Tag: spring wardrobe

If You Have To Ask if a Shirt Is Ugly, It Probably Is.

I have a creamy yellow sweater… well, I had it until a week ago. But it had to go.

Here’s the thing. I look terrible in yellow.  And I KNOW this.  And yet, the sweater remained, for more years than it deserved.  I didn’t want to give it away – it was warm, well made and expensive.  I have fallen in and out of love with this sweater for years, saving it again this year to wear with a belt.

Recently, optimism won out again, and the yellow sweater made it out of the closet and on to my body on a particularly chilly evening for an event at school.  And photos were taken.  And posted on the school PR page.  And I STILL looked terrible in the sweater.  Yikes.

Friends, listen to your intuition.  If an item is beautiful, but not beautiful on you, it needs to go away.

The yellow sweater is gone, gone, gone.  It can bless someone else now.

Spring-like temperatures are here, and this week is National Clean out Your Closet Week AND National Clutter Awareness Week.  These factors motivated me to start switching my clothes out for the season and to purge some items.

Yesterday, as I got dressed for a presentation, I held a shirt in my hand, and heard myself say out loud “I just can’t decide if its ugly or not”.  Guess what?  If I can’t decide if its ugly or not, I will NEVER wear it.  So remaining undecided is not really an option.  If there is even a slight concern that a clothing item might be ugly, I am never going to choose it over another not-ugly item.

If you can’t decide if an item is ugly or not, it probably IS ugly.   If you have a doubt about an item, or if you pick it up and look at it with that crinkle in your forehead as you try to figure out when you would ever wear it… You Are Never Going to Wear It. Let it go.

Wrong color, wrong cut, bad pattern, baggy or unflattering?  Just let it go.

We all tend to have too much in our closet, as opposed to not enough.  So it is typically safe to err on the side of caution.  You deserve clothes that you don’t have to question.

I Learned New Things In My Closet This Week!

I like my clothes, but come Spring I always get the urge to purge old items, put away my winter stuff and buy a few things to green dress with accessories update my closet. I have a few challenges:  I like to look good, but often get stuck in ruts when it comes to daily dressing.  I have great accessories but forget to use them.  And historically, I dislike shopping.  I don’t know what to buy, what fits my body type or what the current styles are. I have gotten better in recent years, but I still find shopping for myself a challenge.

I met with Tamika Price, Wardrobe Coach, last Wednesday doing a “closet audit”.  (www.tamikamariaprice.com , or Facebook @ https://www.facebook.com/tamikamartellprice).  I spend a lot of time in other people’s closets, but this is the first time I spent time with someone else working on mine!  As we set up our appointment, Tamika was conscientious and punctual, always plusses in my book.  Plus she is very pleasant to spend time with, and looks great all the time.  I know I’m receiving sound style advice from a stylish person!

In preparation for our appointment, I collected everything, even outerwear and my really dressy items, and brought it all togetherdonate pile for review.  Since the dressy items were out, we looked at those first.  A few items went to the “donate” pile immediately; an old dreary suit, and a full length formal black skirt that I have no business, at 5’2”, wearing … ever.  Everything else stayed, but she recommended getting my favorite formal dress shortened to a more flattering length.  Brilliant!  So I started the “to be altered” pile.

We reviewed tops and jackets next.  Since I shaved my head, I am even more drawn to bold colors.  Pastels wash me out now that there’s no hair to soften the look!  A few weeks ago, I pulled out some light-colored items I no longer find flattering, but I waited to hear from Tamika before I let them go completely.  She showed me how to better accessorize one of them, and the others went to the “donate” pile.  I repurposed a favorite but underutilized jacket as outerwear, and now I leave it and another stylish jacket at the back door to grab as I run out in the morning. And all the while we are reviewing my clothes, Tamika was suggesting ways to wear the items I already have, new and different combinations I had not imagined on my own.  And the suggestions were all awesome!to be altered pile

On to skirts and pants. I have a lot of skirts.  I like them, I look good in them, and I wear them often.  Tamika is very diplomatic and focused.  I lobbied to keep a skirt that she suggested I donate.  Respecting my desire to keep it, she suggested a shorter length and some accessories to improve the look. I also mentioned how much I hate boot-cut pants, and my need for a stylish pair of jeans.  She kept notes on all of my preferences, offered suggestions and noted everything on her checklist / shopping list of essential haves and need- to- buys.

Since our appointment, I have used my wardrobe much better.  I have dug a little deeper in my closet and been more imaginative with my ensembles, using both neglected items and regular items in new ways.  I have put together pieces I would not have thought to before, I wear my accent pieces daily, and I have dressed up a little more for client meetings.skirt with yellow tee

To sum up what I learned this week, or what I already knew but needed reminded of:

  1. Be willing to alter your current clothing items to update a look or better suit your style.
  2. Re-imagine what you have in your closet in new and interesting ways.  Tamika paired a skirt that came as a set with a totally different top for a totally different look.
  3. You probably already have really great items in your closet, you just need to      remember and refresh what you have and use it better.
  4. There are some things you just can’t fix.  Itchy or ill-fitting, items that are stretched out or just not my color, yep – let them go.dressed up gray and green henley

Most surprisingly, at least to me, is that I am really looking forward to shopping soon with Tamika!  I know the basic pieces she has suggested will stretch my clothing choices, and that the new items on the list will give me more options and more shine to my everyday work image.  And instead of dreading my shopping trip, I am optimistic that it will be successful, which is a big change!  I’ll update you after our shopping trip!