This is an exclusive extract from Rescu Me: The makeover guide for a life more fabulous by Bahar Etminan.
Forget a health detox: what every girl needs is a wardrobe cull and diet. If you are the type to hold on to clothes that you never or rarely wear, items that no longer fit you or your lifestyle, prepare for a revolution and revelation. The wardrobe detox is one of the scariest and most cathartic experiences I have ever had.
When your wardrobe’s not on your side, it’s costing you time, money, peace of mind, self-esteem and self-confidence. Colette Werden’s tips and tricks will inspire you to become the organised, ‘capsule’ fashionista whose wardrobe is the stuff of magazine shoots.
To improve your wardrobe, firstly, I need you to ditch the mentality that it is just a place where clothes are hung and stored. Your wardrobe is where you illustrate your personal brand every single day. It holds memories and feelings: it’s a reflection of your self-esteem and where you’re at in life.
9 signs you need a closet clean now
- It’s crowded with clothes that are slipping off hangers, overlapped, and disorganised
- You’ve forgotten what you have in there
- You change outfits a few times trying to figure out what to wear, or just settle for outfits that will ‘pass’ because you’ve worn them before
- You detest most items in your wardrobe, yet when you go to throw something away, you think you ‘might need it one day’
- You make impulsive, emotional purchases rather than smart investments
- You’re holding onto garments that you no longer wear
- You have tags on pieces that you haven’t worn since you’ve purchased them
- There are clothes in there that don’t fit you anymore
- Getting dressed every day is a chore, not a pleasure
Rewards of a wardrobe detox
-Your wardrobe will look like your very own in-house boutique — organised and co-ordinated, no matter what size it is.
-You’ll save time and energy getting dressed every single day, without ever giving up confidence or comfort
-Your eyes will be opened to more outfit combinations than you ever thought possible
-Any gaps that need filling will be obvious and, in turn, will shop with strategy and make clever purchases
-Your wardrobe will be versatile and support your lifestyle; you will have outfits for any occasion, at any time
You will now be able to close your eyes and pull anything out of there with the confidence that it looks and feels great on you now. Every day you’ll open up your wardrobe feeling inspired and excited and walk out of the house with the confidence that you’re representing yourself in the best way possible. You feel like you’re in control, your energy is focused on those around you and you can tackle anything that comes your way.
Your detox plan
1. Get clear on what your style actually is
Create a vision board on Pinterest of all the outfits you are attracted to. Focus on what you like, rather than whether you think the outfits you’re pinning will suit you or not. Aim for at least 20 images. Then sit back and have a thorough look at what you’ve put together. Look for common themes (there are always common themes). Is the colour palette similar? What patterns are you drawn to? Are the overall looks layered or minimalistic? Elegant or edgy? Write all the common themes down, we’ll be using this as a filter throughout the process.
2. Understand which parts of your body you want to highlight
Yes, there may be parts of your body that you do not like so much (we all have those). However, we always need to dress with our assets in mind and draw the eye to these. When these are highlighted, the parts we want hidden will be camouflaged instantly. Remove all your emotions, stand in-front of the mirror and pinpoint your asset/s – you definitely have at least one. Your waist? Your arms? Legs? Decolletage? Write these down, too. Learn The Ratio System™ in this book if you want to achieve a longer, leaner silhouette and downplay your stomach, hips and thighs.
3. Define your lifestyle
Here we need to get clear on the lifestyle that your wardrobe needs to support.
* If you work, what dress code do you need to adhere to?
* What do you do after work? What about on the weekends?
* Are there any overseas trips coming up that you need to keep in mind? Or important events that you need statement outfits for?
* If you are a full time mum, do you need a wardrobe full of smart/casual outfits that you can move like a gymnast in?
Write the key points of your lifestyle down. When we are conscious of these points, they will help us know whether we need to focus on creating outfits that will take us from work to play (versatility) or whether we need to separate both of these altogether.
Colette Werden is the Founder & CEO of Australia’s only one-stop Personal Branding Agency for entrepreneurs, an Authentic Personal Branding Expert and Keynote Speaker. She is the Style and Image expert here at Rescu and imparts her knowledge and experience to have you to get dressed for success.
