Page 20 - Kimberly Hunt and daughter

Winning the Wardrobe War

How to tame your closet and find the wardrobe you never knew you had

By Joanna Pompilio

Have a closet full of clothes and nothing to wear? It’s not that Evaluate the rest of the bits and pieces and categorize them
you don't have the right clothes – you just can't find them. using the three R’s: reject, repair and recycle. The reject pile
Organizing the remains of what once resembled a closet consists of pieces that are completely unusable and worn to
should not be seen as a chore, but a foray into creating an death. Place items that need manageable alterations, like
entirely new wardrobe out of what is already hidden in that hems, new buttons or letting out in the repair bin. Remember,
cluttered mess. Look at do not dawdle about
it as shopping without sending these to the
spending. tailor once the closet’s
facelift is complete,
To create the ideal closet that is how new clutter
it is essential to ruthlessly, is born.
but realistically, edit each
piece of clothing. Start by Donate anything left-
going through everything over to a charity and
and take out whatever place the rest in the
has not been worn in the recycle box. Pick an
past two years. If some- organization to donate
thing has not been worn to, and learn about it.
in that time, it’s probably Read the literature,
never going to be – so check out the web-site
chuck it! and visit the facility.
“It depends on your Get the kids involved
shopping habits and how too, so they can see
much space you have. If the rewards of giving
you are always shopping to others.
20 and do not have much
space, we recommend Now, the line has
‘the switch’ bi-annually been drawn between
to accommodate ample the fabulous and the
closet space for Spring/ frumpy. This is when
Summer and Fall/Winter,” a new wardrobe starts
recommends Michelle T. to reveal itself and
Sterling, Principal Im- original ensembles
age Consultant, Founder are born. Try new
Global Image Group. combinations of
“However if you do not clothing that previ-
shop that often and do ously were never worn
not have many clothes, together. Experiment!
then going through your closet every two years to get rid of This is the fun part! Keep an open mind to ensure nothing is
unused clothing is fine.” ruled out.
Set aside a few hours and throw on good undergarments. Be
prepared - have a full length mirror nearby with good lighting Take outfits that are always worn together, the favorite go-to
– maybe even a glass of wine. pieces that are worn often, and lay them out on a clean, flat
surface. Try to mix them with other pieces typically not worn
Empty out the closet completely and stack all clothing and together. Remember, this is the time to play with new looks
accessories around the room in piles according to the type of and discover innovative ways to combine pieces and acces-
garment: jackets, skirts, pants, sweaters, scarves. sories. The end result will be entirely new outfits and fresh
looks.
Move from pile to pile and try everything on, even the most
loved and regularly worn pieces. Take a long look in the full Not sure where or how to begin creating new ensembles?
length mirror at each item and honestly access not only the Ask a girlfriend who has great style to come on over and help
fit but how the garment feels. Do not settle for anything less out. Next weekend, switch and play wardrobe consultant to
than complete fabulousness and refuse to keep anything that her.
is uncomfortable or unflattering.
Issue 1, 2009