GRAZIA
The most stylish way to kick off the new year? Making sure your wardrobe works for you. Here’s how…
1. IF YOU WANT TO FIND A NEW WORKWEAR IDENTITY
The best workwear becomes a kind of uniform that enhances your day-to-day but doesn’t distract. And on next season’s catwalks you’ll find plenty of inspiration, whether it’s a subtle tweak or a total overhaul you’re seeking. Think tailored separates over trouser suits (Bottega Veneta), searing colours next to neutrals (Fendi), conversation-starting coats ( Jil Sander) and a return to monochrome (Tove).
2. IF YOU WANT TO WEAR MORE COLOUR
If your comfort zone is navy, navy and more navy, ease yourself into a more exuberant frame of mind by experimenting with one punchy colour at a time. And remember: you don’t have to abandon your neutrals for good. Fire-engine red goes brilliantly with grey; emerald looks excellent against chocolate. Wondering where to start? Switch your trusty white sneakers for a pair that’s a shockingly cool shade of canary yellow. They’ll cheer you up every time you lace them up.
3. IF YOU WANT TO MAKE YOUR WARDROBE MORE EFFICIENT
1. Don’t hold on to pieces that bring you misery. And by that, I mean things that don’t fit. Look at the pieces objectively – can they be tailored or altered? If not, get yourself to a resale site or charity shop.
2. Getting to grips with your wardrobe means looking at the pieces that you don’t wear. Why? Is it because they don’t fit? (See above.) Or because you don’t know how to wear them? Consider working with a stylist to help you make the most of what you already have. It could be that you need a simple styling hack to make them work for your shape, or it may be that you’re missing the essential pair of shoes to make it work.
3. We all have a weak spot when it comes to shopping. For some of us it’s denim, for others, trainers. Empty your wardrobe and gather all similar items together. Seeing a dozen pairs of black trousers will really hammer home what you don’t need to be buying again, but also where the gaps in your wardrobe are.
4. Consider the way you fold items. A drawer full of knits or tees piled one on top of the other results in pieces languishing forgotten about at the bottom of drawers. Get some dividing boxes, from Ikea or Muji, and start folding your items before stacking them on their end, side by side.
5. Finally, the aim is not to have a wardrobe full to bursting, but a wardrobe that functions well. When you’re tempted to buy something new, ensure you can think of three ways to wear that piece. Can you dress it down fo
