By Charlotte Dallison
We have a second excerpt from the wonderful HOW TO BE FABULOUS book by Kiwi vintage extract Charlotte Dallison. This book is now available to purchase from Booktopia or Mighty Ape.
I promise we’ll get to the shopping part soon, but first let’s focus on pulling new looks from the clothes you already own. Yes, I’m talking about ‘shopping’ the back of your existing wardrobe. A first step to embracing the second-hand lifestyle is realising you do not need to buy new in order to revamp and revive your look. After all, is there anything that leaves less of a footprint and is more budget conscious than sourcing clothes from your own closet? You never know what gorgeous goodies are at the back of your wardrobe just waiting to be worn.
I am sure you already have loads of clothes, but when is the last time you really looked through your current collection? If you refer to your shiny new fashion mantra, how does your current collection align with your authentic style?
It’s important to assess what you have in your existing wardrobe before bring more items on board. This is something to begin to do now, but also to revert back to as you assemble your wardrobe in the months and years to come.
The digging needn’t end with your own wardrobe, either – it can extend into the wardrobes of your friends and family. An inherited or swapped item could soon become your new style staple. Perhaps you could even become the custodian of some family treasure along the way.
Sort, store, store and make room for more!
A very modern problem many of us seem to face is that we feel like we have nothing to wear, yet we have wardrobes brimming with clothes. Part of this issue is due to the conditioning from fast fashion and social media, which has made us feel like we need things to always be brand new and never before seen. This culture has created insatiable appetites for an excess of items that don’t last, and that we often don’t really like.
Another reason we can feel as though we have no clothes is that our wardrobes are poorly organised: jam-packed, shared with a partner or badly lit. So before you even think about adding to the mix, give what you already have a good overhaul and reshuffle. It can feel like a strain going into this exercise, knowing you have a good afternoon or so of sorting ahead of you; but because this step will give you so much more clarity on gauging what you really have, I promise you it will be worth it.
In doing this you want to strive to create set collections of clothing and accessories for each season using what you already own. Pull out the contents of your closet and separate the items into piles that correspond with the different seasons. There will of course be basics that last you all year, which you can place in a separate pile. As you go through your existing items you will notice there are items you don’t like or are on the fence about. Separate these accordingly into ‘no’ and ‘maybe’ piles, beyond the seasonal piles. Another thing to bear in mind is to focus on authentic style before fast-fading trends as you work through your wardrobe. Even if there’s a piece you purchased recently that concurs with what’s in, yet you don’t wear it or even like it, feel encouraged to separate yourself from it in order to make space for items you’ll truly cherish and that represent the true you.
Once you’ve done this, store away the clothes that you want to keep but that aren’t aligned with the current time of year. I repeat, store them away! Once they’re out of sight you will be able to breathe again and see what you are working with for the current season. Then, as the weather changes, you can refresh your wardrobe accordingly. You’ll find that when things are out of sight then reappear they almost feel new again. It’s a great way to give certain tired items a break, too – often we feel we ‘have no clothes’ because we can’t stop rewearing the same easy-access items.
Perhaps you live in a tiny studio apartment (like I did until recently) or in a full house with family or flatmates and thus have very little storage space. In this case, you’re likely already a master of finding inventive ways to discreetly store away items: under beds and other furniture, on top of your closet or even behind makeshift screens. Whatever you need to do to make it work, just do it! My solution to limited storage space is to pop all of my off-season wares into suitcases and then slide them under my bed – out of sight and out of mind.
Another way to get a good overview of your garments, if you have the space for it, is to hang your day-to-day current-season clothes on a chic clothes rail. This means you can really see all of your season-appropriate options as you get dressed each morning. A rail will also limit the space you have to work with, forcing you to be more selective about what you have in this season’s set. Clothes rails also allow for better airing, ensuring your clothes are protected from moths and mould and are kept lovely and fresh for the next time you’re ready to wear them.
What to do with your culled items
As you create your seasonal collections it will start to become apparent what you are lacking in your wardrobe – and what you need to cull. I’m a believer in regular wardrobe clear-outs; but know that in doing this you don’t need to go full minimalist or whittle your way down to nothing. I know it can be hard to say goodbye to things but you mustn’t be too possessive – least of all over items you no longer wear, love, or that don’t fit. Besides, what goes around comes around, darling: the fashion gods will reward you for returning your unwanted treasures to the world, I promise!
I allow myself one small storage suitcase brimming with sentimental pieces I can’t bear to give away, as well as items I am unsure about and no longer wear (my version of a ‘maybe’ pile). I usually opt to sell the items that don’t make the cut; I quickly pop anything that’s unwanted up for sale on Depop or Etsy and let it go. (I’ve included more tips on buying and selling through these online retailers in Chapter 8.) Occasionally, if I need to shift a lot, I’ll book a stall at an upcoming vintage market to sell everything in one swoop.
For the sake of all the beautiful things that are waiting around the corner, it can be well worth the effort to sell your unwanted items rather than dropping them all at the local op shop (or letting them languish in your wardrobe). Not only will this method increase the likelihood of your pieces finding new appreciative homes, you’ll also be able to top up your shopping budget as you sell!
Once you’ve done your best to sell your culled items you’ll probably still be left with a few pieces you can’t find a buyer for. At this point you can take them down to the op shop, or get even more creative in thinking of other ways to move them on.
One option is a clothes swap. Remember those mystical clothes-swapping parties described in magazines during the early 2000s? I must admit that the idea of my friends pillaging my wardrobe is a little anxiety-inducing – probably a hangover from growing up with two younger sisters who loved helping themselves to my clothes when we were teens. Your clothes swap can be a much more refined affair than siblings stealing your stuff though.
Gather your most stylish cohort and invite them to bring along any clothes and accessories they’ve become tired of. Then put on some music, pour some drinks, have everyone lay out their wares and play dress-ups together! With your friends there to encourage and style you, you’ll be thinking up new looks in no time. More importantly you will leave the evening without your unwanted clothes, instead with new ensembles ready to be worn. Giving a piece to a friend can conjure up sheer joy, as you know the item that wasn’t working for you has now found the right home. Just remember that it’s up to you which pieces you want to throw into the swap, and which you would rather resell in other ways.
If you don’t share tastes with many of your friends, you could instead arrange a private exchange with someone who you know will love the piece you’re trying to part with. Once you’ve done the deed you can pat yourself on the back for doing something so selfless. Eldest-sister trauma begone!
Shop your own wardrobe
Have you ever noticed that you only wear certain things together? Well, it’s time to revamp those tired combinations and create new ensembles out of your existing beloved clothes. I know many people loathe this suggestion – hello, I just want new clothes! – but it’s worth pushing past your resistance. There are so many original and modern ways to wear old clothes: say a waistcoat without anything else underneath, a slip originally meant for the boudoir as a slinky summer dress, or a structured oversized men’s shirt, unironed and knotted at the front. I’ll let you in on a secret too: this is literally what personal stylists do to create fresh head‑turning looks. (You could even hire your own personal stylist as part of this process if you’re really struggling!)
A bit of dedicated time is all you need to find gorgeous new outfit combinations. I suggest making an afternoon or evening of it. Play some music; maybe even have a tipple (just don’t get so drunk that you forget what new clothing combos you’ve created!). Place your current-season collection on your bed, sofa or somewhere else you can clearly see it and start piecing your items together. Get creative when coming up with ways to style your pieces, and don’t forget to reference your fashion mantra and any Pinterest boards or other visual references you’ve gathered along the way.
Once you’ve figured out some fab new looks for yourself, do your best to document them. Use something accessible – the notes app on your phone, a folder full of mirror selfies or even a Google Doc. An easy-access record of your new blends of beautiful garments will help to ensure you’ll never find yourself stuck in a style rut again.
The takeaway
Knowing what you have to work with within your own wardrobe is a really important place to start when beginning your style overhaul. Once you’ve organised your existing clothes into seasonal collections, it’s time to jettison the pieces that are no longer working for you by selling, swapping or donating them to make space for fresh new frocks. Next, play around with your clothes to come up with new and unexpected combinations. At last, you will know what you’ve got to work with – and you
will know what you’re missing. This will have you perfectly poised for our next step: a quick brush-up on fashion foundations.
