| As a professional image consultant one of the things | | | | Advice: If you are adamant about not tossing it yet |
| that always amazes me is how many clothes | | | | because you are losing weight and it might fit later or |
| professionals own that they never wear. Women | | | | because you may someday have the occasion to |
| tend to wear only 25 percent of their wardrobes, | | | | wear it, then tag it with the date of your semi-annual |
| and men wear 85 percent of the clothes in their | | | | closet cleaning. Six months later, when you come |
| closets. That statistic indicates that women like to go | | | | back to update your closet, check the date. If you |
| shopping and buy items as an experience and an | | | | haven't worn it by then, the expiration date is up. |
| event, whereas men tend to only purchase what | | | | Retire it by giving it away without more |
| they need. But having all those extra clothes hanging | | | | procrastination. |
| in the closet only interferes with getting dressed in | | | | #3 Tip: Is the item modern and congruent with your |
| the morning. Many of my clients have confessed that | | | | current brand? |
| before working with me they would stand in their | | | | I always believe that we should invest in |
| jam-packed closets for 15 minutes or more, just | | | | classic-modern clothes, but clothing styles do evolve |
| wondering why they had nothing to wear. | | | | and change. You want to be on the leading edge in |
| Cleaning out a closet does take some time, but think | | | | this new decade and dress to reflect your personal |
| of the time you will save by dressing faster and | | | | brand. Review your wardrobe and analyze each piece. |
| easier every morning. You'll feel your best and look | | | | Is it still modern looking? Can you add a few modern |
| your best, able to start each day in a productive | | | | trend pieces to it and have an intentional look? Does |
| fashion. Clearing your closet helps to clear your | | | | the style, color, cut, and fabric create a visual brand |
| schedule and your mind - along with lots of image | | | | image that you want to convey to your clients, |
| obstacle clutter that may be standing between you | | | | prospects, or supervisor? |
| and your career goals. | | | | Advice: Today stores have tons of sales, so you can |
| #1 Tip: Edit your wardrobe | | | | always replace core wardrobe pieces to give yourself |
| Go through your closet and try everything on. Yes - | | | | an update. Think of your wardrobe as one of your |
| everything. Stand in front of a full length mirror and | | | | best marketing investments to exude your brand. |
| be objective. Ask yourself questions like: Do I love it? | | | | Spending $500-$1000 on a strategic branding of your |
| Does it just skim my silhouette or is it too big or too | | | | wardrobe might be just what you need to move |
| tight? Does the color of the item flatter my | | | | your business up a notch this spring and summer |
| complexion? Does the style flatter my body type? If | | | | season. |
| I wear something else will I look better? | | | | #4 Tip: Does it still make you look impeccable? |
| After you've gone through the analysis of the | | | | Really look the items in your wardrobe over and see |
| garment hanging on your body, determine whether it | | | | if they are in mint condition. Clothes do have an |
| stays or gets deleted. | | | | expiration date on them - they don't last forever. |
| Getting rid of clothing is one of the hardest things for | | | | Many times the cuffs on a dress shirt look worn or |
| professionals to do because our clothes hold | | | | the elbows of a blouse become discolored. Scrutinize |
| memories. We may want to hang onto that specific | | | | the item. Would you buy it today if you saw it in a |
| suit that we wore five years ago when we won the | | | | consignment shop? If you wear clothes that have |
| company appreciation award or traveled overseas to | | | | holes, spots, or pulled seams it damages your |
| speak at a conference. I understand these urges | | | | professional image - and no one can afford to let |
| because I, too, have to overcome that nostalgia and | | | | that happen today. |
| the voices of memory talking in my head. | | | | Advice: If it is something that an alterations person |
| The memories are awesome, but when that piece of | | | | can fix, like a loose button or hemming a sleeve, that |
| clothing hangs in our professional wardrobe and we | | | | is one thing - but make sure that the item is worth |
| can't fit into it anymore it creates a negative effect | | | | the money it costs to repair or mend it. |
| that is psychologically and emotionally detrimental. We | | | | #5 Tip: Does it reflect your personal style? |
| see it and are reminded that we added unwanted | | | | Last but not least, you need to determine if your |
| pounds or don't feel as good about our body as we | | | | personal style has stayed constant. That means are |
| used to. That's not a good feeling, and it can drag | | | | you still comfortable wearing it today as you were |
| down your confidence and image without you even | | | | the day you bought it? Our personal style evolves as |
| realizing it. | | | | our lifestyles and professional lives change, and |
| My advice: Purge it from the closet and either give it | | | | whenever you reinvent yourself you need to |
| to a charitable organization or send it to a | | | | acknowledge it because that is a great thing worth |
| consignment shop. When you give clothes away that | | | | celebrating. If we don't change and evolve we won't |
| you loved wearing it allows others who are less | | | | experience the kind of personal growth we need for |
| fortunate than you to feel that same joy when they | | | | greater success. If you don't feel that you are really |
| wear it. Rather than bringing you down by hanging in | | | | resonating with an item of clothing in terms of your |
| your closet it will become a reason to feel uplifted - | | | | internal identity and external image - or if you feel |
| because you are doing something wonderful for | | | | that it does not make you look and feel your |
| someone in need. | | | | absolute best - it is okay. Understand that you are |
| If it really has sentimental value, then take a photo | | | | changing and that some items do not ideally suit your |
| of it to keep before you give it away. At the very | | | | new vision of yourself. |
| least, store it in a separate closet in a sealed garment | | | | Advice: Make a list of anything that doesn't resonate |
| bag. But get it out of the everyday closet where it is | | | | with you - for example, a black pantsuit. Then next |
| just cluttering up your life. | | | | time you go shopping take your list with you and |
| #2 Tip: If you haven't worn in the past year, delete | | | | focus on finding the replacement items, in newer |
| it. | | | | styles that you will feel more comfortable wearing. |
| If you haven't worn a particular item within the past | | | | Closet cleaning is essential, especially nowadays. |
| 12 months there is always a reason why. Maybe it | | | | When the economy declines people think that their |
| doesn't fit or you bought it at a clearance sale. | | | | professional clothing requires a budget cut - when in |
| Maybe somebody gave it to you as a gift. | | | | fact your professional image, including your wardrobe, |
| Regardless of why you don't really like wearing it you | | | | is one of your best business investments in terms of |
| need to delete it from your wardrobe inventory. | | | | making more money over the long term. When you |
| Standing in the closet every morning looking at | | | | schedule time and take the effort to purge your |
| clothes you don't love doesn't help you feel at your | | | | wardrobe it shows that you value how you look and |
| best to resonate with your target audience. It's like | | | | present yourself each and every day. Cutting out the |
| going on a diet and then standing there holding the | | | | dead wood in your closet allows you to dress faster |
| door to the fridge open wishing you could make a | | | | every morning, provides you with a list of specific |
| sandwich. | | | | items you need to replace, and it boosts your |
| Just accept the fact that it doesn't work for you and | | | | personal brand and professional image by keeping |
| that you deserve to look your absolute best. | | | | those current and fresh. |