You're right. A YouGov report, commissioned to mark the first day of the M&S and Oxfam Clothes Exchange (today), shows that 46 per cent of people’s clothes - an estimated 2.4 billion items - have sat gathering dust on shelves and hangers and were not worn once in the last year. If you take a bag of unworn clothes into M&S in the next 6 weeks, they'll give you a £5 voucher to spend in store (as long as the bag contains at least one item of M&S clothing). Not a bad deal to get you going with a wardrobe clear out!

Yes, it's true that the vast majority of the nation's clothes hang idly in the cupboard year upon year. Such a waste - and such a bore when you're trying to find something to wear. I suggest you whittle your wardrobe down to: 3 pairs trousers, 2 pairs jeans, 3 day dresses, 2 evening/cocktail dresses, 3 sweaters of various weights (polo, turtle, crew, V), 1 trouser suit, 1 blazer or jacket, 2 shirts, plenty of T-shirts - and then all your accessories. Keep a couple of frivolous items, just for fun - but ditch the things that are weighing your wardrobe down. This is exactly what a stylist would do if you invited one into your house (and, if you do, choose Laura Campbell of www.campbellandbathurst.com - she's one of the best in the business).