| Several months ago I did something that every | | | | I was amazed at how many clothes I had left in my |
| woman should do. I hired a fashion consultant. If I | | | | closet. There were many nice mid weight sweaters |
| had done it years ago she could have saved me | | | | and shirts that I had tucked away in the back of |
| literally thousands of dollars on my wardrobe. I hired | | | | drawers that I hadn't worn in months (if not years!). |
| her to help me shop for a new winter wardrobe and | | | | We then went through my wardrobe, trying each |
| to help me get my entire wardrobe together. | | | | piece on, making outfits. I was the type of shopper |
| Interestingly the first thing she suggested was new | | | | who always bought a complete outfit when I |
| closets for me. What she pointed out to me was | | | | shopped, I had never learned the art of mixing and |
| that I wasn't able to see all my clothing in one place, | | | | matching. We made a list of my wardrobe staple |
| and that I wasn't utilizing what I couldn't see, and I | | | | pieces, jackets, skirts and pants. Using this list we |
| realized she was right. She helped me measure to put | | | | made a list of pieces that I should buy in order to |
| a custom closet in my room. We measured to get an | | | | expand my wardrobe. |
| idea of how much long hanging and short hanging | | | | My wardrobe consultant stressed the need to use a |
| space I'd need. I then went to my local home store | | | | list. It's just like going to the grocery store. If you |
| and purchased an inexpensive closet system. Once it | | | | don't have a list you end up buying items that you |
| was in, and all my clothes were hanging, or were on | | | | don't want and shouldn't have. Same goes for |
| shelves where I could visualize them we went | | | | clothing. If you go with no plan you're bound to |
| through my wardrobe. | | | | waste money and buy pieces you don't need. If you |
| The first thing she wouldn't compromise on was | | | | go clothes shopping with the intent to buy a white |
| clothing that didn't fit me. It had to go. I had sizes | | | | shirt, or a argyle sweater and stick with the list you |
| that ranged from 10 to 14 due to weight fluctuation. | | | | save yourself a lot of time and money. |
| All the too large clothing was set aside. Some of the | | | | What was truly amazing was, at the end of her |
| better pieces, such as a camel wool coat and two | | | | consultation how little money I really had to spend on |
| wool skirts are going to be altered. Then, any clothing | | | | clothing. Being able to visualize my entire wardrobe at |
| that may have stains or tears or that were in some | | | | one glance was like having a lot of new clothing to |
| way damaged beyond repair and not worth any | | | | use, and learning how to purchase mix and match |
| investment went. Then clothing that was obviously | | | | pieces helped me to be able to get more use out of |
| years out of date went. | | | | my staple clothing pieces. |