tackling the closet...

yesterday i did a post on "free shopping"...and i must admit...i spent a good portion of my day doing just that...shopping in my own closet...it truly is a necessity...even for those of us in the business of wardrobe consulting...confession time...sometimes i forget what i have in my closet...and as it gets pushed to the back...it goes un-noticed..and even worse...unworn...

whether you have a small clothing inventory in your home or you have closet after closet crammed with everything you have ever bought...chances are you are only wearing about 20 percent of what you own...the key is identifying the 80 percent of the clothing you don't wear...then making choices about what to do with it...this exercise is essential to effectively managing your wardrobe and feeling more confident with your overall personal style...

so...it is time to get down and dirty...reach into your closet and put your hand on every item...as you are handling each individual piece...ask yourself these questions...
- do i love it?
- am i currently wearing it?
if you answer yes...then the item stays...

now there may be those items that you are not wearing because of different reasons...
- it is the wrong season
- it doesn't fit
- you don't have anything you think matches it
take this item out of your closet...

clothing that no longer fits but you are not ready to part with should also have its own home...preferably away from your main dressing area...think about it...one of the first decisions you make each day is about what you are going to wear...looking at clothes that used to fit typically makes you feel bad about yourself...when you are presented with dressing choices each morning that make you feel your personal best at your "current" weight and for your "current" lifestyle, you set yourself up to succeed no matter what your day entails...

and for those items that you have nothing that "goes" with it...make it a priority when shopping (or get some help from a personal shopper) to find the items that are missing...to complete those outfits...and add to your wardrobe...

and play some tough love...if you have trouble deciding the fate of a particular item...here are some guidelines to help you along...
- you haven't worn it in more than a season (exceptions are classic evening wear, sentimental favorites, and high quality classics)
- it no longer reflects your lifestyle...
- it is permanently stained (yes...these seem to hang in many closets)
- it is torn beyond repair (i've seen this too many times to count)
- it was bought only because it was on sale (NEVER a good reason to buy)
- you simply don't like the way it looks or feels when you put it on...

get rid of it!