Take a deep breath, grit your teeth and let your ruthless streak run wild.

This is definitely the stage at which you need the company of a good (and honest) friend, a strong will and concentration of a Buddhist monk.

Julia Dee advises her clients to go through wardrobe at the beginning of every season, asking some pretty demanding questions of every piece:

• Does it fit?
• Is it comfortable?
• Is it flattering?
• Have I worn it in the last year?
• If not, why not?
• Is it still in fashion?
• If it's not - will it come back into fashion?
• Would I wear it if it was altered - let out, taken in, shoulder pads removed, shortened, buttons changed, dyed another colour?

Then make three piles

The Good -- these go back into the wardrobe on the right hangers in colour families and grouped in trousers jackets dresses blouses etc.
The Bad -- Items that need something doing i.e. Dry cleaned, mended, altered etc
The Ugly -- Items that can be sold (or swap with friends) Or sent to charity.

Spring clean wardrobe

Once you've sorted your clothes, pay a little attention to your wardrobe.

• Vacuum throughout
• Wash down shelves and woodwork
• Replace lavender bags, moth repellents and potpourri (pretty dishes of herbs)
• Cedar wood sheets can be bought from the local joinery workshop, cabinetmaker or DIY store. These can be used as draw liners or placed at the bottom of the wardrobe and are insect repellent and leave a nice aromatic smell. They can be refreshed by buffing them up with sand paper.