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Girls as a reformed clothesaholic and I know Im not the only one anyone interested in contributing to a thread on how we can make the most of what we have in our closets?
Ill start and if it takes off well and good if no one is interested it will die a natural death
Just because we are on an non existant spending spree doesnt mean we cant be creative with what we have. Do you know e wear 20% of our clothes 80% of the time?
This came about as a result of a chat with my friends over lunch and we came up with the following ideas.
Have a swap party with your friends, open a bottle of wine, or make coffee either way have fun.
Bring clothes you dont use and put them in for an exchange. This way you get to try new things with the honest opinion of your friends (be careful of their judgement if you serve wine and your hosting the night )
Bring your no longer in use accessories, scarves, bags, bead setc.
You could also take a colour from your wardrobe and mix it with other colours you dont normally put together.
THIS IS YOUR HOMEWORK IF YOU SIGN UP FOR THIS THREAD! (wouldnt you know I was one a teacher )
Get a pen and paper this will only take 10mins at most
take one colour (its PINKk for now if you have pink in your wardrobe) see what you have to put with it GET OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE) dont put it with colours you normally do. ie. it can go great with black, brown, french style with navy, white etc.
if you find a combination you like write it down but it must be a new one.
Go through your accessories, bag, beads, bangles, earrings, real bling, scarves, try them with this colour combinations.
If you wear scarves, (I do) try them as belts, bandanas, inside shirt collars like cravats) tie them to your bag, find at least two different ways to wear them you DONT usually do.
Have you any new ones yet? If you have WRITE them down
Could you change buttons, belt clasps, you need a completely open eye for this. but its a great way to stretch your clothes and make them multitask.
Ill post another colour to try in a day or two.
If you do this please post what you came up with it might inspire us.
Anne
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I'm not really a clothes-a-holic, but I have a couple of things I do to keep under my own thumb.
1) I do thrift stores first. You can go nuts in there, and still end up under $10. So when I have the urge I stop in there first and pour over the racks for a couple of hours. After that the temptation to go to another store is usually gone, even if I walk out with nothing.
2) Pay attention to trends. You don't have to BUY new things to get a new look. All of the belts I once wore in the loops of my pants are now being worn over my shirts.
3) Be practical when buying in the first place. If a style staple (solid shirts, jeans, etc.) is flattering on you, get a couple more in other colors then dress them up with accessories, to take the whole "Wow, you've got that shirt in red, black AND white" thing down a touch.
4) I know it sounds silly, but check through the teen fashion magazines to get some inspiration for adding a touch of funk to clothes you already own. Like I will dump 2-3 chunky necklaces on with just jeans and a fitted tee, because I a) like to stand out a little and b) feel silly wearing shirts with messages on them.
5) Pull everything out of your closet and put it in order of sleevless tops from light to dark, then short-sleeves from light to dark, then long from light to dark, then move into the skirts and pants from light to dark as well. This will stop you from pairing outfits you bought as a set and getting you to see which colors harmonize together.
6) Light layers are your friend. I had this one shirt I was ready to toss because it was a really thin material and I didn't like the look of a tank top underneath it, and for goodness sake it had horizontal stripes! But when I put this button-down shirt next to it in the closet (because they were similar shades) I was inspired to wear them together. The old shirt was a scoop-neck with bell sleeves and the new one was the same shade as the lighter stripes so they went really nicely together and I got some wear out of a shirt that was almost ready to go. I put the collar outside of scoop neck and got a decent preppy look from it.
7) Let it go - if you haven't worn it in more than 2 years, sell it on eBay and justify using the money you earn towards something you can wear now. But get something enduring and versatile...or some kind of eye-catching accessory. I have a Brazilnut necklace, a necklace with large wooden beads that I double over, and one with a white elephant on it. They are always the focus of my most boring outfits.
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I am a reforming clothes-a-holic (although I'm still a work in progress)...
Here are a few tips I have:
Pick two or three items each season that EVERYING has to match. For example, khaki pants, a denim blazer, or a brown sweater. If doesn't coordinate, you're not allowed to buy it.
At the beginning of each year, turn your clothes hangers backwards. Everything you wear during the year, turn the hangers the right way. If at the end of the year you still notice backward hangers it means you haven't worn it for four seasons and ... it's outta here!
If you're into trends, do it with your accessories (bags, jewelry, belts, etc.). It's cheaper to do it with accessories than your main investment pieces.
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They are great ideas,
Kim that one about the hangers is one Im going to do and you are right it is cheaper to follow trends with accessories than main pieces. A lepaord(sp) skin print is easier to discard in a scarf than a top or shirt
Cru58 I like your no 5 idea its worth doing too.
Ok in anyone is interested we have done pink, so no why not try things out in your wardrobe and accessories that goes with anything blue you might have.
take a tip from Elizabeth Hurley she pairs tourqwise (sorry cant spell) with brown, Id never have done it but it works.
Anne
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thank you for the great ideas ladies.
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Thanks for the good ideas. I love clothes AND shoes so I have to keep myself in check w/ both
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Originally Posted by Kim
If doesn't coordinate, you're not allowed to buy it.
As a reforming clothes-a-holic, this is the best advice I have ever followed.
I used to buy something because I just loved it, only to have to spend a small fortune to find other things to match it.
After being a SAHM for six years, I just finally got rid of my "work" clothes. I think I held onto them because they were my connection to the work world.
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Iam oing to change my hangers in the beginning of the year I always wear the same things but have tooo many clothes thanks for the tip.
A clean house is a house not lived in.