5 tips for watering your wardrobe

Sustainability and the fashion industry is such a BIG topic that it's difficult to know where to begin. Today, I'm going to make a start by talking about 'watering your wardrobe'.  Sounds interesting?  Read on to find out more.

As well as the amount of plastic we are using, there is a lot being written about sustainability and the fashion industry at present.  Sustainability is a topic that I want to address.  Indeed it is one of the key reasons why I started to use capsule wardrobes. Yet is is such a BIG topic that it's difficult to know where to begin in order to do it justice. 

So I'm going to do what I always do when I feel overwhelmed in life and that is to chunk it down. Today, I'm going to start by talking about 'watering your wardrobe' - not literally but figuratively.  Let me explain...

It was an idea which popped into my head while I was walking recently.  What if we were to view our wardrobes in a more organic way, as being living and breathing things, which change over the course of time.  If we could, for example, think of our wardrobes as plants, we would understand that we need to (from time to time) remove the dead leaves, re-plant them, tend to them, water them and make sure that they receive enough sunlight to grow.

The more I thought about it, the more I realised how much this analogy embodies the capsule wardrobe concept.  By treating our wardrobes in the same way as we would a plant, it will allow us to build, organise and maintain our wardrobes in a more natural and sustainable way.  So let me take each element in turn and explain it in some more detail.

#1. Remove the dead leaves

Just as it is important to remove the dead leaves from a plant, so it is important to regularly remove the 'dead' pieces from your wardrobe.  By 'dead' pieces, I mean those items of clothing which:

• no longer fit you;

• no longer suit your style and so you are no longer wearing; or

• are no longer in a good enough condition to wear out in public.

Have a think about it - how many pieces like this do you currently have in your wardrobe?  Five, ten or even more than twenty?  Maybe it's time to remove those dead leaves to let some re-growth take place.

How often do you need to do this?  Every time you create a new capsule wardrobe. If you use capsule wardrobes like I do, then that would be at the start of every season i.e. once every 3 months. This will hopefully mean that the task never becomes too unmanagemable.

One top tip: turn all of your hangers the wrong way around. When you wear an item, turn the hanger back around. That way, at the end of the season, you will instantly know which pieces are 'dead' in your wardrobe.

Having removed these 'dead' pieces from your wardrobe, I would recommend that you either sell or donate them or take them to a recycling facility. (I hope to write a fuller piece at a later date about how to "dispose" of clothing responsibily.)

#2. Re-plant

Once you've removed all of the dead leaves, you may need to re-plant your flower, bush or tree. If we apply this analogy to your wardrobe, as you create a new capsule wardrobe each season, you will need to:

• Take everything out of your wardrobe.

• Give the inside and outside of your wardrobe a good clean.

• Hang your new capsule in your wardrobe.

The idea is to give everything a re-fresh. You may even feel that you have a completely new wardrobe once you've completed this step!

#3. Tend to it

As with a plant, it's also important to tend to your wardobe, lovingly and tenderly. That means, looking after the clothing items in your wardrobe on a daily, weekly and monthly basis and in particular:

• Cleaning them (but not more than they actually need).

• Removing stains.

• Mending them.

• Sewing on buttons.

• Removing loose threads.

• De-piling them.

• Getting shoes re-soled.

• Protecting and caring for silk, leather and suede items etc.

The idea is to keep the items in your wardrobe in tip top condition. That way, the items which you love and wear the most, will hopefully last you for years.

#4. Water regularly

Its also essential to regularly water your plant. How does this translate to the capsule wardrobe scenario?  Well, its important sometimes to add new items of clothing to your wardrobe, either to replace old items or give your existing items a new lease of life. Sometimes, adding one small item, can make all of the difference to your wardrobe.

For example, do you currently have a clean, high-quality and wearable white t-shirt in your wardrobe?   Think about all of the outfit combinations you could make instantly if you did! Such items are relatively inexpensive but can make all the difference as to how versatile your overall wardrobe is.

Similarly, do you have a classic brown or black belt in your wardrobe? Think about how many outfits you could transform with such an item and how many times over the years you would wear such a classic belt.  Again, adding one simple item to your wardrobe can transform it!

#5.  Make sure it gets plenty of sunlight Finally, you need to ensure that your plant gets plenty of sunlight so that it grows. Similarly, you need to wear your clothes in as many different outfit combinations as possible. You need to give them a full lease of life and let them shine. Go on, what can you wear today which will make you look and feel the best and most vibrant version of yourself?

So Today's Question comes at the end of the post:  what do you do to water your wardrobe?  Leave your comments below.  I'd love to know what you do.

If you'd like to know more about the capsule wardrobe concept, you may like to buy and download my ebook. You can visit my online shop here. Or you may like to check out my Autumn Edit or some of my previous blog posts like Why create a capsule wardrobe? or How to choose a colour palette or Capsule wardrobe basics: white or black.

Til next week!