How to dress smart: 8 fashion tips and tricks to make the most of all your clothes

How to declutter your wardrobe: The first step to utilising all your clothes is to organise them. Seeing everything in plain view will make it easier to decide what to wear every morning (Image: Canva)

Closet full of clothes but nothing to wear? A common problem might be that you don’t actually remember what you own. When you declutter your wardrobe, you see everything that you own at once and are more likely to choose your outfits more easily.

If making a choice every morning is adding to your stresses, set aside a capsule wardrobe for yourself that comprises a few select pieces that you can mix and match together, making the whole effort simpler and hassle-free.

Additionally, if you always end up wearing the same shirt with the same pair of jeans, switch it up. Pair the shirt with a skirt one time. Wear a buttoned-up dress like a long shrug or jacket. Different combinations will keep things exciting and give you endless outfit options.

Here’s a guide on how to best utilise all your clothes and make sure that every piece gets the wear it deserves, ultimately saving you time, money, and closet space.

Declutter and organise your wardrobe

The first step to utilising all your clothes is to organise them. Many people have clothes they haven’t worn in years, simply because they’ve forgotten about them. Seeing everything in plain view will make it easier to decide what to wear every morning, and you’ll be less tempted to buy unnecessary new clothes.

Steps to declutter:

• Sort through your clothes: Remove everything from your closet and sort items into three piles—keep, donate/sell, and discard.
• Ask yourself: Do I wear this often? Does it fit well? Does it suit my current style?
• Organise by category: Arrange your clothes by type (shirts, pants, dresses) or colour, making it easier to find specific pieces.

Create a capsule wardrobe

A capsule wardrobe is a collection of versatile clothing items that can be mixed and matched to create multiple outfits. By focusing on a core set of essentials, you can ensure that every piece in your wardrobe gets worn regularly and also save yourself the time and stress when choosing outfits.

How to create a capsule wardrobe:

• Choose neutral colours and classic styles that can be paired with everything.
• Invest in quality basics like a white shirt, black pants, a denim jacket, and a little black dress.
• Add a few statement pieces to keep things interesting, but ensure they complement your core items.

Often, we get stuck in the habit of wearing certain clothes in the same way. To make the most of your wardrobe, challenge yourself to create new outfit combinations using pieces you already own. This will give a new life to your existing wardrobe and get more wear out of it.

Also read | Winter wardrobe essentials: Here's a guide to latest trends, best fabrics to buy this season and more

Ideas to try:

• Layer summer clothes with winter items (e.g., a summer dress with a sweater or a shirt under a sleeveless dress).
• Pair casual and formal items (e.g., a blazer with jeans).
• Mix prints and textures for a fresh look.

It’s easy to forget about certain clothes when they’re not in season. To ensure that all your clothes are utilised, store off-season items in a separate space and bring them back when the weather changes.

Why it helps:

• Keeps your wardrobe fresh and relevant.
• Prevents clothes from being hidden or overlooked.
• Allows you to reevaluate your wardrobe each season and get excited about items again.

Sometimes we hold onto clothes that don’t quite fit, hoping we’ll wear them someday. Think about making alterations to extend the life of your clothes. You can also repurpose or restyle old clothes to make them relevant again. Turn an old t-shirt into a crop top, or an outdated pair of jeans into trendy shorts. You can also add patches, embroidery, or dye clothes to give them a new look.

Benefits:

• Reduces waste and promotes sustainability.
• Saves money by avoiding unnecessary purchases.
• Allows you to be creative and personalize your wardrobe.

To make sure you’re using all your clothes, challenge yourself to wear every item in your wardrobe at least once a month. This approach encourages you to rotate your clothes and experiment with pieces that often go unnoticed.

How to do this:

• Start by creating a “wear it” section in your wardrobe.
• Move items to a different section once you’ve worn them that month.
• At the end of the month, identify pieces that you didn’t wear and evaluate why. If you can’t find a use for them, consider donating or selling them.

• Keeps your wardrobe fresh and diverse.
• Helps you realise which clothes you actually wear.
• Reduces waste and encourages thoughtful consumption.