Written by Nicola Cupples

So the kids have gone back to school and you’ve finally got the house straight again. Returning to some sense of normality as your summer tan starts to fade in to a distant memory of cocktails by the pool; you realise that you are in no way prepared for autumn (emotionally, mentally or physically). I love autumn and think it’s one of the most beautiful times of the year, not to mention one of the best times to shop all year round. Just the smallest bit of preparation before autumn kicks in can mean that you can make the most of all the great stock available in the shops and avoid wasting money on clothes that you aren’t ever going to wear. It’s also a very therapeutic and cleansing way to start the new season, and ensure you not only look great but also feel mentally refreshed and refocused after the summer.

STEP 1: MAKE A START

At the beginning of every season (September for autumn/winter and April for spring / summer) it’s a good idea to do what I call a seasonal changeover, and a bit of a wardrobe detox. The goal is to be left with only the clothes and accessories that we can utilise over the next six months in our day to day wardrobe. This helps you to see in the cold light of day exactly what you have to work with. When it comes to autumn you want to pack away most of your high summer items e.g. floaty dresses and skirts, flip flops and sandals and summery coloured tops etc. I wrap mine in acid-free tissue to avoid discolouration of whites, in to storage boxes with some anti-moth products, however you could use other wardrobes in the back room, suitcases or compressed packs depending on space available. Everything left in your day to day wardrobe should now be appropriate for the weather you will encounter in the season ahead.

STEP 2: TLC

Out of the remaining clothes and accessories in your autumn day to day wardrobe, everything must be wearable today! This means that if it needs dry cleaning or a hem/button needs some attention, it shouldn’t be in the wardrobe until it’s been taken care of. You’d be surprised how many perfectly beautiful garments sit unloved in the wardrobe because someone hasn’t taken the time to sew a button back on! 

STEP 3: IF THE SHOE FITS

It’s also pointless having pieces in your day to day wardrobe which don’t fit you, so if you’ve put on or lost weight since last year, you may want to either give those pieces to charity, sell them on eBay or just put them out of sight for the time-being; as the point of this exercise is to evaluate what you REALLY have to work with for the season ahead. Most women have wardrobes stuffed full of clothes and are sometimes shocked to find over half of it isn’t wearable or they don’t like it anymore. These are not outfit choices at the moment – they are just clutter.

STEP 4: EVALUATE

Take a look at clothes, shoes and boots and evaluate whether any may need replacing. What did you really get your wear out of last autumn and winter? If your lifestyle is still pretty much the same as last year, chances are you will get good wear out of such an item again.

STEP 5: MAKE A LIST

Start a shopping wish-list which will become the focus of any retail therapy sessions in September – October. Think of it like food shopping when you’re hungry – you buy lots of yummy things but nothing you can really make a meal out of. It’s the same with clothes shopping!

You may find that you are in desperate need of some key capsule pieces which will be the basis of your wardrobe and will provide a variety of mix and match options.  Good autumn capsule pieces include a great pair of jeans, a warm winter coat, knitwear and boots, and perhaps some new tights or leggings if you like wearing skirts, dresses or tunics. For work if you fancy a change from black trousers, camel or charcoal is a stylish alternative. It is well worth investing a little more in quality for such pieces as you will get more price per wear.

STEP  6: UPDATE!

Update Your Look...Your shopping wish-list will help you to keep your eye on the prize and ensure you have the basis of a great capsule wardrobe for the next six months. Without these basics, you will be scrambling about trying to create stylish outfits with the more spontaneous purchases you may have indulged in, but outfits never look good unless they consist of at least one well-fitting quality key piece. Key capsule pieces are the foundation of any successful wardrobe.

When investing in quality capsule pieces, think about choosing a staple colour such as black, camel, neutrals or grey which are versatile when mixing with other hues in your wardrobe. However even more important, think about functionality and practicality of these pieces. For instance, if investing in a new pair of black trousers for work, do they need to be fairly durable and crease resistant? Machine-washable? Comfortable? If you work out exactly what you want before you hit the shops, you avoid making those dreaded ‘these will do’ purchases. 

Do some research on the internet before-hand for the particular pieces you are looking for. Very often department stores carry lots of concessions so use their website and search for ‘black trousers’ in your size and the style you are after and make a note of which brands you will need to look at. This saves so much time. However I would avoid actually buying key pieces online (unless you have had success with that brand before), as this is where fit and comfort are non-negotiable, and you can’t tell that just by looking at a picture. When people buy online, very often it doesn’t end up going back even if it’s not quite right, so don’t waste your money.

Once you’re happy with your key pieces that form the basis of your wardrobe, you can begin to add in more fun items to update your look. For example if you already have your well fitting black trousers, you can look for one of this season’s androgynous tux blouses, or perhaps a leather detail top to dress up your jeans. Incorporating new trends is all about staying true to your style. For instance, I’m not particularly mad on the 60s era as it doesn’t suit my style or personality, however I absolute love it for some of my clients who will totally rock a peter pan collar or abbreviated hemline. On the other hand, I do love metallics, so this season’s decadent sparkle trend will be right up my street. Style is all about working out what trends work for you as a person, in terms of your lifestyle, personality and tastes rather than just simply adopting a look because it’s in Vogue.