The best place to start is with a purge. Most of have quite a lot – on average 31 items – of clothing we’ve never worn in our wardrobes. WRAP estimates that we’ve splurged £1.6 billion on clothes we’ve never worn. We suspect that the team at Trend and our readers may account for a high percentage of that!
Sort your clothes out into stuff you know you’ll never wear, set aside anything that you want to keep that needs altered and make a pile for the charity shop, clothing bank drop off points or to resell on platforms like Vinted, Depop or eBay. Be harsh and decisive. Do you really need 47 coats and jackets or 16 pairs of black trousers? Do you forget what you’ve already bought and now own an infinite number of stripy tops? Obviously, this concept of limiting the number of garments of one type or other that you own doesn’t extend as far as shoes.
Next, ask yourself if things you’re keeping for when you miraculously drop three dress sizes will still be in style when you’ve lost weight or whether you’ll want to buy some new treats to celebrate. Put anything you can’t part with aside for now along with occasion dressing pieces that you rarely wear. These can be all be folded and boxed, giving you some extra space in your wardrobe. Anything that only works in summer or when you’re on holiday can be stored too.
We’re not quite ready to hit the shops yet, though! Make a list of what you actually need. Some of this will be basics like refreshing your stash of undergarments, while others might mean upgrading existing garments to more luxurious versions, or introducing new neutrals or a new colour to update your wardrobe or splashing out on something for a special occasion.
Key trends for autumn winter include longer length skirts paired with chunky ankle boots, cropped jumpers with fluid wider trousers, oversized jackets and coats and textural pieces from Aran knits to faux fur and feathery finishes. Tweeds and subtle plaids made a comeback on the catwalk while the statement sleeve gave way to interesting collars and necklines.
Here’s our roundup of versatile pieces from local boutiques…
