We’ve all seen a list of the 10 most versatile wardrobe pieces you should own. You probably already have some of them. The trick to making wardrobe pieces versatile is making them your own. Each piece should be representative of your personal style.
On any must-have list, you will find the classic white shirt. I find this shirt in almost everyone’s closet. However, most people don’t actually wear it. Why? Because they saw it on the list and went out and bought a classic white shirt, not a shirt they actually want to wear.
When you are purchasing staple wardrobe pieces, keep the following in mind:
Click here to view my list of the 10 Most Versatile Wardrobe Pieces.
Imagine having a closet full of clothing you truly love. The only challenge to getting dressed would be deciding which fabulous outfit to wear. Getting dressed would be quick and easy, and you would feel great every time you walked out the door.
All of this is possible if you adopt a love it or leave it attitude. It is easy to be seduced by price, styles that you love but that won’t work for your body type, friendly encouragement from sales people, and numerous other factors. As you shop for wardrobe additions or as you edit your closet, you must be ruthless. If you don’t love something, you’re never going to be happy wearing it. Give it away, or leave it at the store!
5 Things Each Piece of Your Clothing Should Have
1. The fit makes you feel great about your figure.
2. The price does not affect your desire to buy it.
3. It makes you feel confident and unique.
4. It can be used to create many different outfits.
5. It has special details that speak to your personal style.
It is impossible to create a wardrobe that allows you to get dressed quickly when you have no style direction or goal in mind. What you get is a closet full of clothes you don’t want to wear.
Whatever your wardrobe challenge is, it can be fixed! You just need to figure out why you are not happy with your style. And thinking to yourself, “I don’t have a perfect body,” is not a reason. Start by determining your style goals.
Observe what people are wearing when you think to yourself, “Wow! They look great!” Do you notice a pattern in what you like? Is it always a certain style?
Become aware of styles you naturally gravitate to. For example, when you are out shopping are you constantly drawn to classic and sophisticated looks, or bohemian chic ones? Make note of this.
Ask yourself how you want to look. Do you want to look younger, more modern, more professional, more put together. Then ask yourself why you want to look this way. The why is important.
Pretend you live in a perfect world with none of your lifestyle and body constraints. Now, what would you like to wear everyday?
If you feel stuck, get inspiration from fashion magazines. Cut out pictures to narrow down what you really like. Don’t focus on what you think you can wear, just focus on things you like.
Take some time to think about these questions and write down your answers. Your responses will help you determine why you are unhappy with your current wardrobe. Then, work towards creating a versatile wardrobe that meets your style goals and functions for your lifestyle.
Let Charleston Style Concierge show you how to create a wardrobe you love to wear. Through a compete image and style assessment, clients learn how to create an easy and effortless style.
Lee Heyward, style expert and owner of Charleston Style Concierge, weighs in on the importance of dressing for success in the workplace.
Watch the segment that aired on the 7 o’clock news.
This Spring there are many different ways you can participate in the latest trends while staying true to your personal style. I recommend trying one of the hot colors of the season. Some of these colors are already in your closet and others can be added with a budget friendly accessory.
Black & White
Black and white clothing is everywhere this season, and is probably a trend already hanging in your closet. Black and white is always sophisticated and elegant. I love how this Diane von Furstenberg dress is paired with a pop of color and a nude shoe.
Go Nude
This season choose soft flesh tones and pale earthy neutrals. When you wear pale neutrals choose shades that don’t wash out your skin tone. Stay safe with a nude colored shoe. It is a versatile addition to your shoe wardrobe and makes legs look longer.
Pop Magenta
Hot Pink or magenta is back! It is a bright and bold color that looks great with many different skin tones. If it is too bright for you in a dress, try and hot pink shoe or bag.
Try Yellow
Yellow is such a great color and is the color for spring. The most versatile way to do yellow is through your accessories, such as a handbag or shoe. Yellow can be paired with a lot of your existing wardrobe. Have fun this spring and give yellow a try.
Let Charleston Style Concierge help you develop your personal style this Spring!
If the bursting closet in your room somewhat resembles a growling monster with relics from the past, it’s time for a major closet clean-out . This may seem like a daunting task—but it’s not.
What a closet clean-out will do for your lifestyle:
· Eliminate that 15-30 minutes in the morning (and in the evenings) when you search for the perfect outfit you have in mind. Think about it—you can sleep during that extra time, and you won’t be so cranky in the morning because you’re late for work, and wearing something you don’t feel confident in.
· The appearance of a color-coordinated, well-organized, and uncluttered closet can do wonders for your mood. No matter what your lifestyle, a clean and organized room is rejuvenating, and makes you feel on track in life.
· Instead of being aggravated with the horrific task of searching the cavernous depths of your closet for one piece of clothing you have in mind, an organized closet will eliminate the possibility of aggravation.
What items to part with and why:
· That decent-looking sweater with fuzz balls dangling all over—not a good illustration of the image you want to portray.
· The casual top you used to wear out in college that is so out-of-date, yet you convince yourself you might wear it again. You won’t. Rule of thumb: If you haven’t worn it in a year—give it the old heave-hoe.
· Jeans that just don’t fit, or are so “broken-in” their starting to rip at the seams. Of course, the casual pair of jeans you wear around the house for messy chores and painting jobs can be kept (in the garage), but when you know you haven’t worn a certain pair of jeans because they simply don’t fit anymore, you simply need to buy a new pair.
Sometimes it’s hard to part with certain articles of clothing—you feel bad throwing them away. Don’t. Goodwill is a great place to bring clothes you don’t wear anymore. Thrift shopping is huge now, especially in this tough economy. Not only do you provide clothes that others will wear (that you know you won’t anymore), but many times you receive a tax write-off. It’s well worth it.
Cleaning-out your closet takes approximately only three hours of your time, and on a relaxing Saturday, it could be the perfect chore to tackle. It doesn’t have to be stressful. Put on your favorite music, open a window, and get going. You’ll be finished in no time, and you’ll have had fun doing it.
I do not believe in going into debt for fashion, or that you have to spend tons of money to have great style. I do believe that looking at price tags before trying something on can cause you to spend more money.
The first thing you do while shopping is look at the price tag. Usually that price tag tells you it is okay to try something on, the item is a great deal, or it will cause you to put the item away wishing you were an instant lottery winner. The last two cause havoc in your closet and will ultimately cause you to spend more money.
The next time you are shopping try on this new mindset about price and you will discover that you make much smarter purchases and wardrobe investments.
· When you come across a great deal, proceed with caution. Don’t let the allure of a deal throw out your good judgment about fit, versatility, and need. If something doesn’t fit or won’t work for your lifestyle, don’t buy it. Practice only spending money on items that suit all of your style needs.
· When something is out of your budget don’t put it back and wait for the depression to set in. Try it on. The more expensive item could be a better investment than the multiple deals you continue to buy. For example, the perfect fitting pants can be hard to find. You go from store to store settling on pants that kind of fit. They allow you to leave the house fully clothed but are not the best fit. You’ve now bought 4 pairs of imperfect black pants and have spent $200. The expensive pair that you would have never tried on are also $200 and fit like a glove. These are the better investment, and you no longer waste time looking for the perfect black pant.
· Until you try something on and determine it is right for your personal style, price doesn’t matter. Decide if an item fits and will work in your wardrobe, then think about whether or not it is worth the price tag. I always recommend clients stay within their budget but remind them to calculate the cost per wear for items they purchase.
· Don’t let discount price tags sidetrack you from your shopping mission. If you are looking for clothing that helps you create a more put together image for an upcoming meeting, a super cute casual dress that is on sale isn’t going to get you to that meeting with professional style.
Learn how to make smart clothing investments the next time you go shopping by signing up for Charleston Style Concierge’s free ezine, Get Great Style.
Why is fit so important for great style?
Without fit, you have no style. A trendy blazer that is too big will look frumpy and outdated. The same blazer too small appears as if you are trying too hard and will remove the chic sophistication from an outfit. Learn about your body type, and dress it appropriately. It is sometimes hard to see our bodies as they really are. Get advice from a personal stylist, or ask a trusted friend to help you examine the fit of your clothing.
What are some general fit rules for petite women?
When you are petite, there are a few rules to live by. First, be mindful of the colors and patterns you wear. Choose rich color palettes to add sophistication to your look and keep people from thinking you are a teenager. Choose patterns that are proportionate to your size. A large pattern will make you look small in comparison. Second, use clothes to help you project a more elongated body image. To do this, eliminate pants with cuffs, and don’t wear heavy, blocky shoes. Both abruptly stop your leg line, ruining all efforts to elongate your body image. Make sure your tops and jackets hit you in the right place. When your top comes past your crotch, you make your legs look shorter, making you look shorter. Lastly, befriend a good tailor. Some of your wardrobe pieces may need to be tailored to get a perfect fit. Pleats seem to come in and out of style.
How do I know if pleats are a trend I should try?
Pleats add fullness and volume to the front of a pant and therefore add fullness and volume to you! Don’t be fooled by the pleated pant as a cover-up for a midsection you want to hide. Remember that pleats will just draw attention to the spot you want to camouflage. If you try a pleated pant, choose more fitted pieces for your top half. If your pleated pants are tapered, take them straight to the closest Goodwill store. Tapered pants are a fit disaster by themselves but will also add even more width and focus to your hips.
How can I minimize the appearance of my hips?
Wear straight or wide-leg trouser-cut pants. You want to create a straight line from your hip to the floor with the silhouette of your pants. Always avoid pleated pants. Pleats add width to your hips and draw the eye to them. Watch out for poorly placed front pockets. The farther out a pocket is placed, the more it will accentuate your hips. Pockets that are set closer to your zipper are ideal. Avoid side-zip pants. If you break up the front of your pant with a zipper, you reduce the visual width of your hips. Wear tops and jackets that define your waist. A defined waist will draw the eye away from your hips.
For great style, start with great fit. For help fitting your body shape contact Charleston Style Concierge, a styling company that teaches clients how to get an effortless style.
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