Every year at the start of January I sit and consider the same thing for Who What Wear UK—which pieces in my wardrobe are going to come with me for the next 12 months? The start of the new season is always the perfect opportunity to conduct a thorough stock take, and using the opportunity to rid my closet of any dead weight ahead of 2025 was an exciting prospect (new year, new me etc). And after a couple of years of the same methodical treatment, I’ve seen the benefits of investing time in a proper wardrobe clean-out, to make sure I’m not overwhelmed by pieces that aren’t going to get any air time in the year ahead.
Keen to build a long-lasting wardrobe rather than a trend-led one, I started separating my clothes into piles. First, the “nos”, those that were sent to the charity shop. Next, the “shelves”, the ones that I can see making a return later but can go into storage now, and lastly, the “saves”—the ones that’ll be wearing on rotation for the the rest of 2025. It’s important to remember though, that no clothing ever gets thrown away. After all, this is less of a “goodbye” and more of a “see you later”.
With all of that being said, I wasn’t left with a meagre handful of options to tide me over, and in fact, the opposite is true. Yes, there are the still the foundational basics that every well-curated wardrobe has, but I’ve also kept hold of some of the more exciting purchases that made my heart quicken at the time. Intrigued as to how I organised a wardrobe that keeps up the times in under a day? Keep scrolling to see which pieces I’m shelving and which anti-trend pieces I’m saving for the rest of 2025.
1. SHELVING: Mesh Ballet Flats, SAVING: Loafers
Style Notes: Starting with a trend considered controversial to some, mesh ballet flats were huge in 2024, and as soon as I got a pair I was over the moon. Did they look good? Of course. Did I have fun wearing them? Undoubtedly. The only problem was, I got good wear out of them in summer, but as soon as the autumn breeze kicked in, they were tantamount to being barefoot. Until next summer I’m pivoting my collection to the versatile loafer. Not only are they more durable, but they’ve also been the smart dresser’s shoe of choice for decades, proof of their longevity.
Shop Loafers:
M&S Collection
Suede Loafers
