Style Spring Cleaning

Do you find yourself with nothing to wear? Surrounded by mountains of clothes but you can’t seem to find what you’re looking for. New clothes waiting to be worn, old ones gathering dust. Well then it’s time for a wardrobe revamp!

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Step 1 – Clean out your wardrobe

We all hold onto so much junk in our closets. Items that have never seen the light of day, old frocks that you hope will come back in season, those jeans that just don’t fit anymore and you’re hoping one day you will be able to squeeze back into them? Now is the time to grab those black bags and DUMP!

Get rid of anything that you haven’t worn in a while. Unless it’s seasonal like a winter jumper, throw it out. There is no point holding onto them when their only purpose is taking up space in your wardrobe. By getting rid of clothes, you are making room for new ones, and who doesn’t love shopping?

Unless you know that an item of clothing is coming back in for the following season then there is no point in keeping it. Anyway, when a garment comes back in style, elements of it have been altered to give it a new appeal. Any item that still has the price tag on it either wear it or throw it out. There are plenty of charity shops that would love your old clothes.

Step 2 – make a list

Once you have de-cluttered your wardrobe make a list of items that you need. When I say ‘need’ I’m not talking about that designer dress you’re only going to wear once. I’m talking about practical items; basics. Think of items that you can dress up and dress down. A few pairs of jeans, plain tops, things like that, and alter them to fit your style.

Once your list is complete, take it shopping with you. I recently shopped for a few basic pieces myself. However, when I shop for these items I look for them in specific shops. Topshop have a fantastic selection of plain tops and turtle necks ranging in a variety of colours. Penny’s are brilliant for tops and vests. They are so affordable! Lately, I love buying my jeans in NewLook. I’m loving high rise with a long sleeve turtle neck at the moment. I love that these jeans have three buttons as opposed to one button and a zip.

The first item I bought was this plain white shirt in Topshop. White shirts are so versatile and perfect for those days when you feel lazy but you still want to look like you’ve made an effort.  Pair it with some skinny’s and you’re good to go!

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A striped shirt is simple. This one was €46 in Topshop.

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Turtlenecks are so effortless yet they look chic.

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I always have a black, white and grey version in my wardrobe. I bought blue and green ones in Topshop as well (€20 each). They had it in salmon too but as I am quite pale I tend to avoid that colour.

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I bought all three pairs of jeans in NewLook.

Black high-waisted €29.99 (3 buttons)

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Light wash denim €29.99 (3 buttons)

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Dark wash denim €29.99 (one button)

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I bought two white vests (€4 each) in Penny’s/Primark to go underneath lace tops. I always have white, black and nude string tops/vests on hand for this purpose.

Loose t-shirts are comfortable and can be thrown on under a statement leather jacket.

Grey top €5.00 (Pennys/Primark)

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Black top €5.00 (Pennys/Primark)

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White top with pocket €4.00 (Pennys/Primark)

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White top with lace short sleeves €5.00 (Pennys/Primark)

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Step 3 – look for statement pieces

Hat
Leather jacket
Scarf
Sunglasses

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Statement pieces can transform an outfit.  As red is my favourite colour I love incorporating it into my outfits. I bought this red Denton felt hat at the Strand House in Dingle. It was €39.95. Hats are fantastic accessories to own.  Statement pieces can be a chunkie necklace, a hat, or perhaps a bag.

A favourite staple of mine is a black leather jacket. You can throw this on over jeans or even dresses as black goes with pretty much everything. I purchased this one in River Island last year and I have been wearing it constantly ever since.

Scarfs are another statement piece in my wardrobe. Not only do they keep you warm, they also add texture and movement to an outfit. If you read my Mother’s Day post you’ll know all about this scarf that I bought in Blarney woollen mills. It is 100% merino wool and reminds me of a Burberry scarf. I wear it all the time.

I always carry sunglasses in my bag. Even if it’s a rainy day in Ireland, since the weather is so unpredictable here, you never know when the sun might come out. I bought this pair in penny’s and I just love the cat ear detail on the frame. I always opt for mirrored lenses when I’m buying sunglasses as I think they look really cool.

I hope these tips will help you find to reduce wardrobe clutter and allow you to express your individual style.