Today I want to share with you some wardrobe-building concepts that have served me well for many years:  I don’t ever recall saying, “I have nothing to wear.”  I’m often told, “You look like you just stepped out of a magazine.”  I was voted “Best Dressed” in high school and college, and I’m frequently sought out for wardrobe advice.

 

I am not a fashion diva; I do not wear designer couture.  I am a business woman and would describe my everyday style as mostly business-casual, although I do have a sufficient number of outfits to go up and down the scale, from a formal evening to gardening.  I mostly wear pantsuits when I’m out, and slacks and sweaters when I’m at home.  For the most part, I think I’m just like everyone else – all of you – but with a little twist that makes me unique.  (You have it, too, you might just need to call it out.)

 

My overall philosophy is, Look Your Best Every Day, so even if I’m only going to be at home, by myself, writing all day, I don’t stay in my pajamas.  I’ve tried it, since so many people tout that it’s the grandest feeling the world, but I disagreed.  I just couldn’t get my energy level high enough.  Pajamas are for sleeping and relaxing; not working.  Friends who swear by it will admit, when pressed, to feeling draggy all day when they stay in their night clothing or even sweats. 

 

In a nutshell, I have gardening clothes for gardening, exercise clothes for exercising, upscale suits and pantsuits for speaking and leading seminars, formal attire for the proper occasions, and comfortable, sometimes “fun” clothes for working at home – writing, cooking, and doing housework.

 

My accessories are simple and classic such as:  Black Mary-Jane pumps – 2 pairs of the same style to be able to alternate, a black crocodile Brahmin purse that I will carry for at least 2 years without changing, one each of silver, gold, and pearl necklaces with earrings to match.  (Okay, I have more jewelry than that, but this is what I pull from on a regular basis.)

 

Here are the concepts that I find myself repeating to friends and family who ask for my help, whether they need help de-cluttering their closet, or putting together the perfect wardrobe. 

 

  1. Loosen up the purse strings.  I’ve had to work with my mother on this for several years and she has finally come around, although she does relapse every now and again.  Here’s the scoop:  She had no problem buying clothes, as long as they were at 1950s prices!  Every year the cost of quality items go up just a little and if you’re on a diet for very long where you don’t want to buy something new until you are at your ideal weight, or if you bought a new wardrobe of quality clothing that lasts for several seasons, or you have a baby, or you just don’t buy clothing very often, you might find that the next time you go shopping you end up with a lot of sticker shock.  To get over this, go to a mall and start looking at the price tags in several different upscale stores.  Just go and look for a couple of hours before you buy anything.  Doing this will help you get used to the new pricing strategies.  If you want your hometown mall prices to look really good, visit Rodeo Drive!  Cheap outfits have never looked good on me and I’ve found that those garments just don’t hold up as well either.  The better bargain is to spend a little extra for quality that will last much longer.

 

  1. Don’t say, “I’ll never have anywhere to wear this.”  What – so you can tell the future?  Well, aren’t you special!  A true psychic would never make a prediction like that!  This is the reason that when that special event comes up, you say, “I have nothing to wear.”  How many times have you needed to find an outfit for a special occasion, went shopping, but there was nothing, and I mean nothing, in any store, in any mall within driving distance, that even fit you, let alone that you liked!  Right there is reason enough to buy it when you find it.  Listen to that still, small, voice.  If you’re being pulled to an item or outfit you just love, go for it!  I can’t tell you how many times I’ve thought I would never use something or couldn’t figure out how it would fit into my lifestyle when, after trusting my instinct, I immediately found a use for it.  Maybe an occasion suddenly came up or I decided to dress a little differently on vacation.  We are drawn to certain items because of the energy they have that, for whatever reason, syncs with ours.  Trust it, and go for it.  You’ll be glad you did.

 

  1. On the flip side of that, I always say, “When in doubt, don’t.”  So I don’t buy it if I don’t love it.  There’s a difference between loving something and holding yourself back by saying, “I’ll never have anywhere to wear it,” and knowing in your gut that you’ll never wear it because you don’t really like it.  On a similar note, as I’m getting older, I’m finding that there are certain styles that, while I like them on younger women, I just wouldn’t be comfortable in them.  There are few things more hideous than a 40-year-old trying to look like she’s 20!  I’ve always thought it made the woman look even older.  Also, don’t dress like a 60-year old if you’re 40.  Being truly comfortable in your own skin means you’ll act and dress your age, and be proud of whatever that is!  You’re awesome and you know it – there’s no need to prove anything to anyone.

 

  1. Buy the complete outfit.  Think head to toe.  Shoes, purse, accessories, jewelry, hosiery, underwear.  Since most of the items in my closet coordinate with black, if I fall in love with an outfit that will require brown accessories, I’ll have to purchase them and I’ll do that immediately if possible.  If I can’t find one particular item, say, the shoes to make the outfit, I’ll make sure it goes on my shopping list.  That way, I’m “on the lookout” everywhere I go.  I have made the mistake of forgetting something like that and ended up not being able to wear the outfit – ever – because I didn’t have the right shoes.  (Don’t worry, it only happened once!)  Also don’t make the mistake of thinking, “Well, I’ll buy the pants and the jacket, but I already have a blouse just like that at home.”  You probably don’t.  We don’t remember colors that well and if you’ve had the blouse for a while, the style probably won’t match your new outfit.  Also, if you stay within the same style of dress, you’ll need both blouses anyway because you’ll wear them both between laundry days.  Don’t be afraid to have more than one of something you love.  (Except spouses – but that’s another post!)

     

  2. Wear your correct size.  You might think this goes without saying and we’ve all witnessed women in clothing too tight, and occasionally too loose, but I wanted to bring this up because it was a problem for me a little while back.  When I was in orthodontic treatment, I got down to a size 0.  It’s an extremely difficult size to find and I had a closet full of size 4’s, with a few 2’s.  Out of pure necessity, I was wearing clothing a little too loose, but I knew it was a temporary situation so I didn’t want to purchase too many items in that size because I didn’t want to stay that size.  One problem I had to overcome once I started gaining weight, was that I was so used to my outfits fitting loosely, that sometimes the item would fit, but I thought it was too tight – my reference point had changed.  As I started to move back into 4’s from 2’s, I would catch myself wearing the 2’s because I liked them, even though they were too tight.  Then, I started to wonder if I should lose weight to stay in the 2’s!  Don’t worry – I’m back in 4’s with a few 6’s, and that’s the healthy way I plan to stay.  But it took me a while and I wanted to share that to let you know it can happen to anyone – even us skinny-minnies!

 

  1. Let go.  Let go of anything stained, whether it’s from food or armpits, anything that doesn’t fit, whether it’s too large or too small, and please, for pity’s sake, let go of anything you just don’t like, whether you hated to begin with and so have never worn it, or you’ve just grown tired of it.  Move on.  If the item is in good shape, donate it. 

 

When it comes to organization, I suggest going through your closet, piece by piece, and eliminate anything that doesn’t thrill you.  Please note – they should thrill you.  If you have a favorite pair of sweats that you only wear when you’re sick, but you love to wear them then and they somehow make you feel better, keep ‘em!  Don’t trade your values for mine.  My purpose for writing this is to help you identify and live closer to your values.  So when I say, “eliminate anything that doesn’t thrill you.” I mean you. 

 

I’m always flattered when asked for advice and love to help when I can, but you have your own style – wear it!

 

Until next time,

Live Joyfully!

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