Sound familiar? Your closet is overflowing with clothes but you feel like the woman pictured below . . . bewildered, bothered and beyond depressed. Take heart, dear readers. You can rid yourself of closet clutter now and forever. All you have to do is follow these 3 simple steps:
Organize
- Purge
- Maintain
Let me guess. You begin the process with good intentions, but you get tripped up on the "purge" part. A rather nasty sounding word, don't you think? So let's say "edit" instead. You can edit your closet like you would edit an important letter; one sentence at a time, unemotional and detached, scrutinizing every word.
When you take the time to edit a letter, the true essence of what you want to communicate becomes clear. As you edit your closet, both the beauty and function of the pieces you choose to keep are revealed. And it will also become obvious where the gaps are . . . what you need to replace and what you need to add. Maybe it's a new spring suit . . . or a more contemporary pair of casual shoes?
If you apply this "edit" approach to your wardrobe, you will look at each piece of clothing with a critical eye. If a shirt has a stain, no matter how faint, keeping it in your closet is not going to change that fact. It needs to go. [We simply cannot abide *dangling participles in our editing process, right?] By removing items that no longer serve you well, you will begin to actually see all your clothes. Imagine that! You can spread out your hangers and let your clothes breathe.
After editing, you will see exactly what you need and you can shop with purpose. This step alone will save you tons of money in the long run. But here's the really big pay off. It will be easier to dress. Much MUCH easier. Fewer choices will simplify your life. No matter what you choose to wear, it will be the right choice. Everything in your closet will fit well, flatter your figure and make you feel confident. Less really is more: more beautiful, more practical, more YOU.
Having trouble saying goodbye to old favorites? Think of it this way: when you donate unworn or gently used clothing, you are providing your favorite charity with the things most women need and want. They need to look professional for work. They want to look beautiful for that special occasion. And now
you can make that possible. So, when those donation bags are full and ready, please consider contacting organizations such as
www.dressforsuccess.org. They are thrilled when you call for a pick up!
And may I ad just one more thought?
Isn't it time you placed yourself at the top of your priority list?
If you enlist my professional help with your closet-edit project [one of my specialties], your task becomes easier, more productive and, dare I say, enjoyable?
My clients tell me it is so. I believe them.
Best regards,
Nancy
* The dangling participle creates ambiguity--or simple nonsense. A careful writer learns to avoid dangling his participles.
Next month in the March issue of Style File, look for Wardrobe Maintenance: Tips and Tools [and a few more of "my favorite things"].
