Have clothes you haven’t worn in a decade? Take the back of the wardrobe challenge like me
I recently lost a bit of weight and got very excited at the prospect of shopping in my own wardrobe rather than splashing out on new clothes. All those outfits that I’d kept just in case I dropped a dress size were now available to wear.
While trying everything on I took the opportunity to have a clear-out. I was fairly ruthless. Anything I hadn’t worn for a few years was either brought out of the shadows, put aside to sell on Vinted or taken to the charity shop.
I should clarify what I mean by “fairly” ruthless. There was a blind spot at one end of the rail that I didn’t explore – a collection of items that didn’t come under scrutiny. They were mostly designer pieces that I’d convinced myself I’d wear at some point but for some reason never did.
I suspect many women have a collection of clothes just like this. A quick poll of my girlfriends revealed that all of them have clothes they haven’t worn for a decade. A survey carried out last year by environmental group Wrap (Waste and resources action programme) found that the UK’s wardrobes hold a whopping 1.6 billion unworn garments. The average adult owns 118 items of clothing of which 26 per cent (that’s 31 items) have been unworn for at least a year.
So, what is it that makes us hoard clothes that never see the light of day? Anna Berkeley, the personal stylist and wardrobe management expert, says: “As women we attach a lot of emotion to our clothes and put up obstacles to stop us getting rid of things that are cluttering up our lives. One of the biggest reasons is reluctance to accept a mistake especially if the garment was expensive.”
This explains why many of my unworn items are designer pieces – I feel guilty that I’ve spent all that money so I kid myself I’ll wear it in the future. But Berkeley advises a more pragmatic approach. “The money has gone,” she says emphatically. “Get rid of the offending piece and let someone else enjoy it and the guilt and shame will go with it. You actually forget about it the minute it’s removed from your rail.”
There is that inevitable procrastination when you start the decluttering process and it’s the enemy of a well-organised wardrobe. “People have all sorts of reasons for not letting go, including, ‘I might lose weight’, ‘It might come back into fashion’, ‘It brings back memories of a happy time’,” explains Berkeley. “But the simple truth is that it’s easier to get dressed when you have less clothes. The more choice you have the more decisions have to be made. A more streamlined approach to dressing saves money, too, as you are more disciplined and discerning about what you are going to add in – it’s easier to see where the gaps are and you’re less inclined to impulse buy.”
I confess I have been guilty of buying something new rather than delving into the dark corners of my cupboards because it’s easier to pop into Zara or order online than it is to face my disorderly rails. I always enjoy that fleeting thrill from the purchase, of course, but it’s very short lived.
My offending clothes
With all this in mind, and feeling determined not to waste more money on clothes I never wear, I confronted the no-go zone of my wardrobe and dug out eight pieces that have been languishing in the darkness for many years.
As most of these pieces haven’t been worn in ages, I felt I needed a fresh pair of eyes to assess what was worth keeping. I was lucky enough to have the expert guidance of The Telegraph’s style director Tona Stell but any fashionable friend could help you evaluate what you’ve got – so long as you can agree that honesty is the best decluttering policy. Here’s what happened.
The velvet wrap dress
Mint Velvet dress, Kath’s own; Lace top, ￡79, Mint Velvet; 20 denier tights, ￡30, Wolford; Patent leather shoes, ￡299, LK Bennett; Sterling silver earrings, ￡88, Mejuri
Reason it’s unworn…
This is a very flattering dress and it’s a lovely colour but there’s a problem – it’s sleeveless and I don’t like revealing my upper arms.
A fashion expert’s verdict: Layering can solve the bare-arm problem (but not always)
Both pieces presenting the sleeveless dilemma are evening dresses so a jacket or cardigan isn’t the answer. No one wants to feel hot and uncomfortable at a party. “Whether you can wear a long sleeve top underneath a dress depends on the fabric and the neckline,” explains Tona when she takes a look at my velvet and chiffon dresses.
“The velvet wrap dress works perfectly with a lace top underneath because the neck is high and the fabric thick.” I am delighted with this lace top solution and I’m also persuaded to try some sheer black tights which I haven’t worn since opaques became de rigueur in the 1980s. This look is a keeper.
The fitted jacket
Miu Miu jacket, Kath’s own; Satin blouse, ￡39, Finery; Pleated skirt, ￡225, Me+Em; Leather boots, ￡320, Bobbies; Gold vermeil earrings, ￡89, Missoma; Leather bag, ￡225, Lulu Guinness
Reason it’s unworn…
It never seems to go with anything.
A fashion expert’s verdict: Try more modern proportions
Tona got excited about my Miu Miu jacket as apparently this shape has come back into fashion with similar styles seen on the catwalk this season. Hurrah! She thinks the reason I can never find anything to wear it with is to do with proportions. “Being such a snug fit, the jacket will never work with slim-cut pieces or straight trousers,” she elaborated and urged me to try it on with a fuller skirt from Me+Em.
This is not a style I would ever have picked off a rail but my daughter (young and much trendier than me, obviously) was very enthusiastic about this look and also loved the knee-high boots – another example of breathing new life into old clothes with the right footwear.
The green coat
Green Whistles coat, Kath’s own; Cashmere jumper, ￡165, Jigsaw; Wide leg jeans, ￡89, Mint Velvet; Court shoes, ￡299, LK Bennett; Gold vermeil and pearl earrings, ￡125, Monica Vinader
Reason it’s unworn…
This always felt a bit on the snug side but as I’ve lost a bit of weight it may well come out of the shadows.
A fashion expert’s verdict:
This was another item to get the thumbs-up from Tona. It’s a very slim cut so, again, proportion was important. Tona styled it with wide-leg jeans and a sweater with extra-long sleeves to counterbalance the cropped sleeves of the coat. The lesson here is that it’s always worth keeping good quality coats and jackets.
The Prada black trousers
Prada trousers, Kath’s own; Wool blend scarf coat, ￡229, Mint Velvet; Satin top, ￡95, Jigsaw; Patent finish shoes, ￡119, Massimo Dutti; Croc embossed bag, ￡99, Charles & Keith; Gold vermeil and pearl earrings, ￡125, Monica Vinader
Reason they’re unworn…
I feel like a police officer in these. They feel very corporate. But they’re Prada so I can’t throw them away.
A fashion expert’s verdict: Invest in new shoes
One of the easiest ways to bring old clothes up to date is with the right footwear and I saw this immediately with my officious-looking black trousers. As soon as Tona suggested I wear them with feminine heeled shoes, I could see I would be mad to throw away such a well-cut designer piece. These are now right at the front of my wardrobe.
The results
With the tips from Anna and Tona in mind, I had another wardrobe clear-out. I’ve ended up with a much more streamlined selection of outfits which makes getting dressed easier. I bought the red Massimo Dutti shoes and wide-leg Mint Velvet jeans, which have brought new life to several older pieces including the green coat and some other rarely worn tops.
I’ve worn the Prada trousers to work several times and been complimented on the flattering cut. I’m now kicking myself for buying at least five pairs of black trousers in the past decade that weren’t half as stylish, while these hung in a plastic dry-cleaning bag. What a waste of money.
And the nos…
Black chiffon evening dress
Reason it’s unworn…
I wore this dress once when I won an award for editor of the year for the launch of Red magazine and so I have an emotional attachment to it. I would love to wear it again but it’s another sleeveless number.
A fashion expert’s verdict:
“The chiffon has a V neck and is a light fabric so you can’t wear a top with it – it would look all wrong,” says Tona.
Sequin cropped jacket
Reason it’s unworn…
I often think this could be the answer for my upper arm issue but somehow every time I put it on it looks wrong.
A fashion expert’s verdict: Step away from the bolero jacket
Tona is adamant that my sequin jacket will never be the answer to my bare-arm predicament. “That cropped shape ends at a very awkward part of the body and doesn’t really flatter anybody,” she says. “Apart from that, it’s just really old-fashioned.” Definitely one for the charity bag.
Skinny jeans
Reason they’re unworn…
These are super comfortable but according to the gods of fashion, skinny jeans are over.
A fashion expert’s verdict: Say goodbye to skinny jeans
Many of us have found it hard to let go of our skinny-jeans addiction but I’m afraid they really do look dated now. I’m keeping mine to wear on dog walks.
Alexander McQueen silk blouse
Reason it’s unworn…
I bought this in a panic when I had nothing to wear to a fashion industry event and I’ve only worn it once. I hold on to it because it cost a fortune.
A fashion expert’s verdict: Accept some clothes just don’t suit you
The expensive McQueen blouse has languished at the back of my wardrobe for a long time but Tona could see immediately what the problem was. “It’s a tricky shade of red,” she said when I tried it on. “And lots of women struggle with red.” In a nutshell, it does nothing for me so it’s destined for Vinted where someone can snap it up at a bargain price and look amazing in it.