
Believe me when I tell you, I have been inside some pretty crazy wardrobes in my time but this week I cracked the jackpot.
Wednesday I attended to the cupboard of a self confessed hoarder. Now when clients tell me this I smile and assure them it can’t be as bad as they think. And it normally isn’t. Until now.
This was the wardrobe that kept on giving.
Every time I thought we had cleaned out as much as we could there was another draw lurking, another room with an unused closet that now doubled as a wardrobe.
Here are some wardrobe myths busted:
1. The secret to style is not how many clothes you have - it’s what you do with what you have that’s important.
2. More clothes doesn’t equal more wearable wardrobe combinations
3. No one can dress effectively with a closet stuffed full of clothing that hasn’t been worn in 10 years that you are hanging onto just in case.
4. A regular clean out isn’t just gratifying - it’s a style necessity.
I used to suffer from an over stuffed wardrobe and caught myself on many occasion buying more clothing because invariably it was easier to wear something brand new out of the bag rather than digging through years of unorganised gear.
Once I started cleaning out wardrobes for a living I was left with such a sense of peace and tranquility until I got home and had to find something to wear for the next day. I finally decided to do the chuck on my own closet and see how easy it really was to live after a Melanie Moss Wardrobe Makeover.
I was prepared to be ruthless but like my clients wardrobe, I wasn’t prepared for what I would find. I have created for your information a list of items that have definitely had their day and although we never say never in fashion, the rule is if you wore it the first time it was a trend you don’t go near it the next.
So do the right thing and take it to your local Vinnies for some poor struggling fashion student to make the find of the century. You never know you might be contributing to the reinvention of a trend!
Things you will never wear again:
1. Black mesh tops with singlets underneath
2. Levis relaxed fit bootleg jeans – even for comfort around the house its time to evict
3. Tapered leg drawstring pants (Heaven forbid any of you have any of these lurking!)
4. Velvet tops with Maid Marion arms and lace detail
5. Long hippy skirts
6. Anything one-shoulder………..
7. Anything off-the-shoulder……….
8. Lets face it anything to do with shoulders can go
9. Cheap knockoff Roland Mouret Galaxy dresses
10. And finally, drum roll please
Calling all wide square toe scuffed black boots with black block heels and zips up the side. Move on and throw them out! It doesn’t matter that you paid $300 for them back in 1995 you’ve gotten your wear out of them now, pay per wear is probably 2c its really time to say goodbye.




Thank you for actually inspiring me to do something about the piles of clothes I have stored in baskets and cardboard boxes because they wont fit in my wardrobe.
I’m starting to realise that those flannelette shirts are not going to come in handy… No-one’s going to have a Lumberjack themed party! And if they did, why would I want to attend? At least if I throw them out, I’ll have an excuse not to go. And the silver hooker skirt in case of a pimps and prostitutes party? God help me!
Thanks again.. I’m going home to purge at the end of today. Hey, it’ll be an excuse not to do my uni homework!
Posted by: Tess at May 30th, 2007 1:20 pmI did the clean out 4 months ago when I finally moved out on my own, and I must say I was a hoarder! If I hadn’t worn it for a year, and had no intention of wearing it I threw it. Just took it to my local lifeline, which did feel good
Posted by: Katherine at May 31st, 2007 12:48 pmhahaha… i agree. shoulders = disasterrrrrr! v good read
Posted by: Sarah at May 31st, 2007 2:04 pmI do a seasonal clean out and donate all to st vinnies. If you have not worn it within the year, its got to go! the positive of that means you have room for new clothing!
Posted by: Lana at June 4th, 2007 6:33 pmMelanie, thank you for not only a very valid article but a very funny one! I do wardrobe makeovers, and it is amazing what people hang on to and the excuses they use. Which reminds me that I have to do my wardrobe, too.
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