Confessions of a Fashion Failure…

Something I have been meaning to do for, well, at least 3 years is have a wardrobe makeover. After having my two little wonders I think it is time to put this plan into action. I sort of tried after Tori was born and totally failed because I had about one shopping trip, bought about 3 things and didn’t get rid of any old stuff. Now Arthur is here and we aren’t planning on having any more sproglets (at least not for a few years), I want to get back in shape and sort out my clothes situation.

What clothes situation? Well…

I still own some clothes from when I was a kid. No, really, I still have a Lion King t-shirt I got when I was 7 (and I refuse to part with it, Tori can have it when she grows a bit…) and a couple of other t-shirts and tops I can safely confirm I got before I hit my teens.

I have endless t-shirts that I have got free from all the races I have marshalled at (usually at least two from each race, one staff and one other, and at least one of the two is always an XL). The XL ones were great when I was pregnant and they’re good for ‘scruffs’ but I’m sure I could manage with just two or three rather than an entire drawer full of London Marathon/Bupa 10k/Hyde Park Women’s Challenge tents. I have given a few out to people when I got them, but I religiously kept at least one from every race (often two) which has created a bit of a hefty collection after about 3 races a year for the last seven or so years. Add to that a jacket or fleece from each race as well and it’s starting to get a bit silly. (On a side note, I’m so sad to be missing out on helping at the Marathon this year. However, I’m not sure I’d be much use as a marshal clutching a month-and-a-half old baby to my breast the whole day.)

I have several tops that really don’t fit me any more – and I don’t mean in my current state of ‘just had a baby-ness’ either. They didn’t fit me before that, I just didn’t have the heart to get rid of them for some reason. I really should. I am no longer fifteen and wouldn’t get away with the skinny-fit, tummy flashing tops with ‘This Is What Gorgeous Looks Like’ plastered across them any more. Not that I’m convinced I ever did particularly, now that I think about it.

I have lots of favourite clothes which have seen better days but I love too much to get rid of.

I have quite a few items in there that I don’t know where they came from or why I have them. I don’t even like some of them.

Due to all of the above I have so many clothes I don’t actually have enough space to keep them all in the wardrobe…I also have 2 chests of drawers AND a couple of drawers in my bedside cabinet AND another wardrobe in the spare room. This is after I cleared out two bin bags full of clothes after I finished University. This is beyond ridiculous.

Many of the above factors also come together into a general fashion fail. I don’t want to be massively ‘on-trend’ (because half the ‘trendy’ stuff out there is foul) but I could definitely do with some stuff that suits my shape and/or is at least vaguely girly.

Phew! I feel like I’ve just been to a meeting for people with wardrobe issues…

My aim over the next few months is to refresh my wardrobe situation. Give it a proper spring clean and sort out. Buy new clothes and get ruthless with my old ones – charity shop for the ones in decent nick still and the clothes bin for the ones that are really past it. I will even sort my underwear drawer.

I started today. I bought a new top that is nothing like anything I usually wear but it’s flattering to my current shape and it’s a bit more feminine than most of my clothes which is a good thing because it made me feel good about myself when I tried it on. I don’t often feel ‘pretty’ in the girly sense because I’m not a girly sort of girl but I have realised recently that there are lots of clothes out there which are pretty and feminine without being horrendously girly. I just need to take the time to look for them properly and bother to try stuff on before I reject it!

As for the getting back in shape, once I’ve reached the 6 week mark after Arthur I’m going to resume my weekly Aquafit sessions with my Mum and maybe even nip to the gym for an hour on Sy’s days off for a trot on the running machine. I’ll get there somehow.

So long as I fit in my fab dress by May for my cousin’s wedding and have been out and got myself some nice shoes and accessories to go with it, I will be happy.