Clearing out your wardrobe and letting go of outfits is hard but if you want to avoid a fashion faux pas it’s necessary. It’s amazing how attached we become to clothes, even when we’ve not worn them for a decade or sometimes longer. However, there comes a time when you need to reevaluate the space certain items are taking up in your closet.
Ask yourself: Will I ever wear this again? Does it suit the person I am now? I’ve struggled with this recently since turning fifty.
I love my clothes passionately and am loath to chuck anything out. But I’m also aware there are some items I’ll never be seen in again for one reason or another. So, I did a spring clean of my wardrobe and finally got real about what I can and can’t wear again.
Low-Rise Jeans
Twenty years ago, when I was thirty, I had a fabulous figure and embraced low-rise jeans and crop tops. However, those days are long gone. Today, unfortunately, they no longer help me cut a flattering figure.
Quite the reverse. Low-rise jeans are less comfortable than they once were. I prefer something that sits around my waist, not halfway down my hips, so it went onto the pile.
Very Tight or Constrictive Clothing
I love skinny jeans as much as the next gal, and I still have several pairs. However, the days of tight leggings that leave nothing to the imagination are over. I don’t want to worry about my lumps and bumps showing constantly.
Comfort and style are in, and tight and constrictive are out. My tight tops and leggings have officially hit the sin bin.
Heavy Shoulder Pads
As a child of the eighties, I grew up with heavy shoulder pads. I was a big fan of Krystal Carrington and Alexis Colby, the two lead female characters in Dynasty, for the uninitiated. Both sported the most enormous shoulder pads you’ve ever seen.
In this century, however, you only have shoulder pads if you’re an American footballer. They do nothing for your figure and are a pain when they don’t sit properly on your shoulder, making one shoulder look bigger than the other.
Excessive Lace
I’ve always associated lace with the doilies my grandma had on every spare surface in her living room. Or as part of one of the ornate dresses ladies wore in the Victorian era. So, it’s safe to say there is no lace in my wardrobe.
Lace is lovely in small doses, but not as the main part of your ensemble. It has to go.
Overly Bright, Clashing Colors
I went through a stage of only wearing bright pink, emerald green, fire engine red, and electric blue, sometimes all at once. It’s not a look, I’m happy to say, that I currently embrace. That said, when teamed with something neutral, one article of clothing in a bright color can pack a punch.
I advise you to be careful how you mix your bright colors; otherwise, you’ll look like you’ve stepped out of a Banksy painting.
Old-School Cardigans
I love oversized jumpers and cardigans, as they are inherently cozy. Sadly, as you get older, they do nothing for your figure and can leave you looking shapeless with no curves. If you’re Goldie Hawn, you can get away with it, but probably not if you’re like me.
Look for fitted or modern cut styles that flatter instead of falling short.
Denim Overalls
My husband has an intense dislike for denim overalls. I won’t tell you exactly what he said when I pulled mine out of the cupboard a few weeks ago, but it wasn’t flattering. They’re reminiscent of Felicity Kendall’s character, Barbara, from the 1970s sitcom The Good Life, if that helps.
She single-handedly turned dungarees into a “must-have” item in any female wardrobe. Sadly, not today, so it’s another candidate for the pile.
Unfitted Blazers
Unfitted blazers fall into the same camp as old-school cardigans and oversized clothing. They aren’t suitable for women of a certain age unless they’re a Hollywood superstar with a personal stylist to make them look good. As most of us don’t have one of those, I’d advise against wearing them.
Instead, opt for a more tailored jacket that shows off your curves and lets your fabulous figure shine through.
Acid-Wash Denim
In my formative years, Madonna was to blame for this outdated look. In the 1980s, teenage girls everywhere treated denim with chlorine and a pumice stone to achieve a stark contrasted look, known as acid wash. So, while acid-washed denim is fabulous for an 80s-themed costume party, it isn’t so great as a staple wardrobe item.
Cargo Pants
I’ll hold my hand up and admit I’ve never liked cargo pants. They’ve never suited me, and I look like some sort of rapper wannabe from the 2000s. It’s not a good look.
Granted, I know they’ve made a comeback ever since Carrie Bradshaw stepped out of her Manhattan home sporting a pair. But for the love of God, please look in the mirror before you leave the house. If you can honestly say you don’t look like a try-hard, then go ahead; otherwise, put them in the trash.
Pleated Trousers
Pleated trousers remind me of the polyester pant brigade, and I do not want to be associated with them. There is nothing wrong with polyester, but polyester pleated trousers are a step too far. They also often have elasticated waists.
I’m not at that stage yet, and I hope I never will be. Pleats can be tricky to wear correctly. They must lie flat against the body to look right and ensure you don’t look bulky around the mid-section.
Velour Tracksuits
I’m not sure I can forgive Paris Hilton for popularizing velour tracksuits in the 2000s. I know they’re cozy and feel nice against your skin, but really? There is a reason they were branded as loungewear: they were meant to be worn in your lounge, not on the street.
The material tends to cling in all the wrong places and adds bulk where bulk isn’t wanted. You know what I’m going to say: if you can’t limit them to home-only use, put them on the pile.