STYLE BLOG
STYLE
BLOG
Tors Innes
How Stylists Spring Clean Their Wardrobe
by Tors Innes
Image @jaceyduprie
In this blog post, you’ll learn
- Secret storage techniques stylists use
- How we determine what stays, goes or gets updated
- How to turn your wardrobe into a collection of outfits
With a new year beginning it is the perfect time for a little spring cleaning!!
The first thing I like to do when the year begins is get rid of the old and bring in the new.
That doesn’t mean throwing everything out to start again, or running to the shops to start buying new pieces.
What I do encourage you to do is to make a plan of what we need to form a cohesive collection for you to wear.
Personal stylists like me make sure we know exactly what we have in our closet to avoid buying the same pieces each season.
Stylists will build on what we have, using existing pieces as a ‘base’ from which to create new outfit ideas.
You’ll need 1 hour (approximately) to start reviewing your current wardrobe.
Follow the instructions below to level up your wardrobe into a cohesive collection of outfits for 2023!
I’ll show you how to transform your current wardrobe into a curated, easily mix and match Summer collection filled with pieces that fit, feel fabulous and align with your personal style!
1
Pull all your clothes out of your wardrobe and put them on your bed/floor.
Yep, I know it’s a major mess but the only way to get it organised is to go through everything.
If you have a large amount of clothes or feel like this will overwhelm you doing it all at once, then you can easily do this one category at a time.
For example, pull all your t-shirts and go through them, then another time all of your jeans.
2
Separate the clothing into four piles:
KEEP
The pieces you love that make you feel FABULOUS and you will wear them!!
GIVE AWAY
Pieces you feel are no longer your style or simply don’t make you feel great. Give them a new home to someone who will love them.
SELL
Anything that is in excellent condition that holds its value for example any luxury labels and, also some high street stores. Check out Facebook there are groups out there where you can sell your clothing.
For example: Local Buy, Swap, Sell Facebook Groups for non-designer and High St brands, Bared Footwear Buy Swap Sell and Gorman Buy Swap Sell.
For those with High End pieces to sell Facebook High End Clothing Australia, The High End or try online reselling boutiques such as Vestaire Collective and The RealReal.
STORE
Those pieces you can’t quite let go or those pieces you love but don’t fit into at the mo, but hope to one day soon (you know that old chestnut we all have those pieces).
3
Take action on the GIVEAWAY, SELL and STORE items.
Good quality GIVEAWAY pieces why not donate them to Fitted for Work, Ready Set or Dressed for Success (Groomed to Go in Frankston). All non-profit organisations that empower and help women get back to the work force.
The STORE items you will store out of sight for 12 months.
You don’t want to be reminded of what you used to fit into. We want to move on and not live in the past. We want to embrace where we are now!!
What’s that saying, ‘out of sight out of mind?’
4
Play with your KEEP pieces
Now you have the KEEP pieces, it is time for a Styling Session/ Outfit planning session.
You are going to try the pieces on and style outfits together.
As you go through this process take photos on your phone of each outfit you love and feel fab in.
5
Make an album in your phone and call it ‘Fab Spring/Summer Outfits’
Save the photos of these outfits in an album on your phone for daily references.
This will become your go-to tool when dressing each day. You can add to it through-out the season.
Don’t forget to accessorise and add shoes with your looks you photograph too.
You’ll probably find pieces you no longer want to keep when you go through your KEEP pile, that’s fine simply add them to the previous categories you made.
Going through this process of putting outfits together will help you see those missing pieces in your wardrobe.
Make a list of these missing pieces. This list is your ‘shopping list’ which you will take next time you hit the shops.
Add the list to your ‘Notes’ in your phone so it’s easily accessible. See an example below:
By having the ‘shopping list’ it gives you a plan of what you need to look for rather than aimlessly walking around the shops trying on things you don’t need and never finding anything that works. Once you have purchased the item simply delete it from your list!
Now you have streamlined your Summer wardrobe down to pieces you know you will wear and LOVE you can put it all back into your wardrobe.
It is best to put it into sections e.g. dresses, shirts, jackets and colour code it in the sections, so all blues together, reds together. You get the gist.
This will also give you an idea of your colour palette of your wardrobe so when you go shopping you can purchase within that palette, so everything works well together.
Image @jaceyduprie
Make a date with yourself in your calendar and set some YOU time aside and get stuck into that wardrobe.
Once you put in the effort you will reap the rewards and you will find you are not spending time trying to decide what to wear each day and saying ‘I have nothing to wear!’
If you are feeling a little overwhelmed and you feel like this is something you cannot do on your own? Then why don’t we do it together.
Click here and we can chat through how we can do it together.
P.S. If you haven’t received my latest CURATED for Real Bodies online size inclusive shoppable magazine then click below to subscribe and you will receive it in your inbox!!
Back to
elevated basics
by Tors Innes
If you are looking to build a wardrobe full of elevated basics, then this guide is for you!
YOUR
elevated basics
GUIDE
1. Your Lingerie
2. Your T-shirt
An elevated, great quality tee is perfect for layering, no matter the season. I love layering pieces to add interest and depth to an outfit.
A classic white tee and a selection of neutral colours can be worn with blazers to instantly amp up your everyday look.
To keep those tees white, check the label first.
If it’s safe to do so, soak your white tee in bleach before running through on a regular cycle.
3. Jeans
Shopping for jeans can be a rather challenging time, no matter your shape and size.
It’s hard to know whether the pair you’re trying on suits you, especially when you’re in a change room on your own without the full outfit on.
Having a blue and black pair of jeans in the wardrobe works well for mixing and matching to make different looks for casual to more formal.
A pair of black jeans is always going to look dressy. It’s like a black pair of classic pants and goes with everything.
Mid blue jeans tend to look more casual but if you add a great blazer or coat to it and it elevates the denim or tuck in a silk shirt and again elevation.
It really does come back to how you style it and what pieces you wear with it. Don’t be scared to accessorise!
When in the fitting room take a breath…… have a pile of different jean styles to try.
Also have a couple of different sizes in styles as you may fluctuate in size depending on brand. Remember it is not the number on the size label it is how they fit, look and make you feel.
Always purchase a firmer fit jean as they will stretch with wear. See where the waist sits – if you are short waisted go for a mid-rise or lower rise this will lengthen your torso. AG are good for this. If you are long waisted go for high waisted as this will help your waist to look shorter than it is and balance out your body. Levis Ribcage and Wedgie jeans are a great place to start for high rise.
You want to create a soft silhouette that the eye runs over harmoniously. If you have big hips and/or big thighs don’t go for supper tight skinny jeans that hug your ankle as this will accentuate your hips and thighs. You want to add softness into your silhouette. A slim fit would work better.
Try a thin roll at the hem a couple of times the width of the hem is a good width. It can elevate the jean and finish of the look.
If it doesn’t feel right don’t buy it as you will never wear them. When you find a great jean buy multiples and in different colours. Tip: different washes will fit slightly different so be sure to try before you buy.
4. Knitwear
Investing in good quality knitwear really is worth it.
Cashmere is the queen of elevated knit fabrics, but it comes with a high price tag.
The reason it’s so expensive is because it comes from the cashmere goat. The cashmere undercoat of the goat is super soft and only produces a small amount per goat. Cashmere will last years without looking shabby but you do need to look after it.
My suggestion is to build your knitwear collections slowly, by investing in one piece each season, looking for classic cuts in neutral colours you can layer throughout the year.
5. Sneakers
These shoes are so versatile and can be worn as a casual or formal look based on how you style them.
Leather will always look elevated as it has structure and is durable as well.
Look for something where the sole is not too thin. A little elevation can help with posture too. It’s like when you wear something with a bit of a heel as opposed to thongs.
Keep them clean. Lighter colours will look dirtier quicker – fabric will dirty quicker than leather. Always spray protectant on them to keep them looking sharp.
There are so many different styles of sneakers out there. Look for sneakers with interesting detail or branding or even the way they use colour.
New Balance are doing some fun sneakers and Veja always look good not only do they have a great ethos but the design is great too.
For something a bit more fun Radical Yes have some fabulous colours and designs that are more elevated.
6. Jackets
The hardest working item in your wardrobe must be the blazer.
By adding a blazer to an outfit it instantly elevates any look, so we need to have something that stands the test of time.
Depending on your body silhouette, you’ll want to look for an exceptionally well made, high quality fabric blazer in the cut that balances your proportions.
I know the whole oversized blazer thing is in at the moment, but seriously how many people can really pull it off??? Definitely not me😜
A denim jacket is also a great, hardworking staple as you can wear it over jeans, dresses and skirts.
You can layer it in winter under a blazer and knit,, or pop it over a dress for summer. It’s your trans seasonal piece which means it will be worn all year round, So, we need something in a chic, quality, classic style.
Now you know what
elevated basics are...
Let’s review your wardrobe
to see what’s missing and
what could be elevated!
Want to shop these
pieces online NOW
