With Christmas and New Year now a whole year away it seems we have a few months of dreary weather and wrapping up ahead of us. But if like me, the thought of spring fills you with excitement, then why not start shopping for it? As I logged in to my emails today with a slightly deflated feeling that we all have at this time of year, it made my day to have more than a few newsletters from shops and designers who are now advertising their Spring lines.
For me, it was H&M and Topshop from the high street that excited me the most, with floral dresses and denim shirts in fresh spring colours. It would have been criminal not to place an order. So I did, and a shirt, knit top and a pair of denim cut offs are currently on their way.
But just as much of my excitement comes from sorting through last years summer clothes… hidden gems and forgotten loves. So this weekend, I’m pulling it all out and having a look through what I have. I remember doing this last year and although my boy told me that it was simply to early to fill the wardrobe (edging on to his small area too) with summer dresses and floaty tops – I PROMISE you, it felt like summer came a whole lot quicker!
This year I have promised his good self that I will add only a few new pieces to my summer wardrobe, which without, I could possibly die. So this year my wish list read’s as follows… a new tan bag (Mulberry?) to match my gorgeous wedges, heels and sandals I ALREADY (see I’m being practical) have from last year. A white Topshop skirt that I saw in Vogue with tight chiffon pleats (gorgeous!), something fluro orange – preferably a skirt, a Katherine Hamnett slogan t-shirt and last but certainly not least, a pair of aviator’s! Short and sweet but certain to get me through those sun-shiny months. And this way… I will not be taking up any more wardrobe space as the bag can sit on the floor, the sunglasses in my car and the two skirts…well I can hide them in amongst his things, surely?
Our wardrobe situation you see is that of a sticky subject…I am somewhat of a hoarder and in recent years have accumulated quite a lot of clothes. Which in his defense, have not been worn in quite some time. But that doesn’t mean that I’m ready to give them a new home! I get very attached to clothes, and have had my fingers burned by my hasty decisions in the past. I once decided to have a massive clear-out and bagged up at least ten bags of ‘love’ for charity but by accident… a dress that I absolutely adored was mixed up and gave away. When I realised and went to buy it back, it had gone. So from that day on, the only clothes that leave this house… are sent to my sisters… and then when she is done with them I get them back and she operates in exactly the same way!
Problem is though, we’re not ruled by how good things look…but remember the fabulous night we had in them. Hence the fact that clothes which are way over their sell-by-date are still hanging in one of our wardrobes! We once found one of the mothers eighties jackets and decided to try it on and take Polaroids of the ‘amazing’ jacket paired with different (past their sell by date) pieces. Inevitably, that jacket can’t go in the charity bag because “Aww that’s Mam’s jacket!”
So my decision to go minimal in buying this year…is one of practicality and at least then I can rest assured that the furthest they will ever have to go…is my sisters wardrobe! Oh sue me. I just LOVE clothes.