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Greetings! I hope you are all off to a great start this year. As the spring season is approaching, I recently got hired to do a number of closet reviews. I finally have a moment to sit down and elaborate on this topic a little bit more.
If you live in Texas and looking good and spending wisely matters to you, the spring season is the most important fashion season because of our climate. The weather here is springlike for most of the year - the wardrobe investment we make in spring can usually last at least until early fall. Spring is therefore the best time of year to do a closet cleaning, organizing and review, and then make a wardrobe buying plan for yourself - doing so will give you the best bang for your buck.
There is still time to review your closet and put together a plan to get yourself ready for a great spring and the rest of 2013. If you prefer to do your own closet review and purchase plan, I’d like to share with you what I learned from my teacher, noted image master Carol Davidson:
1. Clarify your own unique style. Look in magazines or online and begin to assemble a file of items that appeal to you. Think about what they share in common - perhaps it's the colors, silhouettes, styles or manufacturers? Begin to cultivate (or refine) your style so that you know what to look for and consistently love your look. Keep in mind, some of the looks might not be suitable to your physical condition.
2. Identify your assets - and then flaunt them! I'm not sure why, but we all seem to dwell on the negative. Why not take the time and energy you'd use to hide a challenge area and instead think about your assets and how you can best show them off?
3. Assess your wardrobe. Try to understand what works and what doesn't, and why. Let go of the things that are simply not useful. "Just do it." Give discarded items a second life by donating them or giving them to a friend.
4. Don't put off alterations or repairs. There is nothing more frustrating than having an item that you could wear and enjoy, if only... Just as you schedule everything else in your smart phone, take the time to schedule these activities as well.
5. Organize your closet. Does this seem overwhelming? Split this task into one or two hour chunks, over the course of several weeks. Think about your wardrobe routine. Would it make sense to organize your closet by item, by color or by outfit? Play some music and focus on creating a sanctuary of organized items that make you deliriously happy!
6. Find new ways to combine your clothes. Pick one item each week and challenge yourself to come up with a new way to wear it. (FYI, many of you don't really need more items...just some fresh ways to wear what they own. That's where I can help!)
7. Make a shopping list. Do not - I repeat - do not - go into a store without a list of what you need. This will keep you from coming home with the 'nice-to-haves' as opposed to the 'need-to-haves.'
8. Make a conscious decision to make wiser choices. Assuming an item fits both your budget and your body, ask yourself: Do you love it? Does it flatter you? Does it represent you at your best?
9. Make a point to add color. No one can live in all neutrals all the time. Easy ways to add a splash of color are by way of a bag, shoe, nail color or as part of a print. Not only will color add visual interest to any outfit, it can help you get through any gray days.
10. Discover that comfort and style need not be mutually exclusive. Take the time to search out items that hit the mark in both categories. No one should suffer for fashion. However, no one should sacrifice it for comfort, either.
11. Give yourself permission to shop for the whole outfit. So many people are frustrated because they have orphan items (aka items that don't have a companion piece) in their closet. When considering a new item, either make sure that you own two to three items to go with it, or take the time to hunt for the complete ensemble.
12. Learn to accept compliments graciously. They will come!
