Resolution: “I am going to quit buying clothing just because it’s on sale!” This is easy to say but tough for the fashionista to live up to. There will be year-end clearance sales, inventory liquidations and other tempting offers that make you feel like you must buy, buy, buy before it’s too late. But like the character Isla Fischer plays in Confessions of a Shopaholic discovers, there is already a treasure trove waiting to be plundered in most of our closets. In the film, Isla plays a gal who desperately wants to work for the top fashion magazine in New York. Instead, she fibs her way into a writing job at a monthly financial periodical, where both comedy and romance ensue. Her first article equates a good investment piece in your wardrobe to one in the stock market. Far fetched? I don’t think so. And I love analogies anyway.
In case you didn’t know, we are in a financial recession, and retailers say they need us to support their stores more than ever. I totally agree with one caveat: Reduce, reuse and recycle what you already own before buying another new item. Sound advice is sound advice no matter what we apply it to. So here’s how to put your own economic fashion-recovery plan in place.
Closet Cleaning 101
Field Study 
I did this with my best friend in New York City. She put on a fashion show for me in her small studio apartment. Some wine helped us make it more fun as we debated the merits of her keeping five pairs of shoes that needed repair and had been in her closet for a couple years. How does one gently suggest ditching the lovely “Brady Bunch”-style, poly-knit dresses she had been so fond of over the years? In the end, however, she felt cleansed, renewed and refreshed as well as ready to head out to shop again with a newfound purpose. She knew exactly what she owned and what she could purchase to complement those items. Below are guidelines for how we made the field study work. Give these methods a try, and the New Year could mean a whole new you.
Collect
– Boxes and label them “KEEP,” “DONATE,” “SELL” and “TRASH.”
– A good friend who is honest and can help in the decision-making process.
– A bottle of wine, which makes everything more fun. (Or tea or any beverage of your choice, of course.)
Rules
– You must try on almost everything you own, and be discerning about fit and style.
– You must defer to said friend when puzzled as to what to do with certain pieces.
Keep
– Go-to items such as the jacket you always reach for in a pinch.
– Pieces that work with other things in your wardrobe.
– Dresses that are appropriate for many occasions.
– Shoes that are in fashion and in good repair.
– All accessories that you actually use.
– Jeans that fit well and are in style.
– Sweaters that can be layered with other things, and make sure they’re in good repair.
– Outerwear pieces, including sporty, dressy and leather coats.
– Nice workout attire.
(I will not go into great detail with T-shirts, socks or undies. That should be self explanatory – clean, in good condition and well-fitted.)
Donate
– Items that don’t fit. There are too many people who don’t dress the body they’re in. Buying clothing for your “dream” body or keeping clothing from when you were smaller or larger, just in case you lose or gain weight again, is ridiculous. These ideas are counterproductive to your health and fashion wellbeing.
– Items that you have not worn in more than a year. If a season has passed without wearing something, it is probably because it’s no longer in fashion or doesn’t fit. Be realistic because you probably won’t wear it again.
– Anything that is terribly out of style.
Sell
– “I paid $$$$ for that, so I’m going to keep it.” I made this mistake once when I bought a red Valentino trench coat for $300 on sale at Century 21 in NYC. Not only did I never wear it but also, where would I have worn that? You must force yourself to ask the tough questions when considering a designer buy. If you can honestly say you’ll wear it often and you have plenty of items to complement it in your wardrobe, then go for it. If not, there is probably a reason it is on the sale rack.
– Anything that is a current fashion or a well taken care of vintage piece.
Donation Top Pick
Goodwill has many locations throughout the city that have drive-through donation centers. They come out to your car, take your items and give you a receipt. Visit amazinggoodwill.com for locations and donation hours. (As a disclaimer, I write fashion columns for www.amazinggoodwill.com.)
Sell Top Pick 
Rethreads is a hip resale store that will buy your fashionable, gently worn, modern and vintage clothing. You will receive 50 percent off the sale price in trade or 33 percent of the price they will charge in cash. They are discriminating but very nice. Check out the store first to see if your clothing items are on the same page as their buyers. Visit www.rethreadsclothing.com for more information.
Pictures from Rethreads Grand Opening Dec. 19, 2009.
