That time of year where resolutions reign supreme has arrived. With that said, have you resolved to take stock of your clothing inventory? If not, let me give you some practical advice. Charity retail stores that benefit your community are THE place to take your usable, yet ill fitting, and or unloved fashion. Do you ever ask yourself why you’re keeping all those items you no longer use? I will give you my foolproof tips for reducing, re-using, re-purposing, and re- energizing you AND your wardrobe, by following my easy steps.
1. Be Prepared to do battle! Make sure you have all of your clothing and accessories in one room for easy access.
2. Gather materials. Get boxes and or bags that can be marked, TRASH, DONATE, or KEEP.
3. Get a second opinion. Have a friend whose fashion sense you totally trust come over to help you navigate the enormous task of what really does flatter you.
4. Be ready to take your “big girl pill.” Meaning listen to their critiques with an open mind and be ready to purge and plunder.
5. Make a list of practical items everyone needs in a well-rounded wardrobe. Start with outerwear, jackets, suits, tops (including blouses and sweaters), bottoms (including jeans, slacks, and skirts), dresses, shoes, and accessories.
6. Be realistic. Dress the body you have, not the one you had last year, or 5 years ago, or the one you want in the future. The body you have now is the one that needs your attention!
7. Try on everything. Of course I don’t mean t-shirts and such, but everything else that you might wear on a consistent basis.
8. Get rid of anything that you have not worn in over a year. This should go without saying. If you have not found the occasion to wear it in a year, then exactly when will you be wearing it?
9. Get rid of anything that needs repair, or take it to a tailor, or your mom who sews, or anyone who can fix it. If not into the donation or trash it should go. Do not worry about what you spent on an item that you have not worn. In the end it should always be about whether you actually wear an item and whether it is indeed flattering to you.
10. Make outfits. When trying things on to determine their value to your wardrobe, think about how many other items you can team with it. Remember a closet full of “statement” pieces just doesn’t work if you don’t have anything to wear them with!
11. Trust your judgment, and that of your accomplice. Cleansing the closet not only feels good, but also allows for a shopping spree at any or all of the boutiques in your neck of the woods that are having big sales this time of year! Once you know what you own, you will know what you need to make some major changes to your wardrobe in 2012!
Hurry down with all your clean, bagged and boxed items to the charity thrift store near you and conveniently donate them to help support vital programs in your own community. Doing good for others and doing yourself a favor has never gone out of style, so have a “Happy RENEW Year!”
Photos from Goodwill.
