Did you do any shopping on Black Friday or Cyber Monday? It is the season for good deals and shopping fun. I’m working in NC this week and had a great shopping trip with a client on Saturday. We found some great pieces that she could use to make different outfits for both work and play.
The sale season can sometimes derail your wardrobe. That may sound funny but a super sale can tempt you to buy something that may not truly suit your wardrobe needs. Remember to practice smart shopping and remind yourself that if an item doesn’t make you feel awesome it should probably stay at the store.
I’m a big believer that smart shopping doesn’t end at the store. There are a few more steps to take once you and your purchases are back in your closet.
TRY ON EVERYTHING…AGAIN Yes, I know it sounds like extra work but you must try on everything you’ve bought again once you are back in your closet. Make sure your new item fits (in your mirror). Be positive you love it. Try it on with other wardrobe pieces so you know how to create an outfit with it.
LEAVE THE TAGS ON It’s tempting to declare you love something and rip the tags off declaring it yours. Leave the tags on until you actually wear a new item out of the house. This gives you the option to return it if you change your mind.
CREATE A *NEW* SECTION It’s always a bummer when you’re looking through your closet and you discover something you’ve never even worn. Keep this from happening by hanging everything you bought in one section of your closet, your *NEW* section. As you wear something, integrate it into the proper place in the closet. After a couple of weeks if something is still hanging unworn in the new section, ask yourself why and return it while you can still get your money back.
No, a closet edit is the foundation to great style and serves as an educational tool. The fact that your closet is neat and tidy when you finish is an extra bonus. Editing your closet regularly is the key component to making your clothing function for you and your lifestyle. You should edit your closet on a seasonal basis. By working seasonally, you will find items you forgot you had, think of new ways to wear what you already own, and keep your closet neat and organized.
A closet edit can be done on your own, or with a professional. A professional stylist will help you learn the best way to dress your body and is instrumental in making you feel put together and confident every time you walk out the door. No matter if you are doing an edit on your own or with a stylist here are a few tips to get the greatest benefit out of your closet.
FACT: We wear 20% of our wardrobe 80% of the time.
That fact makes it clear why so many of us stand in their closet staring at a sea of clothes wondering why they have nothing to wear. You do not have to be part of that fact. Set a goal to develop a wardrobe that meets your style goals and functions for you.
Ask yourself a few questions about your lifestyle. On a typical day, where are you going? What are you doing? What percentage of time is spent doing those things? Which of those activities cause you the most stress while getting dressed? Your answers will uncover your wardrobe needs and challenges. For instance, if the largest percentage of your time is spent in a jean-free workplace, do you really need 50 pairs of jeans?
Begin by focusing on one category within your wardrobe. I typically recommend pants or bottoms to my clients because most people have fewer bottoms than tops. Bottoms are important basics that will be used over and over to make different outfits. Start wherever you like and examine each piece of clothing. Does it fit? Don’t know? Try it on. Have you worn it recently? Does it fit with the categories you determined for your lifestyle? Does it meet your style goals? I realize this is a lot of questions to ask about one little piece of clothing, but it is necessary to create a fashionable wardrobe that functions for you.
As you work through your wardrobe create three piles; give-away, throw-away, and to be repaired. Make notes as you edit your closet to help you determine where you may have wardrobe holes, and what pieces you may be missing to complete your style goals. Continue working through your entire closet until you have given each piece proper attention and put it back into the closet in an orderly fashion.
Now sit back and reap the rewards of a job well done. Getting dressed is now easier because you know what you have, where it is, and how it fits. Take your closet edit notes with you on your next shopping trip. Use those notes to make smart shopping choices that can be incorporated into your existing wardrobe and lifestyle.
Find a time to edit your closet. Be honest, be creative with new outfits, and have fun! For more information about editing your closet, or to learn more about hiring a professional to assist you, contact the Charleston Style Concierge.
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