Since moving to Denmark, I really have missed meeting with ladies, going through their wardrobes and given them a good spring cleanse. At it is spring now – I think it an apt time to open up your closet, peer inside and reevaluate all the items you have – do you wear it anymore? Does it fit you still? What items do you have that you can wear it with? Are you perhaps too old for it now?

Spring is a perfect time to give your wardrobe a makeover as you are already putting away the winter items (make sure you get rid of anything you didn’t wear over winter or any items that have seen their day) and as you get out your spring/summer items, check and see if you can donate any of them or if you’re missing anything in particular (this is why I always host a clothes swap party in spring!)

Shopping for me has always been an enjoyable pass-time but these days the budget is tight, time is limited and as am over 30 years I can’t dress like a 20 year old anymore. Shopping for me is now about getting wardrobe essentials at a good price and if I want to buy something ‘trendy’ I head to H&M and pick it up there for under 100kr.

Here’s a great checklist for your wardrobe:

Coats & Jackets

• A well-fitted single button black blazer
• A trench coat eg. Burberry
• A navy wool peacoat
• A black wool winter coat, tailored and falls below the knee
• A field coat – waterproof eg. Barbour
• A ‘really warm’ winter coat – such as a North Face Parka.

Tops

• Cashmere sweater with a neckline that suits (for me it’s v-neck or boat neck)
• Stripey cotton shirt
• White, cotton button down shirts
• Cotton t-shirts – grey, white and black work best
• Cashmere or wool turtleneck, fitted and black

Bottom

• Skinny, black, dark, durable jeans
• Mid-thigh, black, cotton skirt
• Cotton or light weight wool black ‘dressier’ pants
• Shorts: not too short, durable cotton

Dresses

• Casual, long or 3/4 sleeve jersey
• Mid-thigh, well fitted, LBD
• Formal, black, light-weight

Accessories

• Belts – leather, thin, thick, black, brown
• Simple jewellery – pearl/diamond earrings, gold/silver watch
• Hats  - fedora/floppy
• Scarves – neutral colours, cotton, silk or wool
• Purses: evening clutch, everyday cross body, shoulder bag – only leather

Shoes

• Flat sandals
• Knee length leather boots black or brown
• Short, ankle booties black, brown or taupe, leather or suede
• Flat, leather, strappy sandals
• Mid high, comfortable black pumps
• Rainboots eg. Hunters
• Everyday trainers
• Ballet flats
• Snow boots

 I know that I’m on the market for a cashmere sweater, snow boots, a peacoat and dressy pants – what’s on your wardrobe essentials list?

images c/o coffeestainedcashmere