Digging Deep

Riffling around the back of your wardrobe may pay dividends

When we finally start hitting the streets again dashing out to replenish our wardrobes will no doubt be very low on the list of to-dos. It will definitely be a case of rummaging around to dust off a few oldies but goodies, and then taking a long, hard look at how they can be re-styled to fit with the current trends.

This is not as big an ask as it may first seem. The reality is that fashion is a fairly steady friend; while trends tend to be a little fickler, fashions are less faddy. If that sounds a stretch then cast your mind around your wardrobe - think skinny jeans (thanks largely to Kate Moss I don’t think these will ever leave our legs), ankle boots, pencil skirts, biker jackets (when is rock chic not a look?), Oxford shirts, blazers…the list goes on. Colours and textures change of course, but these are all classics and good style never goes out of fashion. The fact is that you’ll probably be amazed just how many items you have that will fit into the new season look. You may hit a stumbling block if you’re someone that likes to cull on a regular basis – and kudos if you do – your wardrobe will be a far more harmonious place than mine I feel sure. If you are more of a minimalist, then rest assured the Up-Cycled stores (both physical and online) are going to be brimming with goodies after we’ve all been holed up sweeping clean our cupboards. And as know, if ‘one man’s junk is another man’s treasure’ then surely ‘one woman’s too-tight Isabel Marant is another woman’s perfect fit’.

So, what are we looking at as we stare into the fashion kaleidoscope before us?

 Leather (or faux) for starters are huge and find me a girl out there who doesn’t have a bit of that shoved somewhere on a hanger. If you’ve purchased leather pants in the last few years, the chances are they will be either skinny or slightly cropped – both styles are still on point. If you’re looking further back and you have some pure vintage (non-stretchy) straight-leg leather, then you’re in luck. None other than Kim Kardashian herself was seen sporting that exact style not long before lock-down (taking her lead I dug out a pair of mine purchased circa 2000). With her new taste for haute couture, she’s a barometer that can’t be completely ignored; unless she’s wearing her Lycra bike pants and heels, in which case definitely look the other way. If you have any coloured leather hiding at the back (at last – my bright pink leather pants will have their moment in the sun), or even a leather trench coat, then pat yourself on the back and bring those items to the fore.

If you’ve not managed to dig up any leather, then forage around for dots. With polka dots another trend that is always circling (excuse the pun), you’re sure to find something. If it’s sheer and tiered, then then half your luck – google Priyanka Chopra for inspiration.

Denim is a staple, and we are seeing it all at the moment – skirts, shirts, jackets. And of course, jeans. Skinny are a go to for most of us, but the last few years have also seen boyfriend, straight and 90s skater. But hold onto your saddle, because high-waist dark denim bootleg is back. If you can find a pair of these then you’re in luck. True, they won’t be as easy wear as the denim produced now, but you can’t beat true vintage.

 Colour wise there’s a lot of neon – and bright pink to brighten the day (the Velvet dress pictured was from 2002 - not sure if that qualifies as vintage!) . If that’s too out there, then look for metallics, or see if you can find a white dress. Don’t shy away from styles that you may have brought for evening wear – one change that we’ve seen over the last couple of years is that anything goes. And yes, that does include tulle for the supermarket shop.