Spring Cleaning Your Wardrobe
Spring is the time to examine your wardrobe, assessing which items are working well for you, which are underutilized, and which garments need attention. Catalogue them, including items you need to add, and create a pile of those which no longer fit.
First, tackle your highest value garments: blazers, pants, and skirts. These pieces tend to transcend the seasons and get frequent use, so look for stains or excessive wear. If you have designer labels, send them to a specialty dry cleaner. Contact the store where you purchased it for their recommendation. Most cities have dry cleaners which specialize in cleaning items like sequined gowns, but they also do everyday designer clothing. Prior to cleaning, they should examine the garment carefully and consult you on what needs to be done. They will return these items with tissue paper stuffed sleeves and collar forms in the neck. Bite the bullet and get your investment pieces cleaned twice a year.
Next, evaluate your shoes and other accessories. Take your shoes to the cobbler, a place where you can also take your belts. Cobblers are skilled in working with leather and can perhaps mend your other leather goods. Just as they do for your dress shoes, they can cleanup your belts and mend any loose threads.
Pull everything you regularly wear out of your closet, checking for loose buttons, pilling of fabrics, and stains. For garments that require hand washing, use delicate detergent which doesn’t degrade the fabric or details. A good tailor can not only fix a hem that’s coming apart, but they can also mend a tear in fabric by using a seam’s overlapping fabric, so too for worn fabric.
Finally, are there items which need retiring because they show wear? With the explosion of online consignment sites, you can replace the garment with the exact same garment just by spending a little time looking. It’s low risk since you already know the size and color you need.
Tammy’s Truism: Your closet may seem crowded if you’re not using the space efficiently. There are hundreds of storage and organization options available.
