MEAGHAN SMITH PERSONAL STYLIST

Remove (stat!) any t-shirts or shirts that have yellow staining under the arms. (Even if they’re only half as bad as the one pictured.)

They’re not ok to wear even if it’s just to work-out in at the gym or to run to the supermarket.

If it’s a favourite that’s hard to part with, try soaking and whitening it but if it doesn’t work, throw it out immediately.

Be ruthless.

You don’t need to spend a lot of money on t-shirts, but you do need to update frequently.

If you find it hard to let go of pieces from your wardrobe and need some gentle encouragement book in or enquire about my Wardrobe Overhaul here 

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I recently bought a couple of pairs of white sneakers at Forges for $3.99 each. Bargain!   I’ve worn one pair a few times and they were starting to look a bit grotty – and besides I figured I didn’t really need two pairs of white sneakers.  One would suffice.  So this weekend I decided I’d dye a pair blue.

If you’ve never dyed anything before, it’s pretty easy, it’s just a bit messy.  Despite that though, I think it’s worth it if you have something in your wardrobe that you really like for whatever reason, but you can’t wear because it’s faded, it’s got a stain on it or the color doesn’t work for you.

On this particular occasion I used Rit, which I bought from Spotlight for about $7.

In the past I’ve also dyed, among other things, towels and even a white dressing gown that wasn’t looking so white anymore.   Next on my list is to dye some bed linen grey.

To get the result you’re after, you MUST follow the instructions precisely.  (I also got on the Rit website and read some of their dyeing tips before I started)

So now these….

Look like this..

Like I’ve said before, you don’t necessarily need to spend a lot of money to refresh and update your wardrobe – sometimes all that’s required is some imagination and creativity.

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This knit above as you can see, was in desperate need of maintenance.  It’s wool, so it will pill.  I was aware of that when I bought it.  It just means that every now and then I need to spend a bit of time on it.  Using a razor I give it a gentle shave – being careful not to cut the fabric.

From time to time give your clothes a once over and assess whether any items need some T.L.C.

• Have the heels worn down on your shoes, exposing the metal tips and do they need replacing?
• Is the hem on your pants, skirt or dress falling down and need fixing?
• Does your knit need to be de-pilled?
• Do you have any loose buttons that need sewing or loose threads that need cutting?  (Maybe even replace them like I did here)
• Is it time your coat went to the drycleaners?
• Are your shoes and handbag looking scruffy?  Do they need a clean and polish?
• Could your jewellery do with a clean and sparkle?
• Do you need a new watch band?
• Could your white shirt be whiter?  Does it need an overnight soak in nappy wash or bleach?

My boots are due for another visit to the cobbler to have the heels replaced.  (As you can see in the picture I’ve already had Topy soles put on them to prolong their life)  When they get back from the shoe repairers I’ll give them a clean with either shoe polish or some Mr Sheen.

My tan leather bag gets quite grubby from rubbing against my dark denim jeans or getting thrown on the ground occasionally, so I give it a gentle clean with Dove soap.   (When I contacted the company where  I bought it from in Italy to ask them what they recommended I use to clean it they said, “facial cleanser” but I’m a little bit nervous about doing that).

Some things need maintaining otherwise they start to look manky.  Pilling, balling, scuffs, marks, general wear and tear can make a big difference to how stylish you look.  Spend a couple of minutes giving your outfit a once over to see whether anything needs attention.

Certainly some things just need to be booted out of the wardrobe when they start to show signs of wear, but sometimes things just need some love and care to reinvigorate and restore them to their former glory.

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Chances are if it’s been some time since you last updated your wardrobe, that some of the things hanging on the racks, might be dated. Coats with big padded shoulders, boxy jackets with no shape, shirts with large pointy collars and jeans that are way too high waisted.

In my case, it was a couple of pairs of pants I’d bought when I was working at the bank several years ago.  I kept them because they were still in impeccable, hardly worn condition and the fabric was good, but despite the occasional try on, they hadn’t seen the light of day in years.  It was time to be ruthless and make a decision about them. Did I pass them on or did I reinvent them?

I did the latter.

One pair were part of a Country Road suit and the other a pair I’d bought while on holiday in Tokyo.

Both of these pants were now too wide in the leg,  too baggy at the knee and both just fell from the butt – no longer flattering and no longer current.  I wanted to modernise them so that they were similar to styles that are fashionable at the moment and so that I could wear them in a more casual way.  I wanted them to work with my lifestyle and also with other pieces in my wardrobe.   With knits, tees, my leather jackets, ankle boots, ballet flats and sandals.  As they were, they felt too corporate and officey.

So off I took them to my tailor to ask him whether he thought we could re-work them and turn them into slimmer fitting pants.  I showed him a couple of pictures to give him an idea of what I was thinking and he said he could do it.  He only took them in a small amount and it didn’t cost me a lot of money, but it made a big difference.

Shapes change.

Have a good look through your wardrobe and consider whether any of the pieces you have, have dated. Think about whether you can reinvent them with clever alterations or whether they simply need to be tossed.   Be honest with yourself. When did you buy those jeans?  Even if they’re “classic” Levis and still in great condition, if you bought them in the US in 1994,  chances are they’re making you look like Kath Day-Knight.  And none of us want that.

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