Spring is in the air, ladies! We had our first taste of sweet sunshine last week, and even though the clouds are back, we all know winter is wrapping up.
I know many of you are eager embrace spring fashions. You may even feel tempted to treat yourself to a little spring shopping spree. As your stylist, I'm here to say....STOP! Don't shop yet! Not, at least, until you've given your current wardrobe a thorough spring cleaning. You can't possibly add to your wardrobe without first taking stock of what you already own.
Spring is the perfect time to refresh your style, but before you buy anything new, you must purge away the unwanted, unflattering items that are weighing you down. Here's my (simple, yet time-intensive) strategy for cleaning closets:
Every item you own will fall into one of five categories. Categorize, then take action!
Category #1
Items that you LIKE, that fit you well and you wear often. In a perfect world, your entire wardrobe would fit in this category (and, believe me, cleaning out your closet is the first step). These items are your favorites and they should stay in your regular rotation.
Category #2
Items that you LIKE and fit you well but you don't wear often. These are the hidden treasures in your wardrobe. Hopefully, through the process of cleaning, you'll discover items you haven't worn in years or forgot you owned. You should keep these items and strive to start wearing them.
Category #3
Items that you DISLIKE but wear often for lack of something better. We all have these items lurking in our closets (like that ratty old fleece that gets worn on the weekends). As much as you despise these clothes, the truth is getting rid of them will leave a void. I call these items "candidates for replacement;" you owe it to yourself to replace frequently worn items with really awesome alternatives (replace that old fleece with a fitted hoodie!) Bottom line: you should always spend your money on things that will get worn A LOT.
Category #4
Items that don't fit or don't flatter you. Whether you like an item or not is irrelevant if it does not fit you or make you feel great. We all have items from the clearance rack ("But it was only $12.99!") or items we've outgrown. They may even be in excellent condition. These items can be taken to consignment (my personal favorite is Crossroads Trading Company on Capital Hill) for cash back or traded to a friend. These are the hardest items to part with, I know, but clearing them away will make space for other, better things!
Category #5
Items that you DISLIKE and don't wear. These are the easy items to purge. (Tip: start by getting rid of these!)
If you're overwhelmed at the thought of tackling your entire closet, you don't have to do all your purging at once. You can start small and finish over time. A great first step would be to purge five items that you dislike and and/or don't wear. Do this once a month until summer and you'll be a lot closer to having the stylish, well-refined wardrobe of your dreams.
Now the final question is: what do you do with your castaway clothing? This is the easy part! There are so many great non-profits in Seattle that want your "old" clothes. I recommend Jubilee Women's Center, Dress for Success and Seattle Goodwill. A more fun option? Bag up your unwanted clothes and buy a ticket to Girl Power Hour's "Swap 'Til You Drop" event on April 10th. Your "trash" my be someone else's treasure, and you may just walk away with some great new items for spring! Visit girlpowerhour.com for more info.
Free consultation 
