. Vanessa Bruno. incredibly beneficial tucked in high waisted bottoms.
A incredibly fine navy blue V neck silk and cashmere. 1 year old. Vanessa Bruno. So beneficial I bought its twin brother in another shade which I normally never do.
A striped breton top. 1 year old. Saint James found at Emmaüs. Stripes surprisingly match pretty much everything.
A fluffy forest green long sweater. 2 years old. Vanessa Bruno bought in a second hand shop. Perfect with skinny jeans and mini skirts.
A tight navy blue lobster printed crew neck. 2 years old. Monoprix. great with high waisted jeans and skirts.
A chunky long navy blue irish knit sweater. 3 years old. Independent spanish brand. Perfect with skinny jeans and mini skirts.
A boxy grey cotton knit with a back zip. 5 years old. Le mont saint michel. Cute with anything tight on the bottom.
Oversize boyish navy blue cotton boyish V neck. 5 years old. Guerrisol (friperie). Cute with anything tight on the bottom.
Mustard yellow crew neck cashmere. APC. 6 years old. Brightens a lot of outfits.
My cashmere, my blond hair and I, London 2012.
Fine cashmere and silk grey pussy bow neck. Comptoir des cotonniers. 10 years old. often I wear it with jeans but I mostly keep it because I still like it.
Vintage me wearing still in terrific shape sweater, Classroom in Berlin, 2008.
Fine black boat neck sweater. bill Tornade. 15 years old. Not used a lot anymore because the black is not so black anymore.
Gold kaki cropped sweater. incredibly old. Inherited from my mum. Cute in summer.
When I look at my list I notice the following: only 3 of my sweaters have bright colors. only two have a print. and the rest are neutrals. I even own 4 navy blue even if all are different.
This listing enables you to see better what you can still get and what you shall not get anymore.
As far as I am concerned, I would recommend myself to stop buying any a lot more navy blue sweaters. Or any other very long sweaters as two are a lot more than enough considering that they are tough to style.
And I absolutely could use a cardigan!
And you? Do you often clean and edit your wardrobe? Do you feel that getting the help of a personal stylist may help?
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