Latest news with #AlexandraFullerton
Telegraph
29-05-2025
- Health
- Telegraph
How to look great in jeans at every age
Trends may come and trends may go, but one thing remains true: A reliable pair of jeans or (or two) is the foundation of every well-dressed woman's wardrobe – whatever your age. The etiquette of where and when you can wear jeans has changed radically, of course. Now it's perfectly acceptable to wear a smart dark wash denim jean to work or on a night out. However, the key to looking and feeling confident in jeans is fit. And here's the rub… confusing sizing and the frustrations of navigating websites mean that we've fallen out of love with shopping. That's why so many of us stick to whatever jeans we've worn for the last 10 years (or whatever is in the cupboard); so we never really get on board with flattering modern new cuts like barrel-leg jeans, or cropped styles that work really well in summer. 'Jeans are so many women's nemesis when it comes to the try-on process but they are the one item that can elevate casual looks and also refresh an outfit so it looks contemporary,' says Alexandra Fullerton, who is not only a regular Telegraph contributor, but a personal stylist, who regularly helps clients get over their jeans-trying phobias. 'The process has to be kind and needs to be considerate to any past traumas in the changing room… My role is to honestly advise on how things look (I take videos to show clients the 360 view of what flatters – or not) and also share my thoughts on what trends have longevity and making sure the client invests in denim in the best way for their lifestyle.' Happily the British high street is still a good hunting ground for jeans. In fact, M&S denim has several devotees in the Telegraph offices (the stores's 2024/25 results showed they sold more than 10 million pairs of jeans – there's been a 7 per cent rise compared with last year – and prior to their recent cyber-hack troubles they were selling ten pairs of jeans every minute). While my stylish colleague Lisa Markwell favours 'Tesco's dark denim wide-leg jeans' and the subtle details – raw hems, patch pockets – that the store's design team introduce to update their core fits. 'Getting back in the game is the best way of reigniting your understanding of shopping – particularly for jeans,' counsels Fullerton. 'Plan a morning and head to a multi-brand boutique or department store and be prepared with coffee and an open mind. Take a stylish friend, or a stylist, for non-biased opinions and be prepared to spend time reacquainting yourself with all the new cuts and silhouettes. Size up to begin with, there is nothing worse – or more dated looking – than squeezing into something too tight. Take lots of pictures, from all angles too (this is where a friend comes in handy) as well as for moral support.' With this advice in mind, the Telegraph team scoured the stores to showcase jeans that work well for our different ages and personal styles, putting together two different looks: one casual and one smart. Get thee to a changing room – and find your true blue hero fits! Skip to: 20s 30s 40s 50s 60s Sophie Tobin – 20s Casual Agolde Kelly high rise straight leg jeans, £300, Net-a-Porter Sacai Nylon bomber jacket, £680, MyTheresa; Shirt, from a selection, Cos; Hai Silk shoes, £142, Whistles; Gold plated earrings, £359, Tom Wood I'm 6ft so good quality jeans at the right length are few and far between. I've tried a crop (on me they're more like pedal pushers), dipped into the Mom jean trend (the narrowed ankle makes everything very top heavy) and given a loose wide leg a go (way too much fabric swishing around) and have come to the conclusion that there is nothing better than the classic straight leg. I have three pairs of jeans in my rotation and prefer a thicker denim which means they keep their shape, last for years and justify a higher price point. So many high-street stores don't offer longer lengths (Topshop Tall used to be my go to) but I've found Abercrombie & Fitch, M&S and Zara are your best bet if you don't mind stretch denim. Smart Ayla polish denim trousers, £340, Citizens of Humanity; Tubular knitted tank, £45, Cos; Leather belt, £125, J&M Davidson; Loafers, from a selection, Russell & Bromley; White rhodium plated earrings, £299, Tom Wood I always make sure to try on jeans with the highest shoes I would wear them with to get the length perfect and when shopping online, I check the height of the model. Another trick is to buy turn up hem jeans and turn them down (if you're getting them tailored remember that you can take fabric away but you can't add it on). For smarter denim, I've chosen these subtle tapered-leg jeans which are just different enough from my day-to-day straight legs and are cut to a trouser fit, making them feel a little more special. Made from Eco-Indigo, these jeans are guaranteed to last a lifetime and at the perfect length the cost-per-wear will be worth it. Get the look... Sonia Haria – 30s Casual High waisted cropped flare jeans, £39.50, Marks & Spencer; Blouse, from a selection, Sezane; Leather tote bag, £155, & Other Stories; Shoes Sonia's own My weekend uniform usually consists of a dark grey or mid-blue pair of straight-leg jeans with a T-shirt or cotton shirt. This takes me from early morning kids football practice to an afternoon barbeque with friends (I just swap out my trainers for a pair of sandals). I am in jeans most of the time and have more pairs in my wardrobe than I care to admit – except I didn't have a pale blue pair like the ones by M&S worn in our shoot. I'm really taken with them; I've paired the jeans with one of my favourite jazzy floral shirts by Sezane and the leopard-printed leather sandals by Topshop I have worn for the past seven summers. I also love the kick-flared cropped length of the jeans; at 5ft 3in, I avoid very baggy shapes, and I found this cut to be surprisingly flattering. A bargain for under £40, too. Smart High waisted denim trousers, £125, Sezane; Top, from a selection, Cos; Shoes, from a selection, Marks & Spencer For the evening, high-waisted, dark-washed denim in a wide-leg shape is very much my comfort zone. This pair of jeans by Sezane are utter perfection. They are too long to wear with flat shoes, but I'm not mad about that – if I'm out for a dinner with friends, I will usually be in some sort of comfortable heeled sandal anyway. I think this is a classic pair of jeans that will never date, and although they are wider in structure, I've paired them with a fitted linen bandeau top by Cos for some balance. The whole outfit is just dressy enough for my liking, and the bare neckline means I can wear some sort of fun necklace (in this case, a 4 euro beaded choker from a Greek market a few weeks ago). Get the look... Tamara Abraham – 40s Casual Extreme tapered jean, £175, Me+Em; Organic cotton T-shirt, £30, Colourful Standard I've developed an addiction to barrel-leg jeans, the more exaggerated the better. Some friends are baffled by this, convinced they're a shortcut to broader hips, but I find them to be flattering, nipping in my waist, yet delivering a slightly grunge-y slouch that's pleasing to the Nineties teenager in me. The shape makes all my staple shirts, T-shirts and blazers look more current – anything that helps my existing wardrobe work harder is a win for me. My all-time favourites are the Sienna Miller for M&S grey cropped barrel-leg jeans – you can't buy them new anymore, but I've just tracked down a white pair on Vinted for £30. For blue denim the wash of this Me+Em pair is spot on. As a general rule, non-stretch denim is key – it requires a little wearing-in but the way it hangs on the body is so much more effortless and expensive-looking. Smart The Kite Rancher argyle frayed jacquard denim jeans, £325, Wiggy Kit; Silk top, £150, Rise & Fall; Suede shoes, £450, Toteme; Rope-chian necklace, £44.99, H&M This silhouette transcends into eveningwear beautifully, and white jeans look so elegant when you add heels and jewellery. This Wiggy Kit pair has a frayed argyle pattern woven into the denim that makes it more formal. There are also buttons at the back to adjust the fit at the waist. I'm 5ft 4in, so somewhere between petite and regular – those shorter of stature will love Mother's cream Lil' Mother Half-Pipe ankle jeans with black piping down the leg. Get the look... Sarah Bailey – 50s Casual XL Straight jeans, £110, Levi's; Reversible denim and nylon blouson, £860, Levi's x Sacai; Tencel lyocell shirt, £130, With Nothing Underneath; Suede shoes, £150, Esska I love the sassy, can-do energy that wearing a great pair of jeans can bestow. But, of course, if you are wearing a style that is too tight and cuts you in half when you sit down… well, all that goes out the window. I blame my 1980s and 1990s youth, but for years I associated looking fashionable in jeans with sausaging my legs into the most uncomfortable straight-leg/drain-pipe/spray-on styles imaginable. The thigh chafing wore me down after a while, and I confess, I went through a few no jeans years. But now, in my 50s, I am a jeans wearer once more and I give rousing thanks for the advent of wide-legs, barrel-legs and boyfriend styles. In fact, I feel I can bravely assert that you can no longer say that there isn't a style of jean that suits you, you simply haven't tried on enough pairs yet! Smart Stella A-line jeans, £85, Lee; Silk blouse, £375, Philippa London; Leather shoes, £199, Penelope Chilvers For our shoot, I revisited two of the classic American denim brands – Levi's and Lee. These Levi's XL Straight Jeans are soft and slouchy (and come with a cute tie belt if that is your thing). I've been road-testing the pair you see here at weekends with trainers and a bomber jacket and I love them (let's say, they have 'anti-aged' my wardrobe). The Lee 'Stella' jeans I'm wearing in the picture for my 'smart' look have a tighter waist and a sharper leg, but I'm delighted to report there is no compromise in terms of comfort. I really enjoyed styling them with this puff-sleeved fondant pink blouse by Philippa London. On my frame at least (I'm 5ft 4in), this style looks best with a heel and with these gorgeous Penelope Chilvers numbers on my toes, I really feel like I could go anywhere. Get the look... Lisa Armstrong – 60s Casual Taylor relaxed barrel leg jeans, £301, DL1961; Tencel lyocell shirt, £120, With Nothing Underneath; Shoes: Lisa's own; Earrings: Dinosaur I weeded out all the old jeans I no longer wear a while back and am now at half a dozen pairs, including some dark straight-leg Acne's I bought 12 years ago and still love. My other perennials are a pair of straight-leg Levi's (mid wash) and some slightly darker Khaite Abigail straight legs from Net-A-Porter. They're always sold out but this size must have been returned. Lesson: always turn on your notifications and get your name on a waiting list. Both work, on Net-A-Porter at least. Having got to an edit I wear all the time, including weekends in the country, where wide legs just aren't compatible with wellies, I very rarely buy new jeans. I love the up to date look of these looser cuts though, particularly the Gap ones, which feel ultra soft and floppy. I like to keep a note of current trends, but I'm never doing low rise again. They're so unflattering – and chilly. Bell bottoms are also off the list. I wouldn't normally go as faded as the DL1961s. Nothing to do with my age, but for me, faded equals a casual look, whereas something darker is more versatile. Come to think of it, maybe that notion is to do with my age. Smart Wide leg jeans, £50, Gap; Tweed jacket, £589, Ridley London; Supima cotton T-shirt, £14.90, Uniqlo; Reversible leather and suede belt, £95, Me+Em; Leather bag, £265, Stow London These days, dressing something up isn't necessarily about adding heels or sparkle. It's more a question of wearing them with beautiful shirts or the perfect T-shirt. I also love the idea of them with a Dior Bar jacket (who doesn't? You can find these for much less on the pre-worn sites). Interesting flats and velvet mules can look sophisticated and modern with jeans. I love them with classic cropped boucle jackets too. At a certain age, you have to start mixing your classics with casual or more punk pieces, otherwise you can look very staid. This jacket's from Ridley London – choose from a range of tweeds and they'll make you one in 10 days. I love the fact that DL 1961 uses a tenth the amount of water of the average jean manufacturer to make each pair. E.L.V. Denim is another great sustainable brand which upcycled old jeans into innovative new styles. Get the look...
BBC News
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
'Don't wash them too regularly': One pair of jeans is all we need – here's why
From skinny to barrel and ultra-high to low-slung, jeans trends are ever changing – so how can we choose the perfect pair for us, and maintain them properly? Few items of clothing are both as iconic and ubiquitous as a pair of jeans. With era-defining silhouettes that capture cultural moments in time, jeans are a wardrobe staple. But they're also one of fashion's most polluting categories, prone to high trend cycles and – as a result – hanging in our wardrobes unworn. Take this season's trends. Last year, Vogue reported that skinny jeans were making a comeback, only to call it a fleeting moment 12 months later, and now they're back again – with the Princess of Wales as poster girl. "Slim" silhouettes are in, too, alongside belted and baggy, and – the shape of the season – barrel-leg jeans: a fitted waist that leads into a slightly voluminous leg and then tapers at the ankle. With as many fits and trends as there are body shapes and tastes, how do we invest in the perfect pair? Personal stylist Alexandra Fullerton says that the barrel-leg silhouette works with most body shapes. "They are pleasingly loose across the legs and sit around the true waist, therefore they should have a lasting place in one's wardrobe," she tells the BBC. "They are just a baby step away from the boyfriend jean, which is now a perma-trend." But Fullerton stresses that buying a pair of jeans should be a marathon, not a sprint, and advises her clients to build a shortlist of styles based on research. What washes do you like? Which brands do you admire? Who in the public eye has a similar body shape that you can take tips from? "Putting in some work – that's a couple of hours in a real-life store with a well-lit fitting room and ideally a friend – will ensure the best purchase," says Fullerton. "Department stores with dedicated denim shops are the best place to start. Whatever your budget, jeans should be an investment so shop with longevity, rather than trends, in mind." Fullerton cautions that extremes – skinny and super-wide or ultra-high and low-rises – are more prone to cycling in and out of fashion. "Better to choose a less severe silhouette that will outlast any fad, like a straight leg or modestly wide jean with a mid-to-high rise which will be classic for years ahead," she advises. "Mid-blue is always the best option for washes." No jean has stood the test of time quite like the Levi's 501. Patented in 1873 by Levi Strauss and Jacob David in the US, it was originally created as durable, hard-wearing 100% cotton overalls for miners and farmers. But in the early 1950s, blue jeans came to signify youth rebellion, after both Marlon Brando and James Dean wore Levi's 501s in The Wild One and Rebel Without a Cause. And who can forget Susan Sarandon and Geena Davis denim-clad in high-waisted jeans for Thelma & Louise in 1991. "When Japanese selvedge denim replaced the ultra-baggy, hip-hop fits of the mid-to-late-90s, and then Levi's launched its Red collection of twisted, ergonomic jeans, the denim landscape changed forever," says denim designer, lecturer and historian Mohsin Sajid. "From then, denim became more elevated, appearing on catwalks and in designer brands' collections. I was working at Pringle at the time and they asked me to design a selvedge jean." The perfect pair of jeans Today, jeans are firmly part of the fashion mainstream; it's difficult to find a clothing brand that doesn't sell them within their collections. And most jeans now contain some synthetic stretch within the cotton mix – normally elastane, which is derived from fossil fuels and sags over time, making them less durable. As a result, some of the shine has come off the iconic trouser and its Hollywood heyday. The UN estimates that a single pair of jeans requires 1kg of cotton, which in turn, needs about 7,500–10,000 litres of water to grow – the equivalent of 10 years' worth of drinking water for one person. As an industry, fashion produces 20% of all waste water, and the denim chemical dyeing process can be harmful to both workers and the environment. "There's a reason Levi's 501 has transcended time; they're made from 100% cotton, with natural stretch," explains Professor Dilys Williams, Director of the Centre for Sustainable Fashion at London College of Fashion, UAL. "But we've become less used to wearing clothes without synthetic stretch because it's sold as more comfortable. So, it's partly about training ourselves – do we need that synthetic stretch? Or could we wear a jean in, and wait for it to shape to our bodies?" A keen cyclist, Williams tends to get holes in her jeans. Rather than buy a new pair, she proudly patches up existing jeans to reflect her fashion identity and lifestyle. "Each pair tells a story about what has happened whilst they have been worn, the colour fades according to wear, creating a unique patina," Williams tells the BBC. "This wonderful element has, however, been sabotaged – so many jeans are pre-aged, usually using harmful chemical processes, administered by hand, in countries without strong health and safety checks. The life of the jean is sped up, its production is fast and its identity for the customer lost." Choosing raw denim is another way to minimise the environmental impact of jeans. Also known as dry denim, it hasn't gone through pre-washing or shrinking processes in production, unlike most jeans today. The result is a dark and stiff jean that can naturally fade and soften over time. "It can be hard to make the switch to such a dark option, but after a few months you'll never look back," says Sajid. "Imperfections like slight slubs from the spinning and weaving process make it bespoke and could develop into a great fading jean. Try to hold out on washing your jeans for the first few months and don't wash them too regularly – if you don't need to. That way, you'll develop your own wear pattern." Sajid adds that a great pair of long-lasting jeans is a mixture of quality denim – ideally 100% regenerative cotton – using bio-based indigo (no petroleum-based dyes) in a medium 12-13oz (about 354g) weight. For added comfort and stretch, look for brands that use hemp or soft fibres like Tencel Lyocell and Tencel Modal. Since the early 2000s, new jeans brands have entered the market to help tackle denim's environmental impact – with no signs of innovation slowing down. In March, Los Angeles-based luxury denim brand Agolde, owned by Citizens of Humanity, unveiled its spring collection in partnership with Lycra featuring a plant-based stretch fibre made from industrial corn within its regenerative cotton and eco-indigo dye mix. Amy Williams, CEO of Citizens of Humanity, says that Agolde's signature silhouettes – the high-rise, wide-leg Ren and straight-leg Harper – continue to be customer favourites since the change in materials. Meanwhile, Swedish, organic cotton brand Nudie Jeans, which published its annual sustainability report this month, offers free repairs, with on-site repair shops in its stores. Last year, the brand repaired 68,342 Nudie jeans. And ELV Denim, which made its London Fashion Week debut earlier this year, is pioneering a new luxury model based on waste. All jeans are made from upcycled materials, which would have otherwise ended up in landfill. "Our jeans are designed with a generous seam allowance in order to be adaptable with the wearer's body as they evolve," founder and creative director Anna Foster tells the BBC. "We even had a client who, when she was pregnant, took out the seam allowance, put in a bit of elastic to be able to wear them all through her pregnancy. After she had the baby, bit by bit she put them back." The brand's jeans are designed to be modular, so that if one part is damaged, the brand can replace that single part as opposed to the customer having to buy a new pair. Still a young brand – ELV Denim was launched in 2018 – Foster has high hopes. "My ambition is for the whole fashion industry, not just denim. I would like to see an industry that values craft and quality and individuality of style over profit and mass production." More like this:• How Scandinavian dressing can make us happier• 10 items in our wardrobes is enough – here's why• The rise of the no-wash movement Perhaps this is the next chapter in the jeans story: individual style paired with responsibility. Like any item of clothing, jeans need not be a throwaway choice. Maybe your perfect pair is already in your wardrobe, calling to be patched-up, upcycled into something new or to be fallen in love with again – it may not be in the silhouette of the season, but it could be the one that suits you most. That's the key to a great pair of jeans: understanding which styles make you happy. Devote some time to denim, try on different pairs, be bold and experiment, then build your denim blueprint. Add its durable quality to the mix, and a pair of jeans becomes a forever favourite – whatever the season. Three Things to Help Heal the Planet by Ana Santi is published by Welbeck Balance. -- For more Culture stories from the BBC, follow us on Facebook, X and Instagram.
The Guardian
26-03-2025
- Lifestyle
- The Guardian
Bright socks and clothes swaps! Stylists on 20 free and easy ways to liven up your look
As the seasons change, it can be tempting to buy new items of clothing, but a more sustainable and affordable approach is to work with what you already own. We asked stylists how to revive and refresh your look – using what is already in your wardrobe. For most people, this means having a clear-out. 'Too much choice is paralysing,' says Alexandra Fullerton, a stylist from Suffolk and author of How to Dress. 'If you've got hundreds of items of clothing to choose from, where do you even start? We only wear 20% of our wardrobe 80% of the time, so we're not wearing all this stuff that we are storing.' Some things may be too formal for every day wear, Fullerton concedes: 'You might not want to push a trolley around Tesco wearing a ballgown. But fewer, better-quality pieces will save you time when you are choosing what to wear.' Donate to charity or sell clothes that are not needed any more, says Nick Hems, a Bath-based personal stylist for men and a tutor at the London College of Style. 'When you trim down your wardrobe, it cuts out the decision fatigue. It is better for your mental health if you are looking at clothes that you like and wear, rather than stuff you've bought that doesn't really suit you or make you feel good.' It is a good idea to put away seasonal items to avoid overcrowded rails, the stylists agree. When the weather is on the turn, pick an apt moment to swap collections over. 'It sounds a bit mad, but welcome them back into your wardrobe,' says Fullerton. 'Make it into a special occasion to shop your own wardrobe and reacquaint yourself with your archive. Sew any buttons back on. Give them a steam or iron. Out of sight is out of mind. When they are back in sight, you will realise that you don't need more shorts because you've already got four pairs.' Hems advises keeping something for 18 months before passing it on if it hasn't been worn. For Fullerton, a year is enough, 'because then you would have gone through all the seasons'. She has an ingenious tip for keeping track of what you have worn: 'When you put clothes in the wardrobe, turn the hanger around so the hook is facing towards you. When you wear an item, hang it the other way. Then, when you go through your wardrobe each season, if you notice anything still facing towards you, consider whether you are ever going to wear it. Challenge yourself to build it into an outfit over the next week. If you wear it, then it can regain its status in your wardrobe.' If not, it's got to go. Going through your clothes, 'think about the pieces that have made you most happy,' says Fullerton. 'What you put on when you are most confident. The outfits that get the most compliments. We should be wearing things that make us feel incredible.' 'Our brains crave newness, but a new combination is as valid as a new item,' says Fullerton. She suggests 'remixes' of outfits to her clients: 'Why have you never worn this flowery skirt with this jacket? Or, why have you never worn that dress layered with that jumper?' This helps to 'mix things up in a way that you wouldn't have thought of, so that satiates a need, and dulls down the feeling that you are bored with all your clothes.' 'You can have a capsule wardrobe but make sure you have some personality in there as well,' says Anna Cascarina, a Hertfordshire stylist and author of The Forever Wardrobe. She aims to own mainly classic items 'that will transcend seasons', such as 'a tailored blazer, a pair of black wide-leg trousers, and a cashmere jumper'. She also likes to have a smaller amount of trend-led items that allow 'my own personal style to come through, like a 1970s California-style fringe jacket' and lots of colour, too. Adding an unexpected item, be it something with an asymmetric hem or off-the-shoulder, 'can make your look a bit more modern and a bit more you,' she says. Iso Neville is a secondhand stylist who has not bought any new clothes since 2019, except underwear. She organises car boot sales and flea markets in south London where she lives. One of her favourite approaches to styling is using the 'wrong shoe' method: 'I first saw this with people trying to dress like Scandinavian influencers who wore trainers with everything. The premise is that if you wear a fancier dress and put a pair of trainers on, it really dresses it down.' You can apply this more broadly with your outfits, Neville explains. 'If you are wearing tracksuit bottoms with a hoodie, that is one language of style that is quite comfy. If you put a blazer over the top, that instantly dresses it up. Adding in something that is a bit smarter or a bit more casual can really change the outfit.' Don't be ashamed to wear the same thing often if it works, says Fullerton: 'We should get joy out of wearing our favourite things, and that doesn't mean you need to have a new outfit every day. We all turn to the formulas that we love, so wear those formulas over and over again.' 'There is a big trend for menswear and tailoring,' says Neville, 'which is easy to achieve; I'm a big fan of just putting a blazer on with anything. I'm also seeing ties everywhere.' Fullerton suggests recreating fisherman core. 'Most people will have some sort of stripy top and chinos or jeans that will give a jaunty fisher feel. Adding interest to basics with a neckerchief or scarf is having a bit of a moment, too. If you don't have a scarf, a scrap of fabric could do the same thing. The Miu Miu show this month had huge gold brooches as features on lapels. Have a look in the bottom of your jewellery box and cluster three little brooches to recreate the look.' 'Satin mini dresses with a lace trim are back in,' says Cascarina, in case you have hung on to one from the 90s or have a nightdress like this. 'Wear over a pair of jeans and under a jumper, so you can just see it hanging out.' There are very simple things you can do to make it look as though you have intentionally put together an outfit. 'Even pushing your sleeves up takes your outfit from just being worn to being styled,' says Fullerton. 'Tucking in your top, adding a belt, popping the collar of your shirt – all this will elevate your look.' If an item of clothing doesn't feel quite right for you, says Neville, try wearing it a different way. 'Instead of buttoning up a shirt, you could tie it at the front instead. Or you could put it on backwards, like I do sometimes, and tie it up to expose a bit of your back.' 'One rule for most men is: inject a bit of colour,' says Hems. 'Break free of the navy blue and grey.' If you don't feel confident in bold tones, or don't have any to hand, 'choose a bright sock to add a pop of colour,' says Fullerton. 'This season's colour is butter yellow, so put on a pastel sock instead of a black or white one.' Cascarina adds that pinks and natural colours will also be big this season. 'Most people have great clothes that are perfectly wearable,' says Fullerton, 'but often you can't see the wood for the trees in your own wardrobe, which is why it helps to have a stylist or a stylish friend or relative come in and suggest how to wear things.' Find someone to 'look at what you've put together and say if it works', says Hems. 'You've got to love and respect your clothes enough to wash them properly,' says Fullerton. 'Don't just throw them in the washing machine; follow the instructions and handwash them if necessary. Separate them into pale and bright loads, so your best white T-shirt doesn't end up with a rogue red sock. Fold your knits, don't hang them up, because they will lose their shape. Moth season is incoming, so make sure that everything is clean because moths are attracted to proteins in food particles and sweat particles in clothes. Get a debobbler or safety razor and some packing tape to pull bobbles off.' Fix tears or holes before they become a bigger problem, says Neville: 'This can be a daunting prospect. Sewing literacy is not as great as it was with my parents' generation, but there are lots of mending cafes that are popping up, which are a good way to learn new skills. Visible mending is also becoming a trend, so don't feel as if everything has to be perfect and made to look as if it was never damaged. Having a visible mend is a badge of honour: it shows that you are looking after your clothes and care about longevity.' 'Recognise the clothes that don't fit you well,' says Hems, and get them professionally adjusted. 'Especially with trousers, take them to get altered, and the same goes for shirts and jackets where the sleeves are too long.' 'If I'm feeling in a bit of a rut,' says Neville, 'I will try not to add things back into my wardrobe that have been in the laundry. Because people automatically go for the things that they wear every day.' Rather than reaching for her favourite items, she will 'see what else I can try to wear, and incorporate those into my daily wardrobe'. Anything that still isn't getting worn can be given away. 'Accessories can elevate a look,' says Hems. 'Switching pocket squares will instantly make it look different. Or adding a belt or watch.' Accessories are also a good way to introduce colour, says Cascarina. 'People are frightened of wearing colour but you can add in a colourful belt, scarf or bag.' 'Decide on three words that best describe your style,' says Fullerton. Hers are: 60s, denim, tomboy. 'This will streamline your wardrobe, because it won't be full of stuff that you don't feel like you in. You'll be saving money, because you're not buying stuff that isn't going to get worn. And you'll be saving time because you know in the mornings what your style is, what goes together, what suits you. When you have a coherent wardrobe, then everything will go together.' 'Everything comes back around,' says Cascarina. 'The difficult thing is that people might not have the space to keep hold of things. There have been loads of times when I've thought, 'If only I'd kept that!' Age doesn't matter: you can wear what you want. But at the same time, our bodies change and that can be difficult to navigate. It is all about finding what your style and lifestyle is like now, and trying to change your wardrobe to fit that.' 'Even with rental, you have to think about the shipping emissions, and dry-cleaning,' says Neville. 'But before I would even go to the rental sites, I would consider an organised clothing swap; Loved Again London is one of my favourites. But I also really enjoy swapping among friends. It reduces the potential regret if you get rid of something that you later wish that you'd kept hold of. If you've just swapped it with a friend, you can probably get it back.'
