As the seasons change and the weather cools, there is no better time than now to give our wardrobes a new lease of life and give it a good old reset. Resetting your wardrobe is a great way to start the new season and make sure you have a good bank of Autumn styles that will get you excited for the upcoming months.
And although a new season may have us tempted to splurge on a whole new wardrobe, a proper assessment of what we already have will save us money and valuable time in the long run.
We’ve spoken to Megan Watkins, Head Stylist at online fashion destination SilkFred who has shared 4 top tips on how to reset your wardrobe this Autumn. From how to solve all your ‘I don’t know what to wear’ dilemmas, to ensuring you’re not spending your hard-earned wages on fleeting trends that won’t see you past November.
1. Assess your hardest working pieces
We all love a good social media trend, but identifying the styles that we will actually wear this season should be your first port of call when resetting your wardrobe.
Megan recommends: “In order to create a seamless Autumn wardrobe that won’t break the bank, it’s important to assess the items that you can use as base pieces for future outfits. These should be staple items that are versatile and can be worn with more trend-led pieces.”
“There are some big trends this Autumn, such as red, peplum and metallics, but there are also eternal Autumn styles that you’ll find yourself reaching for again and again. I would suggest going through your wardrobe and identifying the following key pieces:
- Black suit trousers
- Classic white shirt
- Long-sleeved black top
- Well-fitted jeans
- Black button-up cardigan.”
“Whenever you’re stuck for Autumn outfit inspiration, you can select one of these items and build a solid outfit around it.”
2. Get rid of clothes that no longer fit
We can all be a little guilty of holding on to items that used to bring us joy, but now are either dated or we’ve physically grown out of. Although these items can often hold sentimental value, they can also lead to some serious fashion faux-pas.
Megan recommends: “This may seem like an obvious one, but as you go through your wardrobe you may be surprised at how many items no longer look how they used to. This isn’t just about our own bodies changing, it’s also looking at how your personal style changes – e.g. you may be favouring a more oversized or tailored look.”
“Getting rid of items that no longer fit or serve you is a great way to create valuable wardrobe space and organise your clothes and an organised wardrobe will lead to less outfit confusion and will help you avoid wearing something that doesn’t represent you anymore.”
3. Create a photo album of styles
We can’t be the only ones who could spend all day on Pinterest, making aesthetic boards with the intention that they can work as a reference for our fashion problems. However, investing the time and making a real-life Pinterest board out of the styles you already have in your wardrobe is a surefire way to get ready for Autumn.
Megan suggests: “Providing you have the time, creating a bank of styles that you can refer to in the future will give you a good idea of what you have in your wardrobe and what will work for the new season.”
“To do this, as you are going through and organising your wardrobe, you can pick out Autumn-appropriate items, style them and take a photo to save them for later. Not only is this a great reference point for every ‘I have no idea what to wear’ dilemma, you can also figure out what your wardrobe is lacking and what items you actually need to invest in for the new season.”
4. Set spending rules
Even though summer is over, we’re not ready to part with our westerncore aesthetic just yet.
Megan reveals: “Setting a clear and concise budget is never a bad idea when it comes to fashion. By this point in your wardrobe reset, you’ll be able to identify what items your wardrobe is missing. This way you can make a realistic budget and spend your money on items you’ll actually wear.”
“However, fashion isn’t all about what you need, and buying the odd item that makes you happy or is for a specific event isn’t the worst thing in the world. I would recommend putting a little money aside from your overall fashion budget for a fun impulse buy.”
