Spruce up your wardrobe for spring

Spring is on its way, the perfect time to give your wardrobe a bit of attention.

Ballito based image consultant Wendy Hind has some great tips on the subject, preventing you from having those dreaded I’ve-got-nothing-to-wear moments.

“Ask yourself this question: what percentage of my existing wardrobe do I wear on a regular basis? If you are only wearing 10-20 percent of your clothes and accessories, then it is time to take action,” says Hind.

There is no better time than the present to take stock of what is not being worn in your wardrobe, and what is needed to create a working wardrobe that will suit your lifestyle, personality and budget.

Hind has come up with 10 fundamentals of wardrobe planning:

1. Make sure your wardrobe reflects your current lifestyle (be it smart, smart-casual, casual-smart or casual) and that garments and outfits you creatively put together match up to the overall image you are wanting to project. As a guide, your wardrobe should be at least 70-80 percent functional, but there should be an element (about 20-30 percent) of fashion, regardless of your occupation, your age, and your personality. Be authentic and be consistent in the clothes you wear, and the image you project.

2. Don’t duplicate (you don’t need more than two pairs of black pants!)

3. The general rule is to have more tops and fewer bottoms (70 percent tops / 30 percent bottoms).

4. Go for more plain clothes than print (70 percent plain / 30 percent print), and prints should be no bigger than the size of your fist, as this can be unflattering.

5. Use the X3 principle i.e. make sure that every garment matches another three garments within your wardrobe.

6. No wire coat hangers! Wooden or plastic are best for garments that need to be hung up.

7. All knits to be folded to prevent stretching.

8. Group items together – hang all tops together, all bottoms together, etc.

9. Get rid of garments and accessories based on incorrect colour, incorrect style, a mismatch to your current lifestyle or just worn out (the white shirt that is now grey, the jersey full of fluffy balls, the jacket that is three sizes too small).

10. Fall in love with your wardrobe all over again, and never compromise on quality, fabric, fit or length.

Download The North Coast Courier mobile app, now available free from the Apple iStore and on Google Play, for IOS and Android phones.