I consider myself to be an avid shopper. I’m such a fan of shopping, in fact, that I may even be a borderline hoarder. 🙂 But I do have a few hard fast rules that I try to live by when it comes to clothing, my #1 rule being…If I haven’t worn something in a year, I have to give it away. Let’s just say that Goodwill probably has a whole store dedicated to clothing, shoes and accessories that I’ve donated.
All jokes aside, in today’s economy, it’s more important now than it ever has been to watch our spending. Which is why I like to occasionally go shopping in my own closet. Shopping your closet can be really fun if you tap into your creative side. Once you start looking at your clothing differently, you’ll discover looks you never thought of before. I put together a list of 5 guidelines you can use if you decide to try it. Here they are:
1. Use it or lose it – As I said before, this is my #1 rule for a reason. What purpose does clothing serve if it’s never going to get worn? Don’t hold on to things with the promise that “one day” you’ll wear it. Not only is that selfish (because someone less fortunate could benefit from it) but it’s just plain silly. Set a time limit for items in your closet. If you haven’t worn it in that time frame….just let it go. Donate those items to your local homeless shelter or charity. You can even sell them to a consignment boutique for a little extra cash.
2. Get creative with accessories – You’d be surprised how different your favorite outfit can look when you accessorize it in new ways. Try a statement necklace with your LBD or even to dress up a plain white oxford.
3. Try print mixing – Chances are that you never thought to do this with some of the items you don’t wear regularly. Try pairing that cute floral skirt you purchased last summer with a striped top or with that animal print skinny belt you haven’t worn yet.
4. Don’t forget to mix and match the basics – Explore new outfits by mixing and matching tanks, boyfriend jeans, pencil skirts, cardigans and blazers. There are a variety of different combinations you can create with just those basic items.
5. Draw inspiration from personal style blogs – Blogs are unbelievably popular these days and have become a “go to” source for inspiration. You’d be surprised what you can do with items you already own by looking at how someone else has styled similar items.
However you decide to shop your closet, have fun with it. After all, you bought those items with the intent of wearing them.
Until next time!
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