Industry Insiders Reveal The Clever Ways To Edit & Refresh Your Wardrobe

A simple nip at the waist or hem adjustment can completely change how a piece feels. Plus, tailoring is often cheaper than buying new, offers a more precise fit and makes your clothes look more expensive. “Find a great local seamstress and use their expertise to tweak and adjust your pieces so they work better for you,” advises Melanie Milham, co-founder of resale platform Curate & Rotate. “For example, I love adding an extra button to vintage blazers to cinch in the waist or shortening a shirt so it works better for me.” 

Don’t be afraid to alter and amend items – small adjustments can completely transform how a piece feels and looks, making your wardrobe more personal and versatile. “You can also try temporary adjustments using tools like a stitch gun, which uses tiny plastic fasteners to hold the fabric in place,” Melanie adds. “This is perfect for testing changes such as hemming pants or sleeves before committing to forever changes. It allows you to experiment and make sure the fit is right before taking the item to a seamstress.”  

Sometimes all it takes is a fresh outfit formula to make pieces feel new again. Think about wearing evening pieces during the day or styling items in ways you wouldn’t normally consider. “One of the best pieces of advice I’ve ever been given is that the special moment is now – so wear the pieces you’ve been saving,” explains personal shopper Lauren Faiers. “Over the past year, there’s been a noticeable shift toward traditionally evening elements like satin, lace, faux fur, and statement earrings being worn during the day, and that movement is only gaining momentum heading into 2026.” Lauren also cautions against getting swept up in trends. “Try not to be overly influenced by someone whose lifestyle or schedule looks nothing like your own. Instead, lean into the special pieces you already own and wear.”

Adopting a one-in, one-out policy is the simplest way to keep your wardrobe feeling current without letting it spiral out of control. By consciously editing as you add, you make space for pieces you truly love – ensuring your style stays fresh, intentional and easy to wear. Melanie is someone who doesn’t like having too many pieces in my wardrobe at once. “It feels overwhelming and makes choosing outfits more difficult. That’s why I love the ‘one in, one out’ rule: whenever I buy a new item, I sell another. I especially like to do this with like-for-like pieces – for example, a new buttoned shirt in, an old one sold; a new coat in, an old coat sold.” 

Creating a tightly curated wardrobe doesn’t have to mean starting from scratch. According to Antonia Johnstone, CEO and re-founder of Sign Of The Times, swapping items also allows you to re-engage with fashion in a far more intentional way, passing on pieces you no longer wear and discovering something new-to-you that still feels exciting and relevant. 

“At Sign Of The Times, we see customers use the swap model to evolve their style with confidence, whether that’s trading a once-loved statement piece for everyday staples or investing in a pre-loved icon they’ll treasure for years. One of our biggest sellers has chosen to never be paid; she prefers to swap exclusively, using Sign Of The Times as an extension of her own revolving wardrobe.” 

Instead of a clear-out, do a re-buy. Pack everything away, then shop your wardrobe over a few weeks – try and mix staples with pieces you haven't worn in a while or reverse your favourite colour combinations. “I have a small rail next to my wardrobe that acts as a kind of edit station,” says Lauren. “Each week – usually on a Sunday evening – I refresh it with pieces I haven’t worn in a while, mixed in with newer additions. It brings those items to the forefront and makes it much easier to feel inspired when getting dressed. I also recommend separating your spring/summer and autumn/winter wardrobes. Storing my out-of-season pieces in vacuum bags under the bed stops me from thinking I have more clothes than I do and it genuinely feels exciting when I switch things over.”