if you have had a lifestyle change and haven't made the time to bring your closet up to speed to reflect this change...the clothes will not match the lifestyle...for example...when i worked for corporate america...you would usually find me traveling three weeks out of the month...and i was always in suits...and i was always out with clients...which meant that...
a. i didn't have a lot of time in between for trips to the dry cleaners
b. i was in a suit pretty much from morning till evening...five days a week...
so...my closet consisted of alot of suits...and little black dresses for the fancier client soirees...
when i left corporate america...and started on my own business...and working from home...my suits were just hanging in the closet...this was a major lifestyle change for me...and although i have kept a number of my suits...had i not updated my wardrobe to now reflect my wardrobe consulting business...i would also be standing in front of my closet door saying..."i have nothing to wear..."
so what are lifestyle changes? for instance...if you used to leave the house five days a week in a suit or dress but are now working from home...raising children...or in retirement...don't waste prime closet space on suits you never wear...on the other hand...if you work outside the home full-time and just got promoted (or would like to be...) and need to step up your wardrobe a notch to help you project a stronger on-the-job presence...you probably can let go of many of your overly casual items that are cluttering your closet and won't help you preoject an air of authority on your job...
the best way of figuring out if your closet matches your lifestyle...is by determining what percentage of every area of your life is...a simple graph would include the following:
- business
- dressed-up casual
- all-out casual
- special occasion
list a percentage for each category...totaling 100%...the percentages listed should match the amount of clothes you own in each category...
i had a client who went on a hike about two times a year...yet she had a "hiking" wardrobe of t-shirts, hiking shorts, hiking boots that would make one think she was hiking every other day...it took up WAY too much space that should be alotted for the true lifestyle that she lives...
These are amazing tips. My closet and drawers are stuffed with clothing that shows evidence of my life - corporate America, freelance fashion writer, karate and biking enthusiast and weekend warrior. Paring down definitely simplifies your life. Great post, as always!
ReplyDeletethanks jennifer...isn't that the truth though? it really does show the evidence of our lives... =) it took me a while to finally remove the corporate america suits that took up more then 3/4 of my closet...but why have it in front of your face...when that isn't what you will be wearing?
ReplyDeleteGreat post. It was a struggle I had too when I left corporate America, also to become an image consultant. After taking time off from that I really struggled with a casual life style. I don't like overly casual clothes, jeans and tees. I just don't feel good in them. However, I found myself buying things for a dressier life that I just didn't have so it was impractical and frustrating because "I had nothing to wear" on days I really am just hanging around the house. I'm focusing on casual with a twist these days to satisfy my casual life but my feminine side as well. It is a challenge.
ReplyDeletelulu - thank you for your comments...so true about the casual life style...easy to get lazy when working from home...i know i do sometimes...but i feel better when i am put together...i love the focusing on "casual with a twist"...you can do it...that could be as easy as adding a cute "funky" pair of flats...in a fun color...
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