| It never fails to amaze me that the most organized | | | | Someone with a more casual lifestyle could rank |
| and professional women often have the greatest | | | | Sportswear second, after Career clothes. |
| need for wardrobe makeovers. Intriguingly, they fall | | | | Step two: Self-analysis! Which of the following best |
| into one of two extremes when it comes to | | | | describes your style? Select the look that makes you |
| shopping for clothes - the shopaholics, always | | | | feel most confident.o Classico Naturalo Romantico |
| ready-to-shop,and then at the other end of the | | | | Dramatic |
| spectrum, the group that's seriously allergic to malls, | | | | Of course, it's possible to be a combination - say, |
| stores and fitting rooms. | | | | Classic for Career Clothes, Natural on the weekend |
| The shopaholics often suffer from the | | | | and Dramatic by night. Think about how you want to |
| closet-full-of-clothes-but-nothing-to-wear syndrome | | | | project yourself. |
| while the second group simply never discards | | | | Step three: Inventory - step up to your closet and |
| anything. Their closets provide a trip down Memory | | | | remove everything that:o Doesn't fito Doesn't flatter |
| Lane: prom dresses, blazers with quarterback | | | | - could be the style or colouro You haven't worn for |
| shoulder pads, jeans in "once-upon-a-time sizes." | | | | the past yearo Is out of dateo Requires alterations |
| All these women recognize that personal style is | | | | or repairs |
| career enhancing but don't know where to begin. | | | | No doubt about it, this is a major challenge for the |
| They wouldn't hold a meeting without an agenda but | | | | shopaholics - be brave. Destination Goodwill for the |
| have never thought about wardrobe planning. My role | | | | first four groups; you'll revisit the "alterations and |
| is to help them understand the strategy of building | | | | repairs department" another day. |
| from the ground up, rather like working with a | | | | Step four: Seasonality - divide your clothes into |
| personal blueprint. | | | | seasons. Even if you live in Southern California, keep |
| Let's get started! | | | | the cool weather components together and away |
| Step one: Make a checklist of relevant clothing | | | | from sundresses and beachwear. |
| categories.o Career clotheso Casual chic (clothes for | | | | Step five: Separate the pieces according to the |
| dress-down days, movies, dining out)o Sportswear | | | | categories in step one - all Career clothes together, |
| Casual weekendso Gymo Specific activities (hiking, | | | | Sportswear, etc. Group all the jackets within a |
| skiing, Pilates, etc.)o Eleganto Eveningwear | | | | category and do the same with pants, skirts, blouses, |
| Rank the categories according to your lifestyle | | | | dresses. |
| priorities. Elegant could follow Career clothes if you're | | | | Now, your "foundation" is in place and you're ready |
| a member of the opera committee, have season's | | | | to start building. We'll wait for everyone to catch up |
| tickets for the theatre and enjoy formal restaurants. | | | | before moving on to Part Two. |