How much of our wardrobe is devoted to clothing we actually wear?

Facing a wardrobe makeover for a client who had put on some excess baggage around the midsection, I returned to my own wardrobe to consider the stockpile of treasures gathered during my own shape fluctuations.

I, like most women, have gone through size and shape changes. My wardrobe views as a log of these different selves.

There’s the Lose Five Kilos Wardrobe which contains the best of my wardrobe. It’s the designer stuff I buy at sample sales for summer, by then of course I’ve shed the winter weight (that was three summers ago now …).

There’s the Fat Day Gear which is designed to suit me once a month and during those carb-induced binges. None of it I actually like or wear and when I do succumb to trying it on I just feel worse for it.

There’s the Potential Pregnancy Wardrobe made up of Bali Baby Doll dresses, Tree of Life maxi skirts and jersey, jersey, jersey that I started buying two years ago so that I wouldn’t have to buy maternity clothes in desperation.

My stored wardrobe doesn’t stop there, oh no….

I also have a fancy dress section filled with retro buys that were once Faaaabbbuuullouuus Daaaaaarling - but are now too ‘Some Like it Not’ to see the light of day.

Loosely attached to the fancy dress is the dress up section filled with SATC buys, you know, sequins, puffed skirts, puffed skirts with sequins, clutch purses and vintage heels. I tell you my kid is going to be the best dressed up on the block. Let’s just hope it’s a girl cause if it’s a boy he’s going to love his mother best well into his 40’s………….

Add to this the “Comfort Factor”, the “Trends that Might Come Back” and the “I Spent too Much on This to Throw it Out” Wardrobe and you get the idea.

The sad fact is none of this ever gets worn. I’m never going to loose those five kilos that are slowly creeping to ten, I hate the fat gear and the comfort factor is made up of old tired jumpers and paint smeared leggings that no respectable 50’s housewife would be caught dead wearing. I need to face facts and throw it all out to make room for the clothing that I actually do wear on a daily basis.

I wonder how much I can get into those space bags under the bed…………………..

Right - Zimmermann Sweet Violet Long Dress, www.frockshop.com.au