"Why would I need a stylist? I can sort out my own closet." I hear this a lot, and it's true: you can sort a closet on your own. The question is what's left afterwards. Let's look honestly at how a solo closet clear-out usually goes, and what happens when we do it together.
Doing it yourself: how it usually goes
You open the closet and look at your clothes. Then the familiar inner dialogue starts.
- "Oh, this top, my mum gave it to me ten years ago. Let it hang there, I'll figure out what to wear it with later." That "later" never comes.
- "These jeans are great. Once I lose a bit of weight I'll wear them again." Whether they're still in style is another question, but who's checking.
- "These shoes don't go with anything and I haven't worn them in ages. But let them stay."
The result: everything stays exactly where it was. The clothes are on their hangers, and there is still no idea what goes with what. It isn't a matter of willpower or taste. Your own wardrobe is hard to judge from the outside, because every piece has a story, and you feel sorry for each of them.
A wardrobe edit with me: what happens in 3 to 4 hours
With me it works differently, and the main difference is that we don't only clear out, we build.
- We remove what's out of date. Piece by piece, honestly: what no longer fits, no longer suits the climate, no longer suits your current life. You make the decision, I give you the arguments.
- We keep only the pieces you love. The ones that are comfortable and that you genuinely like. "Let it stay" doesn't survive in this category.
- We hang everything so it's all visible. Half of "nothing to wear" disappears at this step: the clothes end up in plain sight, next to what they go with.
- We go through jewellery, shoes and bags. They usually live in boxes and never make it into outfits, yet an outfit without them looks unfinished.
- We build outfits on the spot, try them on and photograph them. Put together, tried on you, photographed. Those photos become your lookbook.
- We style the wardrobe professionally, in several ways. The same shirt can work at the office, in the evening and on a walk by the ocean. I show you how to wear it in each case.
- We write a list of what's missing. Short and prioritised, down to "one jacket in this colour and this length".
- We go shopping: on your own with the list, or with me. With the list and the lookbook you buy only what fits into the outfits we've already built. If you'd rather not walk the shops yourself, there is shopping with me: I pre-select the pieces, you only try them on.
What you're left with
Ready outfits made of pieces that go together, feel comfortable and fit your life. A lookbook with a photo of every outfit, a prioritised shopping list and a closet where everything is in view. And no more long deliberations in front of an open closet in the morning: open the lookbook, pick a picture, get dressed.
It works this way for women and for men alike. An IT specialist from Buenos Aires spent two hours in a fitting room while I brought the clothes, and left with three bags of clothes where every piece goes with the rest.
Quick questions
How long does an edit take? 3 to 4 hours. That's enough for the whole closet, including shoes, bags and jewellery.
Do I need to prepare? No. My only request: don't throw anything away beforehand. A piece that seems pointless quite often turns out to be the one an outfit needs.
Can we do it online? Yes. An edit by video call works the same way, in front of your closet, just on Zoom. The in-person format is at your home.
How much does it cost? A wardrobe edit is 226 €, online or at your home in Lisbon. The price is final, no surprises.
Can I gift it? Yes, there is a personalised gift certificate for a wardrobe edit: for your wife, mum, a friend or your husband. The recipient picks the date.
If you recognised yourself in front of the closet
Message me on WhatsApp or on Instagram @svet.stilist: a couple of questions and we'll agree on a date and format. I reply within a day.