Chantelle Znideric is an award winning celebrity stylist, personal shopper and fashion writer with a monthly fashion column and regularly contributions to the national press with fashion features, interviews, style advice, expert quotes and fashion tips. Chantelle will show you that it doesn't have to cost the earth to look a million dollars.
Are you sick of the sight of your wardrobe? You know you have some beautiful clothes lurking in it somewhere but you only seem to wear a handful of outfits on a day-to-day basis – this usually equates to just 20% of the entire amount. Shocked? You should be. The good news is you are not alone so don’t get too hung up about it but a new year means a new you so why not start by de-cluttering your wardrobe and giving yourself a home makeover.
A few hours spent sifting through your fashion mistakes and clothes that you never wear will save you hours every morning. And, with a little help from Chantelle at TopStylista it needn’t be such a daunting task. So start building a capsule wardrobe in time for each season ahead.
What is a capsule wardrobe all about?
We’re all guilty of having far too many clothes crammed in our wardrobes and only ever wearing a handful of them. Instead, take the attitude 'less quantity, more quality'.
The capsule wardrobe concept is simple and you should continue to build on it every season with good quality basics such as trousers, skirts, jackets, jeans, bags and shoes. If you’re a capsule wardrobe virgin it’s best to play safe and stick to neutral colours initially as they’re less likely to date - you’ll be able to coordinate outfits and match a variety of accessories more easily.
Your good quality basics are worth paying more money for because they should form the crux of your wardrobe. If the idea of spending £250 on a great pair of jeans fills you with fear then just break it down into the cost per wear and they’ll soon seem good value.
Your ongoing challenge is to build on these items. You should aim to create your own personal style whilst being truthful about what items really flatter your natural body shape - if you don’t find them on day one or they are less than perfect then be patient, ruthless and do not buy. A capsule wardrobe takes time. Once you have this concept sussed, then it’s an easy ride.
Clear out your old and replace with the brand new
Ok, so you now know what you have to do but how do you actually achieve it? The first task is to de-clutter your wardrobe. Be ruthless as it’s the only way forward. Have a bin liner to the ready and start by assessing each item in your wardrobe, then ask yourself the following questions - when was the last time I wore this, what else does it go with, does it suit me, do I feel good in it. It’s a refreshing feeling and you will feel liberated - you know what they say, 'clear, tidy wardrobe, clear, tidy mind'. And, it’s very true.
Once you’ve completed this task you can start to identify the gaps and what you need to buy. Make a list and get ready for the fun bit ...
Shopping, shopping and more shopping! Remember the fashion mistakes that you have just binned, why they didn’t work for you and be disciplined. It’s a good idea to start shopping in stores that offer several brands (such as House of Fraser, Selfridges or John Lewis) so you’ve got lots of different ranges to choose from to suit your budget and so you’re not limited into going for one particular style.
From then on it’s down to you - just be true to yourself when it comes to what really suits you. Buying on the high street is a good idea especially now with all the fabulous discounts to be had and it means you can try things on. If you want to try garments at home with a particular outfit then check the store exchange/refund policy and remember to keep the receipt just in case you need to return it.
Good luck, get de-cluttering and I wish you a very successful shopping trip!