Wardrobe Wonders

By Annette Sanfilippo

We are on the home stretch! August marks the last month of winter and the anticipation of spring. Could our emotions get any more confused? Though we are still up to our ‘uggies’ in cold rainy days and in need of warm apparel, we’re also feeling a strong desire for bright colours, fresh flowers, sunshine and making a to-do list of tasks. Coming out of hibernation, and as the days get a little longer, we are finally finding ourselves in our clothes a little longer than our PJ’s.

Lately, space has been on my mind, and I’m not talking about the moon. Its time to address that sacred area of the house, the wardrobe! One thing I struggle with is storage, and another is keeping my clothes visible and organised. Boxing and bagging up my collection each season turns into an of ‘out-of-sight, out-ofmind’ situation. I’ve spent the better part of my weekends delving into my trinket boxes, plastic tubs and storage bags trying hard to put all my favourites into the forefront of my hanging space with little success. I always think that when I neatly store scarves, sunglasses or shoes away for the next season, that somehow I will remember the boxes entire contents and where I will find each item within few minutes. Sadly, I keep surprising myself. I am sure I’m not the only one that uses this bewildering system.

As I unpacked my wares for over eight hours one Sunday (in my PJ’s of course) and spent way too much time playing dressups along the way, I was astonished with just how much I had accumulated over the years. I knew I wasn’t going to part with much and most was going straight back into the containers, but it was a great reset, and I kept out some fabulous key pieces that I had completely forgotten about and which are trending again. A few things were bagged up for donation, but I’m never disappointed with what I have as I purchased each item because I loved it.

I’ve tried to keep a balance of staples: workwear, after-five dresses, comfy stuff, colour, and of course lots of black basics. It’s always hard to know what to keep out and what to hide. My wardrobe is a real destination now. Its colour-coordinated, organised into categories and I feel like I’m wearing a bigger percentage of it already. I am having to appease my partner though, as everyday I’m hearing, “New dress honey?” and I answer with the same response, “No, its five years old.” “Sure it is,” he says.

Taking my own advice from last month I am being a little more adventurous with my styling and being kinder to myself when I look in the mirror. It’s like I’ve drawn a new kind of energy unto myself and I’m receiving lovely compliments while embracing my own sense of style.

A refresh is good on so many levels and August is that month when we try to escape the cooler weather, often needing to call on our transitional pieces. We usually know a handful of friends who get to frolic in exotic locations or, if we are lucky, we’re flying off ourselves. It’s hard to watch our social platforms as they are a constant scroll of pretty summer dresses, tanned bodies, turquoise beaches, cocktails, and pretty shopping destinations. I must say it does keep us hopeful for the warmer months, but we can also get beautiful, international luxury designer brands right here if you’re not lucky enough to walk the streets of Capri, Santorini, or Barcelona.

Recently I discovered The Designer Room at DFO Moorabbin. Who needs Paris when we have high-end fashion for the discerning shopper at outlet prices right in our own backyard? You’ll feel and see the luxury as their boutique collection features a curated edit of premium womenswear, shoes, and accessories from renowned brands from Spain, Denmark, Germany, and Amsterdam. A truly stylish destination with exciting stock arriving weekly, their goal is to bring international designer style for the fashion conscious at incredible prices. The team is so helpful, and you can play dress-ups for hours. It’s easy to fall in love with all the exquisite fashion so get ready to refill those wonderful wardrobes. Definitely an experience to add to the list for a good day out.

Speaking of replenishment, as the season ends the sales begin! One of our local favourite boutiques, Detendu Lifestyle, nestled in the heart of Rosebud, is stocked to the brim and ready to entice you through their door with irresistible offers on all their cosy knits, hats, gloves and all things winter. There is plenty of reason to hit the streets rugged up in your finery for a true shopping experience. Getting back to those to-do lists we have started making, one thing we need to consider around this time of year is making sure we start planning those bespoke gifts for the event season ahead. Our social calendars start filling up quickly and if you want a one-of-akind something special fabricated it is time to do your homework. Peninsula Essence is full of wonderful ideas and businesses that can help bring them to fruition. Owner, jeweller Harry, Anny’s Jewellers of Frankston, has over 30 years of experience and will work with you every step of the way to bring your vision to reality whether it’s a custom-made creation, a remake, or a signature piece for that special occasion. Unique gifts need time to reach perfection, so don’t wait until the last minute to get them organised. We have it all on the Mornington Peninsula and what a wonderful way to reuse those pretty trinkets that have been stored in jewellery boxes waiting for their time to shine again.

I may never have the perfect wardrobe set up, but we need to consider how we approach building apparel storage into our future homes. Steering away from fast fashion and moving toward quality pieces that can be filed away and brought back out as the trends come around again is a great goal. Ideally having a whole room seems like a practical proposition (I can dream). We will always have new additions to savour, and we will forever find a new nook or cranny to keep them safe so enjoy those August end-of-winter sales and support our local businesses!

#wearyourfineryeveryday

Fashionably yours,

Annette