HAVE you ever stood in front of a wardrobe bursting with clothes and still insisted you’ve got “nothing to wear”? Welcome to my life.
As a woman in my late forties juggling two lively children and a busy career as a journalist, organising my wardrobe ranks somewhere below defrosting the freezer and replacing the toilet roll holder on my to-do list.
10
10
Every summer it’s the same story. Holiday booked, suitcase half-packed, and me standing in my bedroom, declaring to my husband that “nothing looks good,” before instinctively scrolling Zara online for last-minute buys.
Yet I don’t actually need to spend any money on new clothes; I just need some help with the ones I’ve already got.
And I’m not alone, as 62 per cent of women own clothes they’ve never worn, while nearly half of female online shoppers have bought something they’ve worn just once or never worn at all.
Research shows women accumulate an incredible £22,140 worth of unworn clothing over their lifetime, highlighting just how much we are – stupidly – willing to fork out on clothes that ultimately sit unworn in the back of our wardrobes.
More on shopping
SALE AWAY
Major UK shopping centre with over 60 stores is put up for SALE for £18.5m
MAXX OUT
New TK Maxx opens its doors in UK city centre – as it takes over an old Wilko
10
10
My own wardrobe had become a dumping ground. Dresses are crammed into plastic bags destined for Vinted or the local charity shop, while jackets are stuffed messily into the back of my wardrobe – which sadly doesn’t lead to Narnia and therefore can’t cope with the volume.
After splashing out on a family holiday, getting a new wardrobe – whether it’s for my holidays or for heading back to the office in autumn – hasn’t been an option.
Instead, social media keeps teasing that there’s a solution that could save me hundreds, right under my nose – in my very own wardrobe.
TikTok fashion creators, including Alison Lumbati, founder of Outfit Formulas, and Sarah Buckingham, who specialise in putting together outfits for women over 40, insist that most women already own plenty of great clothes; they simply need help knowing how to pair them.
Most read in Fabulous
MUM’S SHOCK
I’m on child-abuse registry for letting son, 5, do something ‘lots of kids do’
MYSTIC MEG
Get away this weekend if you can. A neighbour has a suggestion for where to go
RED FLAGS
Subtle signs your man is having an affair… and why he’s more likely to cheat NOW
FOREVER YOUNG
My £6 skin secret & recipe for ‘Mounjaro in a glass’ has kept me ageless
Instead of splashing out on more, the idea is to rediscover what you already own and style pieces in new ways.
In a bid to save money, I enlisted the help of veteran stylist Alicia Kite, who has spent more than 40 years helping women rediscover their confidence through clothes.
But rather than rummage through my wardrobe straight away, she asked me about how I want to feel when I get dressed.
“Clothes really can change how you feel about yourself,” Alicia says. She described me as playful, professional and a little edgier than I gave myself credit for, but when we finally opened my wardrobe doors, it wasn’t pretty.
Some clothes were stained, others were ripped, and my mismatched hangers made everything look even more chaotic.
Our mission was clear: build a wardrobe from what I already owned before my family road trip to France.
The first step was simple. Everything winter-related came out; we’re still a few months away from needing thick winter coats and jackets, with the temperature still set to soar to 26C this month.
Next, Alicia organised what was left into sections – dresses, skirts, trousers, tops, jackets and knitwear – before arranging everything by colour.
Then came the real test. I reached for one of my usual outfits: denim shorts, trainers and a plain T-shirt, but looking in the mirror, they felt unflattering and drab.
Alicia swapped the T-shirt for a pink satin shirt I’d buried in a plastic bag years ago, added a turquoise kimono I’d bought in Ibiza and completely forgotten about, and unearthed a chunky ’90s necklace from my neglected jewellery box. I also swapped my trainers for wedges.
I’d have laughed if someone had described the outfit to me beforehand, but I looked at my reflection and saw someone who looked fun again.
The biggest surprise was that I didn’t need to buy anything new; I already owned every single piece.
Alicia repeated the trick with a pair of floaty blue trousers that look a lot like pyjama pants and sometimes make an appearance on school runs.
Instead of pairing them with an old, dowdy fleece, she added a blue satin shirt I’d been saving for work Zoom meetings, my favourite Sarah Haran blue handbag and some low heels.
10
10
I wasn’t suddenly Cindy Crawford walking a Milan runway, but I did feel more confident walking across my own bedroom.
Then came the biggest lesson of the day – accessories really do matter!
I’d abandoned most of my jewellery years ago. It sat tangled in a box – alongside some of my kids’ milk teeth – but Alicia challenged me to think differently.
Soon I realised my biggest money saver would be using the accessories I already had stashed away in a box to completely switch up some otherwise bland looks.
A chunky necklace instantly lifted the plain vest top. A lightweight shirt worn open over a dress suddenly made it feel current.
Swapping trainers for wedges transformed an everyday outfit into something I’d happily wear out for dinner.
It sounds obvious, but I’d completely forgotten how much impact those small finishing touches can have.
Then Alicia asked me to choose a dress I was ready to throw away.
10
10
I picked a white dress covered in lemons that I’d bought during some kind of shopping frenzy.
Every time I saw it hanging in my wardrobe, I wondered what on earth I’d been thinking.
Within minutes she’d added a chunky necklace, layered an open white shirt over the top and finished the look with strappy wedges.
Instead of looking dated, it suddenly felt chic enough for holiday evenings in France.
I couldn’t believe it was the same dress.
Next came a red and white strappy number I’d bought from TK Maxx, which I’d convinced myself no longer suited me because I’d put on weight and felt self-conscious about my arms being too exposed.
Alicia reached for a white shirt I’d been ready to donate. Worn open with a statement necklace, it completely changed the outfit.
Rather than hiding my body, it skimmed over the areas I worried about while still making me feel stylish. It passed what I now call the “holiday test”.
10
10
By the end of the afternoon, we’d created at least six complete outfits from clothes I’d already owned – and I didn’t spend a penny in Zara.
Instead of focusing on what I felt I couldn’t wear, Alicia showed me how to make flattering shapes, clever layering and comfortable shoes work together. It was simply about seeing what I already owned with fresh eyes.
A week later, I’ve carried on what I now call my “wardrobe cleanse”.
Instead of collapsing in front of Netflix every evening, I’ve spent half an hour sorting through clothes, trying on forgotten outfits and planning combinations I’d never considered before.
I’ve also replaced my battered mismatched hangers with matching velvet ones.
It sounds like a tiny change, but opening my wardrobe now feels completely different.
Everything is easier to see and, somehow, getting dressed feels less stressful too.
Perhaps the biggest surprise is that my wardrobe wasn’t actually full of bad purchases after all.
Over the years I’d convinced myself I’d wasted hundreds of pounds on clothes I’d never wear again.
The truth was I simply didn’t know how to style them.
Before clicking “add to basket” next time I shop online, I’ll be asking myself whether I already own something that could work just as well.
RECOMMENDED STORIES
That simple change in mindset has probably saved me hundreds of pounds this summer alone.
And the only shopping trip I can really justify now? A few new accessories.
ALICIA’S TOP TIPS FOR SHOPPING YOUR WARDROBE
Try everything on: Most women wear the same small percentage of their wardrobe. Trying pieces on again helps you rediscover forgotten favourites.
Only keep clothes you love: If something doesn’t make you feel confident, ask yourself why you’re holding on to it.
Pack away out-of-season clothes: Store bulky winter items elsewhere so you can clearly see what you’ll actually wear over the next few months.
Organise by category and colour: Group tops, dresses, trousers and jackets together, then arrange each section by colour to make outfit planning quicker.
Make every item work harder: A jacket, statement necklace or different shoes can completely change the look of an outfit without spending any money.
Think about cost per wear.If you do buy something new, choose pieces you’ll wear again and again rather than impulse buys that stay in the wardrobe.
Take one wardrobe staple – like a pair of jeans – and then plan six outfits around it with old vest tops and longer shirts unbuttoned and worn on top like a lightweight blazer