There’s nothing better than a successful day of shopping. You arrive home proud of your hard work and add your new items to your sea of clothes. You are confident that the next time you get dressed you will know exactly what to wear. Clothing with tags still on them is a common problem for many of my clients who struggle with the feeling of having nothing to wear. After you finish your shopping there are a few things you can do to ensure the things you buy will help you build a versatile wardrobe.
My first tip is to stop feeling guilty about the clothes you have bought and never worn. The guilt does nothing but eat away at you and at the end of the day, or the beginning as the case may be, won’t help you get dressed any faster. Put aside your guilt and pull out the clothing in your closet still plagued with tags. Ask yourself why you haven’t worn them? Maybe you forgot you had them or maybe they never really fit. Make a mental note and then find out which items can be returned. Those that can’t can be sold at consignment stores or ebay, donated to charity, or used in a fun clothing swap with your friends. Find them a new home and move on.
Next discover how to make sure the purchases you make will help you build a versatile wardrobe with these simple tips.
When you come home from shopping, take a few minutes to try on your purchases again. Often we need the reality of our own mirror or the reminder of our lifestyle to help us determine how useful an item of clothing will be.
Next, take the new items into your closet and pair them with the pieces you imagined making outfits with while in the store. Is the outfit how you pictured? Will it suit the purpose you intended?
Consider grouping new items together in your closet. One of the most common challenges for shopaholics is remembering what they have. Often clothes get stuck in the closet and we forget we even own them. Review your “new clothing” section every few weeks to make sure you have actually worn the things you bought.
For more tips on creating a versatile wardrobe contact Charleston Style Concierge.
Fall is here so its time to edit your closet and properly care for summer garments leaving your wardrobe rotation. You can protect your clothing investment just by taking the time to properly care for them as you switch to a new season. Fabrics are delicate and can change or deteriorate depending on how they are stored. You have worked hard to create a versatile and fabulous wardrobe, so take the time to read these steps on how to prolong the life of your clothing.
Launder or dry clean items being put away until next season. You will avoid stains that set into your clothes. Many stains like perspiration, clear beverages, and perfume are almost invisible but can be a detriment to your clothing because they attract bugs like moths and carpet beetles.
Store your clothing in cloth garment bags. Cloth garment bags allow clothing to breathe, contrary to their plastic counter parts. Remove plastic bags placed on clothing from the dry cleaners. Gases from decomposing plastic can be absorbed by your clothing causing it to yellow.
Opt for cedar instead of mothballs. Mothballs are toxic and smell terrible. The smell is very difficult to get out of clothing. Opt for cedar which repels moths with its scent. Replace cedar every year because it loses its scent.
Keep clothing out of humid environments. Clothes should be stored in a cool and dry environment. Humidity leads to mildew on fabric which is difficult to fully remove.
Empty your pockets. Check your pockets before putting clothing away for a season. You will remove any potential hazardous items and may even find that key you’ve been looking for.
For more tips on how to edit your closet or to learn more about prolonging the life of your clothes contact the Charleston Style Concierge.
Do you put together an outfit for a specific event with ease, but have trouble creating new and different looks for every day? Your wardrobe may suffer from lack of versatility.
Your wardrobe lacks versatility if…
1. You buy similar items to those you already own. The new black shirt you loved in the store is less exciting at home when you realize the outfit you will create looks the same as the one you always put together with your other black shirts.
2. You buy an outfit for a specific purpose and then never think about it again. Break up the pieces and think of other ways to wear them. Add accessories or layers to change the original look.
3. Your clothing purchases deviate from your true wardrobe needs. Buying what you actually need is a key element to feeling stylish and put together all the time.
4. You are not buying clothing in your correct size. Fabulous but ill-fitting items will do you no good hanging in the closet. Buy clothing that fits you as you are right now.
5. If you don’t have a mental inventory of what you own. Make an effort to edit your closet at least twice a year. You will remember what you own and will now be able to determine if a new piece will be a versatile addition to your wardrobe.
It is possible to feel stylish and comfortable. Use these tips to create a style you are comfortable in.
1. Ask yourself why you are unhappy with the way you look? How does your look make you feel? There is a way to counteract those negative feelings with clothing, while being comfortable and staying true to who you are.
2. If you feel unattractive, you are focusing on the wrong things. Find the parts of your body that you like (If you can’t find them, ask a friend) and learn how to accentuate them.
3. Make an effort to learn about your body type. We are all different shapes and sizes, which means we will not all fit into the same pair of pants. Learn about fits and designers that work best for you.
4. If comfort is key, be realistic about your lifestyle when making clothing choices. If you are on your feet all day wear a fashionable flat or kitten heel. Save your amazing new platform pumps for a dinner that includes valet.
5. Clothing effects the way you feel about yourself and changes the way you are perceived by others. With that in mind, only buy clothing you love.
Want to learn more about merging style and comfort? Contact Charleston Style to learn more about our services. www.charlestonstyleconcierge.com
5 Tips & Tricks About Bras
1. Give your bra a rest. Wearing your bra more than two days in a row wears out the support elastic. A day of rest will give it a chance to recover its memory.
2. When you purchase your bra it should fit snuggly on the loosest hook. As the bra ages you can tighten it using the remaining hooks to maintain the original fit.
3. Get fitted at least once a year. Breast size fluctuates due to many factors like age, weight gain/loss, and pregnancy.
4. Try your bras on before you purchase them. Bras are like clothing, every brand will fit a little differently.
5. Quality vs. quantity pays off.
New Bra, Now What?
Now that you have a new bra, use your clothing to accentuate your chest in the most flattering way.
1. If you have a large chest use a v-neck to visually separate “the girls,” making you appear slimmer.
2. Halter tops are a small chest’s best friend. The angle of the halter flatters a small chest and gives you an opportunity to show off sexy shoulders.
3. Just say no to thick stripes and ribbing across your chest. A large chest makes the stripes and ribbing look more like ocean waves.
4. Choose clothing that conceals your bra straps.
5. Use fitted jackets to create and show off a waistline giving you a defined hourglass shape.
Do you ever wonder how you can be more eco-friendly with your clothing? Check out these 5 easy ways to Reduce, Resuse, Restyle
5 Ways to Reduce, Reuse, Restyle
1. Edit your closet and discover how to wear what you already have more.
2. Restyle what you already own.
3. Shop and sell at consignment stores.
4. Donate your edited clothing to Dress for Success.
5. Host a Style Party with a clothing swap.
Example of an old jacket restyled into something new and fabulous!
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