Every evening, I make a mental note to plan tomorrow’s outfit. But reality hits after my workout, tackling household chores, and tucking my daughter into bed – I’m completely exhausted! I comfort myself with the thought that my wardrobe has plenty of options for the morning. Then dawn breaks, and the daily outfit panic begins… Standing there in my robe, staring at a closet full of clothes, yet feeling like I have nothing to wear. What should be a simple decision becomes a frantic rush, turning those precious morning moments into a stress-filled scramble.

After getting everyone else ready for the day, I’d face that dreaded moment of emptiness in front of my wardrobe. Frustration would set in as I kicked myself for not planning ahead. Standing there, random outfit combinations would flash through my mind, but nothing felt quite right. This daily wardrobe struggle would inevitably make me late for the school run. I’d end up rushing out the door, feeling unsettled and lacking confidence because I hadn’t taken the time to truly consider my outfit or enjoy getting dressed. Those hurried, uncertain choices would leave me feeling off-balance all day, wondering if what I’d thrown together really worked.. Im sure many can relate!

Year of Transformation: From Closet Chaos to Confidence

Fast forward to today, and I’ve finally conquered that nagging feeling of wardrobe overwhelm. Now, getting dressed is actually enjoyable, and I feel confident in my choices!- don’t get me wrong sometimes i still get the lost feeling depending on how i’m feeling, especially when it’s that time of thew month., but i just knoiw how to tackle the feeling faster.

The Hidden Weight of Holding On

Let me be honest here – I was a hoarder. Whew, that wasn’t easy to admit, especially to my mother! My closet was bursting with items; truthfully, I barely wore half of them. Working in luxury fashion with a generous staff discount fueled my collecting habits, and my sister, being a stylist, would often pass along gifts from her clients. Naturally, I never said no!
I used to keep these pieces for imagined perfect moments – that romantic date night with my husband or that special event I’d dreamed up in my head. You know, those movie-worthy scenes where I’d float into my enchanted closet and emerge perfectly styled hours later? Reality check: life with kids means grabbing whatever’s handy and accessorising on the go! Clearly, something had to change.

The turning point came when I realised I needed dedicated, uninterrupted time to tackle this project. Before even touching a hanger, I waited for a moment when I could focus entirely.

The Secret: A Clear-Out Mindset

Success requires unwavering commitment. I didn’t want to find myself drowning in clothing confusion again in a few weeks – and I’m sure you don’t either. Here’s the golden rule I learned: you must shift your mindset and stick firmly to the guidelines, and no exceptions or shortcuts are allowed. It simply has to go if you haven’t worn something in the past year or during its appropriate season!

Emptying the Holy grail, my wardrobe.

Getting started is easier than you think! I know it can feel overwhelming at first, but all you need is a clear mindset and a willingness to let go. Trust me – once you commit to making a change, the rest will flow naturally. And remember, you don’t have to be perfect – just take that first step and stick to some simple guidelines. If you haven’t reached for something in the past year or during its season, it’s probably time to say goodbye!

Can I add, I did use a timer for all the steps as I can get overwhelmed and stop halfway and then just feel fed up. Give yourself 10 minutes for each task. It really helps.

Wardrobe Organisation

• Declutter: Sort into three piles: keep, donate/sell, and recycle/throw away.
• Identify Essentials: from the keep bundle, make a pile for essential items you wear regularly and make sure they cover various occasions and weather conditions. I call this my capsule Items. I keep these to a minimal, around 10 Items and separate them from all my other clothes. If you don’t know were to start , these are my essentials : I will talk more about the reason behind it towards the end.
  • White button shirt
  • Black tailored trouser
  • T-shirts, (one black and white)
  • A pair of jeans
  • Cardigan or a jumper
  • Long sleeve top, great for layering when the weather is not great- perfect for British weather!
  • Trench Coat
  • A black dress/skirt.

So now you should have 4 piles. Capsule, regular keepers, donation/sell and throw away. Make a space for the Capsule bits in your wardrobe, if you can divide them somehow from your regular items that would be helpful and easier to navigate.

With the keepers (regular clothes) section:

• Seasonal Rotation: put away off-season clothes elsewhere, bringing them out when needed, I have a ottoman bed and I place all my seasonal items in a vacum bag under the bed. I have a bag for Tops/ Dresses and trousers.
• Group by Category : In your wardrobe, place similar items together (e.g. trousers and skirts). I purchase some clip hangers and hang all my skirts and trousers in one section. I brought the velvet hangers (must have) and hang all my blouses and t-shirts, these hangers are amazing as they are not bulky and the tops do not slide off. You can find these hangers on amazon and all home stores.

• Colour Coordinate: I arrange my items in colour, I own a lot of white shirts and keep them together, then browns, blacks and so on.

By the Time you finish, you should have an organised wardrobe, Easy on the eye and you will know were everything is.

For Accessories such as belts and scarfs, I purchased some draw organisers.

I love my jewellery and I have a lot of it, especially costume jewellery. I did a spurge and purchased this jewellery organiser cabinet from Amazon.

This tardis is amazing and also a great mirror. I mounted mine on the wall, you can also hook it on to your door.

With the Donation /Sell Items, either bag it up and give it your local charity shop or if you have bits you paid good money for, items still with the tags you wish you could money for, sign up to Vinted. I’ve tested many online market shops but this one just works for me.

I signed up a few years ago and I can’t tell you how much this has benefited me. I have made a good amount of money( not huge amounts but a satisfying amount), but best thing is knowing someone will enjoy your items is the most rewarding feeling of all.

At the beginning Vinted can be a little slow but once your active i’m telling you it’s amazing. I’m always telling my friends and family about Vinted, I should really become a Vinted advocate!

Why Implement a Capsule Wardrobe.

Why make a space for a capsule section? When your in a rush or just confused about what to wear you can always rely on the capsule. Select Key Pieces: Choose a limited number of versatile items that mix and match easily, As mentioned, I have a pair of trousers , t-shirts and blouses etc, It just works, when your in a rush and don’t have time to decide on a theme, you just go to your capsule section and throw on a nice pair of trousers, t- shirt and your done. You don’t get too overwhelmed.

I adore being able to get ready quickly and still look effortlessly chic. I will write up about key staple pieces soon and link it to this article.

Maintain Your System, Extra tips:

• Regularly Edit: Review your wardrobe every season to keep it current.
• Adopt a One-In, One-Out Rule: Whenever you buy something new, donate or sell an item. Join Vinted!
• Mirror Your Lifestyle: Organise your wardrobe to reflect your daily routine and lifestyle. As a busy mum and digital manager constantly on the go, I need my wardrobe to offer quick, easy choices that keep me looking stylish, even in the midst of a hectic day!
• Customise Storage: Adjust shelves and hangers to fit your clothing needs. I have ikea draws within my wardrobe to help organise my under tops, the thin cos long sleeve I adore!

Finally!

Organise your wardrobe to mirror your lifestyle, and you’ll find a sense of peace in your daily routine. It brings a positive feeling, readying you for whatever the day holds.

If you have any questions or feel you need some guidance, please feel free to drop me a comment!

A few facts…

University of Queensland Study: Demonstrates how clothing impacts mood and self-perception .

Enclothed Cognition: Study by Adam and Galinsky, showing that wearing specific clothing can affect cognitive processes and behaviour .

Kondo, Marie. The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: Organising your space, including your wardrobe, can positively impact your well-being and prepare you mentally for daily tasks.

Journal of Experimental Social Psychology: Research showing improved cognitive performance and feelings of power when dressed in formal attire .

Happy Organising!!!! x