Wardrobe detox

Jennifer Dunkerly helps you step out of the clutter and into summer style

By Jennifer Dunkerly

My wardrobe used to resemble a jumble sale. Clothes exploded out of the shelves and drawers. Dresses hung on every available door, handle and hook. What I couldn’t hang up, I draped – or mostly flung – over chairs or bulging drawers, prised opened specifically for the purpose. Yet I still fed my shopping habit and indulged in new fashions and high street trends, adding to the array of fantastic items I would surely wear only once but hoard for years and years.

Does this sound familiar? If you, too, open your clothes cupboard and shudder in horror and frustration, it may be time, as I discovered, to give your wardrobe a break. Ask yourself seriously, when you last gave your wardrobe a real thorough detox. I mean a major, ruthless overhaul.

Like us, our wardrobes change with the seasons – and with the shops full of all the newest summer styles, it’s time to work out what to buy, what to chuck out and (most ruthlessly) what actually is left to keep.

Now you may not think this applies to you but I beg to differ. Fashion is a fickle business and I’d argue that even the least likely fashionista has something resembling a wardrobe. Every time you open your wardrobe in the morning you are making a conscious fashion decision. And with summer officially on its way do you really want to wade through all of last years jumpers to get to that all important T-shirt? Why not make it easy on yourself and clear out the clutter?

What to bin, right now:

• Anything that has shrunk or has holes
• Slogan T-shirts (as dated as ‘Kiss me quick’ or ‘Good FCUK!’)
• Hot pants
• Low-slung jeans that reveal thong elastic
• Old socks
• Pants, especially thongs that are over a year old
• Combat pants (Spice who?)
• Wraparound cardigans
• Warrior-style belts
• Gipsy skirts (save for beach holidays only)

What to keep

• A properly fitting bra (I hate to sound like your mum but these are like gold-dust no matter what your shape/size)
• Your skinny jeans, they’re sticking around for a while yet.

What to buy

• Ballet pumps, we like this soft low-cut pair from Asos.com – only £18
• A great waist-cinching belt, can accessorize any outfit, such as this Jocasi Westend leather belt – £55 from Asos.com
• Summer T-shirt – such as this stripped one with classic capped sleeves from Warehouse, £22
• Summer dress, whether skimpy, chic or bohemian a soft summer dress is an essential holiday item. We like this white box dress from New Look, only £25.
• Invest in some good sunglasses – a good quality must-have item will last through the seasons, look cool and protect your eyes. Vintage specs have exploded over from last summer in the celebrity-style, check out Linda Farrow Vintage to see what the likes of Kate Moss and Victoria Beckham are wearing. We like these Fiorelli striped specs, only £38 from Asos.com