The traditional department store model with endless racks, crowded floors, and an overwhelming assortment of merchandise was built for a different era. A time when shopping was a primary leisure activity. Where neither online shopping nor social media existed. Shoppers relied heavily on department stores to discover what was on offer and “in”, and that’s where they bought most of their wardrobe items, beauty products, and other things. With everything under one roof, it was an easy one-stop-shop for the family.

Today, closures, bankruptcies and quiet shopping malls makes it look like department stores might be on their last legs. The ease of online shopping has led to a collapse of mall traffic in many city centers. Operating costs have risen and leases have become unaffordable. Today’s shoppers are more informed, more intentional, more selective, and shop with purpose. They don’t want to be overwhelmed, they want to be understood and have their very specific needs satisfied. The ease and abundance of online shopping has made all brick ’n mortar stores suffer.

All that said, department stores still have some advantages. It’s hard to beat having easy access to a wide variety of items and brands in one place that you can see, touch, feel, and try on right away. When I take clients in-person shopping for jeans and shoes, we usually begin in a department store because it’s efficient, effective and practical. Clients are usually overwhelmed by the amount of merchandise, and are all too happy for me to take charge finding the needle in the haystack. We might not find what we’re looking for in a department store, but it helps us narrow our focus so that we can find the perfect items elsewhere.

The question is whether department stores can adapt to our new shopping realities while retaining the in-person advantages that they still enjoy. Can they build on their customer service, provide a better experience through more curation, and offer better integration with online shopping options. 

Bloomingdales in the US has opened up a much smaller, curated store concept called “Bloomies” that seems to be a move in this direction. It was designed to bring the Bloomingdale’s aesthetic to more casual or everyday shopping occasions, often with personalized services and a boutique-like feel. We have a Bloomies in Seattle, and so far the concept has been well received. Makes me wonder whether Nordstrom will consider opening their version. I definitely have room for a “Nordies” in my life.

Department stores in countries like Japan are thriving. And if you’ve visited and shopped in a Japanese department store you’ll understand why. They are vibrant, interesting, and aspirational. Collections are carefully curated and not overwhelming. They focus on the experience as much as the product. They offer beautiful food halls, grocery shopping opportunities, florists, gathering spaces, and other convenient support services. There is an emphasis on quality, excellent customer service, and storytelling. My favourite place to shop is a Japanese department store.

Personally, I’m a diehard department store fan. I love the variety, the convenience, and the shopping experience in general. I also like the modern Bloomies concept, and hope that this type of evolution helps traditional department stores successfully pivot into the new retail landscape.

Over to you. What do you think? Do you still shop in department stores? Is there a place for them in the future of retail?

I bought a Burberry peacoat in 2014. It is impeccable, comfortable, looks good, and fits beautifully. It’s a lightweight coat that works in transitional weather. I bought it assuming that it would become a wardrobe workhorse. After all, it’s navy which is a core neutral for my style, a peacoat silhouette which I’m fond of, and a pristine classic with longevity. Logically, it ticked off many boxes. Yet it’s been worn infrequently in twelve years, and ended up being far from a workhorse.

Along the way I figured out that the coat has some shortcomings. Although I love wearing dark blue tops, bottoms, dresses and patterns, I am very moody about wearing dark blue outerwear. I don’t naturally gravitate to a dark coat. Some seasons I want to wear a dark coat, and some seasons I don’t. By contrast, I am always in the mood to wear cream and bright coats. More recently I love wearing toffee and tan outerwear too.

I do have a navy maxi wool coat that I enjoy wearing a lot more than my Burberry peacoat, which brings me to its second strike. I wish it was longer or shorter because outerwear lengths that hit high on my thighs are not my favourite.

Despite the Burberry’s infrequent wear, I’ve kept it, and will probably never pass it on. Somehow I’m confident that it will be worn more in future. I’m okay with its infrequent wear because potential wardrobe workhorses can be hard to predict, and you can’t get it right every time. Conversely, other items have unexpectedly become workhorses, which more than makes up for it. What you lose on the swings, you gain on the roundabouts.

Over to you. Do you have an infrequently worn item that you thought would become a workhorse, but didn’t? And are you keeping it anyway?

These outfits are for Team Neutrals. Instead of combining dark neutrals from head-to-toe, the outfits are broken up by contrasting neutrals. There’s a bit of pattern too. In some examples the contrast is subtle and minimal, and in other examples more bold. The contrast can be close to the face, or at the bottom of the outfit. I’m including earth tones like olive, tan, and toffee as neutrals. 

1. Greys, Olive, White and Cream

Olive trousers are combined with a very dark grey and almost black polo sweater. The buttons of the sweater are left open so that a white tee can peek through, thereby creating a high contrast. A white tee layered this way gives the outfit a sporty and casual touch. Cream sneakers with dark gum soles add another contrasting touch and match the sporty integrity of the tee. A charcoal coat tops the lot. None of the neutrals are an exact match, and they all work together. Add a neutral bag that works with the palette.

2. Chocolate, Black, Tan and Cream

A chocolate skirt with black lace trim is combined with a chocolate turtleneck. Tall black boots match the black lace. A tan sherpa jacket with cream trim tops the lot to create a contrast. The tension between the dressy skirt and casual topper is right on trend. Add a neutral bag that works with the palette.

3. Denim, Grey, Black, White, Tan and Chocolate

This outfit is interesting because the jeans, sweater and jacket are contrasting neutral items already. These items are combined into an outfit to create further contrast. A pair of dark blue cuffed jeans is combined with a grey-black-white striped sweater. Chocolate boots match the model’s dark brown hair. A tan jacket with black collar adds another level of neutral contrast. So does the furry scarf if it’s worn inside the collar of the jacket. Add a neutral bag that works with the palette.

4. Black, Olive and Tan

A tan and black patterned skirt has an attached olive belt, which creates neutral contrast. It’s combined with an olive sweater which is exactly the same colour. It strengthens the high contrast look of the outfit. A black leather jacket tops the pairing. Tall black boots match the jacket and create a neutral contrast with the skirt. Add jewellery, bag, watch and eyewear as desired.

I help people to edit their closets because it’s one of the fastest and most effective ways to make your style feel easier, clearer, and more you. Having edited countless wardrobes over the decades, I have a lot of hands on experience to share and have written about the topic from many directions. 

Here’s a quick summary and refresher course.

Alignment

Wardrobe editing is not about achieving perfection, owning a certain number of items, or dressing like someone else. It’s about honesty and alignment.

Your clothing, footwear and accessories should align with:

• Your lifestyle and climate
• Your body as it is today
• Your sartorial preferences and style goals
• Your need for variety

An edited wardrobe supports the way you live and how you want to feel when you get dressed.

Thoughtful Observation

Editing is not about getting rid of things for the sake of being streamlined and minimalist. It’s about making thoughtful decisions.

• If you like or love something and wear it. It’s earned its place.
• If you like or love something and don’t wear it, that’s good information. Figure out WHY and take action from there.
• If something technically works but makes you feel flat, that’s good info too. Figure out whether it’s worth styling in an alternative way, or pass it on.

Editing is observational before it’s actionable. The observations create clarity and the way forward to a style that is fab-for-you.

Unworn Items

The reasons for items to go unworn or be infrequently worn have very consistent themes:

• Fit is off
• Colour is off
• Fabric is off
• Vibe is off
• Uncomfortable
• Fussy
• Hard to launder
• Needs pressing
• Unsuited to my lifestyle, environment, or climate
• Hard to style
• Emotionally outgrown the look

None of these mean you’ve failed. Your current wardrobe is giving you feedback. Use it to create a future wardrobe that is more aligned with your style goals.

Earning Their Spot

A wardrobe edit isn’t about asking, “Is this good? It’s about asking, “Is this good for me?”

Items that are worth keeping tend to:

• Get worn regularly
• Get worn less regularly yet are fabulous when you do wear them
• Feel comfortable
• Feel authentic to your style
• Make you feel AMAZING
• Launder easily
• Are versatile and easy to incorporate into outfits
• Suit your climate and daily life
• Make getting dressed easier, not harder
• Align with your style goals

Sentimentality and nostalgia alone are not enough, but neither is ruthless logic and a need to be minimalist. Editing works best when your head and heart cooperate.

If you like a wardrobe item that fits, looks fabulous, and is in good condition, keep if you can store it. It doesn’t matter if it’s infrequently worn on this leg of your style journey. Chances are high it will come back into favour at some point when you style it in a refreshed way, or are simply in the mood to wear it again.

Regular Edits

Edits are not once-off events. Your style evolves. Your body changes. Your life shifts. Your preferences pivot. Your wardrobe and style needs to adapt to these changes, and are therefore a work in progress.

A successful edit doesn’t leave you with a finished closet. It leaves you with:

• A better awareness of what you wear
• Gaps to fill intentionally
• Fewer impulse purchases
• Increased outfit satisfaction

Editing once a year is helpful. Lighter, more regular edits are even better.

Sharpening Your Tools

When you remove what doesn’t serve you, the items that remain become more visible. Patterns emerge. Preferences clarify. Over-duplication is prevented. You see outfit possibilities more clearly. Shopping becomes easier and more deliberate.

Wardrobe editing isn’t about restrictions and rules. It improves self-knowledge. Your closet doesn’t need to impress anyone. It needs to support you, and make you feel good in the outfits that you draw from it daily. The goal isn’t to have a smaller wardrobe. The goal is a wardrobe that works.