Louise Roe shares her fashion detox tips
Louise Roe and Zara Martin are encouraging us all to make the most of our wardrobes and get the best out of them we can, even if that means swapping our clothes.
The pair have shared their clear-out tips as part of the Marks & Spencer ‘Shwopping’ campaign.
Marks & Spencer (M&S) and Oxfam has enlisted the help of two ‘Queens of Style’ to help the British public clear out their wardrobe ahead of the new autumn season and encourage them to give their unwanted items of clothinga future life through the retailer’s shwopping initiative.
US Glamour magazine’s Fashion Editor-at-Large, Louise Roe and TV presenter Zara Martin have each given a clear step-by-step guide to consumers to give their wardrobe a diet and help the environment at the same time.
Louise Roe says: “Be brutal, throw out anything you haven’t worn in two years or more. If you haven’t been attracted to it in that long, you never will be – but someone else might.”
Zara Martin sent a clear message to those thinking that they will one day fit into their treasured old items again: “It doesn't fit anymore, move on.”
Past ‘on trend’ items of clothing have also been dealt a blow with Roe stating: “Any trends that you wore the first time that they were in fashion (i.e. 70’s flares, 80’s shoulder pads) rarely work again on you decades later, unless it’s a timeless evening piece.”
Martin added: “You tried the trend. RIP. Now, remove the remnants.”
Shwopping is the revolutionary sustainable fashion initiative created by M&S and Oxfam, asking consumers to adopt a ‘buy one, give one’ mentalitywhen shopping and encourage greater sustainability on the high street. For further information on shwopping from Marks & Spencer visit www.marksandspencer.com/shwopping.
Louise Roe’s Tips
• Spend a Sunday afternoon giving your wardrobe some rehab- you can't do this half-heartedly. So get the whole lot out on your bed and buy new hangers, drawer separators, boxes to label, it'll feel like a totally fresh start and you might find some hidden gems
• Throw out anything you haven't worn in two years or more. If you haven't been attracted to it in that long, you never will be.
• If a garment is two or more sizes too small or too big - chuck it. You don't need visual reminders of how skinny or chubby you used to be. Better to love dressing the body you have now!
• Don't be too sentimental. Of course, hang onto anything that makes you well up at the thought of losing it, but clinging onto garments becausethey remind you of ex-boyfriends or drunken nights at university, are just not worth it.
• Any trends that you wore the first time that they were in fashion (ie. 70's flares, 80's shoulder pads) rarely works again on you decades later, unless it's a more timeless evening piece. I hate to be brutal, but if you were rocking bright eye shadows and neon’s in the 80's, you shouldn't be rocking them out again now!
Zara Martin’s Tips
• Stop being a hoarder: If you have clothing with the labels still on it hanging in your closet, the general rule is you're probably never going to wear it. Admit it was a mistake and get rid.
• It doesn’t fit anymore, move on: We all have a pair of jeans lurkin somewhere deep within our wardrobes that we wish we could still fit into - 'Inspiration jeans', if you will. In reality, they serve as a constant reminder of the good times (before we discovered Krispy Kreme). Say bye-bye, embrace the ones that do fit AND the booty!
• Stick to what you know: You tried the Bo-Ho (insert equivalent) 'trend'. RIP. Now, remove the remnants.
• Quality, not quantity: One well-cut jacket is infinitely better than 3-5 mediocre ones. Invest in quality, timeless pieces that you can enjoy wearing over and over again.
• There are no seasons: We live in the UK. Bummer for us that summer looks like winter and vice versa. Do you really need another pair of shortshorts?
Femalefirst Taryn Davies
Tagged in fashion Louise Roe Wardrobe Staples Style fashion tips