Great Big Wardrobe Shake Up

I have given my wardrobe a mahoosive overhaul over the last few weekends. I wrote here about simplifying belongings & life generally.

I have been really strict asking myself  -  Do I love it? Does it fit? Does it suit? But I think the most important one is 'When did I last wear it?'

Sometimes I'd have that little voice - you know the one, it goes "But I really like these" the voice of reason then would go "Ok, so you really like them so why haven't you worn them in three years?" Charity Bag!!!

I know some people do things like turn the hangers round when they've worn something, or tie a ribbon round the top of the hanger to help them to get rid of excess, but I know what I have and haven't worn.

I'm comfortable in my skin and with what suits and what doesn't. I have 'my uniform!' It turns out it's navy, grey & cream! Or striped as you can see.....

So here is my wardrobe before I started - I also have work clothes in another wardrobe. You can see everything is crammed in - there are more shoes under my bed! & the drawer below my hanging space. I pulled everything out of the bottom of the wardrobe to start, but left everything hanging up. I then just went through every item, one by one. Some stayed, some went...

Here's what I knew could go straight away. These boots to my Daughter - the Kurt Geiger I wear with smart trousers for work but they are starting to wear on the heel, my daughter loves them. The boots I haven't worn for years & really like them???? hard to part but they had to go!

Some of these shoes I am selling in a dress agency which I haven't done before, some for the charity shop. I know what I love and wear time and again in the shoe department - no rash purchases for me in future! It's ridiculous how much we accumulate - we wear 20-30% of our clothes 70-80% of the time on average. I would say that's me! What about you? 

Accessories going, being given to friends who I know will get more wear out of them, or again my charity shop of choice Help The Aged, who I am registered with for tax relief. The little denim bag has sneaked back in as I am going to a couple of festivals this year and it may be useful???

Going to try selling these at my local dress agency. Before Christmas I sold a few things on Ebay and got bit really hard. A Hush dress with tags still attached went for three pounds - I was nearly sick - that was just one item at that time. I am loath to put these particular items on Ebay.

You can have too many pairs of jeans, yes you can!! Other's will say you can't - but they is wrong!

These I will try on Ebay......ggggrrrrr. 

& here is my finished wardrobe, less cluttered, pleases me more than you could know, haha! Admittedly still shoes under the bed......the Sweaty Betty bag I put the bottom of longer items in so they don't get dusty on the wardrobe base.

This is my jumble of workout gear - cycling, running, pilates.....No wonder I can never find anything!

Here it is tipped out .........

Not very often I run every day, so here is what I decided to keep. I do need another pair of long running pants. That's the beauty in having a good sort out. It does help you to see what you need also. I am focussing on need not want.....hhhhmmmmm, let's see how long it lasts!

 Pilates wear - all keepers

 I often have a cycling holiday so best to hang on to most stuff, although some went, mainly because it was dingy.

Here is what went - I took it to work and it all went, lots of free technical t-shirts from doing races. I am always going to skip on the t-shirt now. 

 Trunk sorted! :-) This makes me happy! No frantic searching, with ten minutes to go from now on!

 I really enjoyed this sort out, it is really cathartic and almost addictive. The more I purged the more I wanted to get rid of. I actually became stricter with myself during the whole process.

I have had a few new items sneak in since I did this clearout which I'm going to share tomorrow. But they were purchases that I really thought about first, not rash purchases. This is how I hope to be now. In many ways I am becoming a much more considerate shopper.

Thanks so much for dropping by. I hope I've maybe inspired some of you to have a sort out yourselves - if you do, enjoy it! XX

Frugal Take Off (Bagged In The Sale)

Whenever the new season Plumo catalogue drops through my door, I love to earmark a couple of things to watch for in the sale. I love the aesthetics of Plumo and have had a few really good bargains in the past, never date and really really good quality. A woollen shawl and a sarong that have travelled everywhere with me.

But this isn't a post about Plumo - it's a take off of the Plumo outfit I chose here, but from Next. Now it may not look as cool, it may not last as long, but I was pretty chuffed with my purchases. Bagged in the sale too. Total cost twenty pounds! Below Plumo, followed by moi!

 

Not as baggy and grungy but I like! Wearing my trusty Kurt Geiger Lizzy's. Fourth pair - love em!

 I also love, love, loved this wallet. Expensive +++. But for Christmas from my hubby received the gorgeous black lamb leather wallet from Hush (seen after this picture).

A snip compared to Plumo and I love, love, love it!! I now use it instead of a handbag as it fits my phone, keys, money and lipbalm perfectly! It's all I carry!

Still wanting these though! Keeping an eye out for them to be dropped further still! 

Have you bagged any bargains this January? I didn't go hustling to Next, I couldn't cope. This was a passing by and I'll just drop in....and there they were waiting!!

I hope you are enjoying the New Year so far. Wrap up - they say snow is on the way. Already had some here in Lancashire! XX

Currently Coveting

I love a throw on dress for work & these smart grey suede wedge boots will be 
perfect with a pair of ribbed tights. 

I discovered how much I love wedges for work here!!

I'm hoping White Stuff will be offering 20% off soon......
just missed out when they had their one day only discount :-(

I know some readers may have an idea of sale dates for some shops -
If you do for White Stuff please share!!
XX

Dressing Up

Whilst at a Western Wedding in July, the best man & his wife had on the most amazing western outfits and shared with us that they were from Royal Exchange Costume Hire.

So on Friday Mr.L & I headed into Manchester to choose outfits for my Niece's fancy dress party the following evening. Who knew a theatre company of this calibre would hire out the costumes worn not just at the Royal Exchange Manchester but all over the UK?

We had made an appointment and were met by the Manager Luda, an amazing lady with a wealth of knowledge of both history and costume, supported by a team of wonderful volunteers. 

Luda just knew what to put with what, the period, where it could be found - no mean feat as demonstrated by the pictures below. The department was just bursting at the seams with clothing replicating various eras; hats, shoes, jewellery. I was absolutely in awe and had a wonderful time looking around.

The outfits below were picked out for me to try on, the bright blue dress had the most 

exquisite embroidery, but sadly was too big.

Up close details...

Shoes, shoes, shoes, all sizes, colours, shapes!

Amazing fabrics, it was like wearing a piece of history! :-)

So, what's in the bag???

Here we are - a Tudor Master & his wench. I absolutely adored our outfits and 

had so much fun wearing them ;-) 

I am not so well endowed but those corsets do amazing things haha!!

 Tudor's in a Western photobooth....

Thank's for dropping by, hope you have enjoyed this post!
Also thank's to Luda who said she was going to visit!
XX

Peep Toe Booties

I discovered these whilst enjoying a lovely weekend in Clevedon with my friend - 
once home I could not stop thinking about them and hunted them down,
the way you do when you are obsessed!! 

Eventually I bagged them in Debenhams.

Made by Fly London, they are so comfortable - the perfect transitional shoe. They are also available as a closed toe in some beautiful colours.

I have hardly had them off my feet & the neutral colour-way means that they go with so many of my clothes - work or home....love the tie detail too :-)

I'm going to miss these babies once the toes are getting too chilly!

The thrill of the hunt - what have you been hunting lately?

XX