How To Master The Art Of Transeasonal Dressing

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH TK MAXX

THE GLOSS Style Editor Aislinn Coffey talks new season trends and wardrobe clearouts with stylist Courtney Smith, who tells us how she will be donating her items to TK Maxx’s Give Up Clothes For Good initiative this September and giving her pre-loved items a second life – all in aid of Enable Ireland …

September is high time for a post-summer wardrobe reset. But before you buy anything new, take stock of what you have and identify gaps in your wardrobe. Take the opportunity to clear out pieces you don’t wear, and make way for the new.

Celebrity stylist Courtney Smith told me how she goes about updating her wardrobe. “I have a rule that if I haven’t worn something in over twelve months, then it’s time to find it a new home,” she explains. “I ask myself questions like: Would you wear this for a special occasion tomorrow? Does it fit you now? Do you have a minimum of three outfits you can style it with? I tend to do a clearout twice a year, instead of hoarding pieces I will never wear again. Our style evolves, our tastes change and our bodies change, so it’s only natural we should be clearing out to make space for some new investment pieces.”

After your clearout, you can bring your unwanted pre-loved fashion (and homeware) to any TK Maxx store, anywhere in the country, all year round. TK Maxx’s Give Up Clothes For Good initiative, in partnership with Enable Ireland, allows you to donate your pre-loved items in a way that extends their life cycle. Your donations directly benefit Enable Ireland, helping to support the charity’s vital work while giving your clothes a second life.

Now that you’ve made some space in your wardrobe, it’s time to look ahead to the new season. Courtney has good tips for wearing what remains in your wardrobe in a new way: “My top tip when it comes to transeasonal dressing is to use different textures and layer them,” Courtney explains.

“It’s important that when I am investing in trend pieces I know they will stand the test of time …”

“This autumn, I plan to mix BRODERIE ANGLAISE summer pieces with textured knits or statement leathers and boots which will add interest to my outfits and evoke that bohemian revival trend.

LEOPARD PRINT, while extremely on trend for AW24, will never be out of style – for me, it’s just another neutral. One of my favourite pieces in my wardrobe is a leopard print coat I bought in TK Maxx which I bring back out every year. Top tip: I think dark-toned leopard prints always feel more expensive and are easier to wear. Invest in one key piece, whether that’s a statement coat, cute pumps or a handbag, and let that be the defining piece in your outfit.

LEATHER COATS, another big trend for AW24, will be one of my go-to styles for winter; I love how textured outerwear has the ability to create a statement look even if the rest of your outfit is basic. I am also leaning into the trend for STATEMENT JEWELLERY, such as big chunky earrings or a statement necklace, to update my casual outfits. I think as you get older you really discover your own sense of style, so I definitely buy better now, and love that I can invest for less at TK Maxx, but there will always be the older pieces in my wardrobe that I will return to each year, making them work alongside newer trends.”

By donating your pre-loved items to Give Up Clothes For Good, you’re not just clearing space in your wardrobe, you’re also extending the life cycle of your clothes and supporting Enable Ireland.