AT HOME
Our guide to spring cleaning
To begin, set aside anything you haven’t worn within the past year. This will be an easy starting point as it does not require much thought. If you didn’t wear it within its season during 2019, you most likely won’t be motivated to wear it this year. Then, in addition to items that you haven’t worn, our stylists recommend also setting aside items that fit into one or more of the following categories:
-Doesn’t fit correctly or is not a flattering color on your complexion
-Difficult to incorporate with other pieces you own
-Becoming outdated/showing signs of too much wear
-Aren’t appropriate for most of the occasions in your life.
She suggests asking yourself if an item sparks joy. If it doesn’t, there is no purpose in keeping it. The items that fall under our clean out categories above most likely do not spark joy. In fact, she explains that holding on to items that do not spark joy can become a physical and emotional hindrance. Her book is very enlightening if you are on the hunt for a new read.
When deciding what to keep, consider the opposite of what you cleaned out. The items you hold on to should be pieces that for the most part check all of these boxes:
-Have been worn within the last year
-Fit properly and is flattering on your complexion
-Are easy to incorporate with other pieces in your wardrobe
-Look fresh/has minimal signs of wear
-Are appropriate for events in your life
Cut off a pair of jeans to make shorts. This can easily be done at home with a pair of heavy duty scissors– no need to worry if your cut is perfect as they will fray. To get some extra use out of a formal dress that has had minimal wear, take it to a tailor and have them alter the hem to go from long to short.
Dye fabric. You can perform a simple color change, or opt for a more creative project like tie dying. Cotton, linen, silk, and wool are the easiest fabrics to dye as they will absorb better than synthetics. You can educate yourself a bit further via ritdye.com as well as purchase dye.
Go from day to night. Have a tailor remove the collar and buttons on a shirt or dress and create a low v-cut for a sexier look.
Switch up the items you typically pair together. For example, wear sneakers with a dress instead of sandals, or wear a fitted printed shirt under a sleeveless item.
Add a funky pair of socks to freshen up a pair of shoes. Artful socks were a notable 2020 runway trend, and are a simple way to update an older pair of sandals (even open toed is acceptable!) or sneakers.
Change the buttons. This is something that can easily be done from home and can add just the right amount of refresh to an item. Etsy and Ebay are a great source for interesting vintage finds, or you can opt to remove the button from a piece of clothing you no longer wear.
