Style Fashion Guides
Be Kind to Your Clothes
Fact: the average wardrobe is worth £4,000. Gulp. Sounds exorbitant, but by the time you've totted up your Rock and Republic denims, Diesel trainers, posh undies and entire shoe emporium - kerching - the numbers start to make sense. So next time you drop your work suit on the floor or tumble dry a cashmere ballet wrap, remind yourself that it's your investment that you're devaluing. Here's how to keep your wardrobe looking as crisp and lovely as that Agnès B shirt you've got your eye on.
Hungover?
The only time it's ever OK to leave your LBD on the floor is if a George Clooney lookalike has just unzipped it. In all other scenarios, hang your clothes up to let the creases drop out and the natural shape return.
There is no place for nasty wire hangers in your wardrobe. Hang an expensive cashmere cardy off one and the shoulders will sprout wings. Instead use wooden hangers (from Habitat or John Lewis) for jackets, trousers, shirts and jeans and padded hangers (from Accessorize) for delicate garments. For skirts use hangers with clips which attach to the waistband - don't be tempted to use the skirt's loops because they'll distort its structure beyond recognition.
Get sorted
Organising your wardrobe may sound tedious, but searching for that elusive Reiss blouse in the morning wastes time and raises blood pressure. There's two schools of thought here: either store in colour zones or group shirts, trousers, jeans, jumpers, skirts and dresses together - whatever works for you. If you're short on space fold knitwear, T-shirts and jeans.
Avoid plastic garment bags as they can retain moisture and allow mildew and odours to develop. The natural fibre versions from The Holding Company are pricier than plastic, but it's money well spent.
So last season
One way to max space and declutter your wardrobe is to store out-of-season clothes. Great Little Trading Company sells a good range of storage boxes, as well as some nifty vacuum storage bags where you hoover out the air so they compress to a fraction of their size. Packing away your seasonal gear is an ideal opportunity to declutter. You know it makes sense! Read our feature on creating The Perfect Capsule Wardrobe for more advice.
Do the right thing
To get the best out of your clothes, they need to rest, so try to rotate. Once you've worn it, let it have a breather - literally.
Dandruff, fluff, stray hairs and lint do not a good look make, so give clothes a quick pick-me-up by running a lint tape roller or clothes brush over. If you're serious about looking sharp, invest in a steamer. A shot of steam removes wrinkles and freshens up your clothes a treat. Try Supersteamer or Cucina Direct.
The only time it's ever OK to leave your LBD on the floor is if a George Clooney lookalike has just unzipped it. In all other scenarios, hang your clothes up to let the creases drop out and the natural shape return.
There is no place for nasty wire hangers in your wardrobe. Hang an expensive cashmere cardy off one and the shoulders will sprout wings. Instead use wooden hangers (from Habitat or John Lewis) for jackets, trousers, shirts and jeans and padded hangers (from Accessorize) for delicate garments. For skirts use hangers with clips which attach to the waistband - don't be tempted to use the skirt's loops because they'll distort its structure beyond recognition.
Get sorted
Organising your wardrobe may sound tedious, but searching for that elusive Reiss blouse in the morning wastes time and raises blood pressure. There's two schools of thought here: either store in colour zones or group shirts, trousers, jeans, jumpers, skirts and dresses together - whatever works for you. If you're short on space fold knitwear, T-shirts and jeans.
Avoid plastic garment bags as they can retain moisture and allow mildew and odours to develop. The natural fibre versions from The Holding Company are pricier than plastic, but it's money well spent.
So last season
One way to max space and declutter your wardrobe is to store out-of-season clothes. Great Little Trading Company sells a good range of storage boxes, as well as some nifty vacuum storage bags where you hoover out the air so they compress to a fraction of their size. Packing away your seasonal gear is an ideal opportunity to declutter. You know it makes sense! Read our feature on creating The Perfect Capsule Wardrobe for more advice.
Do the right thing
To get the best out of your clothes, they need to rest, so try to rotate. Once you've worn it, let it have a breather - literally.
Dandruff, fluff, stray hairs and lint do not a good look make, so give clothes a quick pick-me-up by running a lint tape roller or clothes brush over. If you're serious about looking sharp, invest in a steamer. A shot of steam removes wrinkles and freshens up your clothes a treat. Try Supersteamer or Cucina Direct.
