Shop Smarter, Not Harder

Reposted from My StyleLife Philosophy

What's in your closet? Seriously, what does your wardrobe look like? How do you feel about it as a whole? How do you feel about the clothes individually? How often do you wear every item you own? Do you have a quality, functional wardrobe or one where "I have nothing to wear..." is a daily saying? These are important questions to ask yourself and to honestly answer as you evaluate your wardrobe.

Prioritizing "quality over quantity" definitely should apply to your wardrobe. If you own many pieces that you don't wear, it's time to re-evaluate what's in your closet. If you don't wear what you own, then why is it still in your wardrobe? Try each item on and be honest with yourself. Do you like it? Does it fit and flatter your figure? Any unworn and/or unflattering items just clutter what could be a fabulous boutique-like closet (that is, if it doesn't already look like that, of course).

We want options so we may buy a large quantity of clothing, but how much of it actually fits and flatters? How many of those clothes are actually worn once purchased? It's time to "shop smarter, not harder." Changing it up is important so it's extremely important to shop smart and with a plan. If your wardrobe contains QUALITY pieces that fit and flatter AND mix and match and coordinate, then you will have many more outfit options with fewer items. I'm not saying not to fill your closet. I'm just saying to have more options and less of the "I-Have-Nothing-To-Wear" syndrome, it takes strategy and effort.

Basic wardrobe staples and accents, including trendy items, should be tracked so when shopping you know what's missing from your wardrobe and what will work well in and with your current wardrobe.

Below are some outfit "switch-ups" to illustrate how you can transform an outfit by simply switching up the accent pieces.

Day Look 1
Imagine: Lunch with the Mother-in-Law

Main Staple: Calvin Klein dress  

Accents: NY&Co. earrings, bracelets, belt and bag, Bakers heels, For Love headband

 Evening Look 1
Imagine: Cocktails with coworkers

Main Staple: Calvin Klein dress  

Accents: NY&Co. belt, Express earrings and clutch, Charlotte Russe heels

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Day Look 2
Imagine: Shopping about town

Main Staples: Max Studio dress, Forever 21 coverlet

Accents: Jessica Simpson bag, For Love earrings, Target flats

Evening Look 2
Imagine: Dinner with old friends

Main Staples: Max Studio dress, Forever 21 coverlet

Accents: Express clutch, Express earrings, Target heels

For even more of a switch-up here, 

I could have left off the coverlet for day or chosen a black cropped coverlet instead for evening. 

This dress could also look more casual and just as charming with a cute denim jacket. 

Add flats or wedges and voila, perfect fall weather carnival date outfit!

Of course, any switch-up has MANY options if you're creative. :) I just want to drive the point home that quality staples and switching up the accents are important in any functional wardrobe.

It's fun to take pieces and dress them up or down, for whatever the occasion calls. 

Styling outfits, just like applying makeup, is an art form because dressing often relies on your emotions/mood of the day. How do you feel today? Translate that into your outfit and see what happens.

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Day Look 3
Imagine: Brunch with girlfriends

Main Staple: Scarlett dress

Accents: Miztique bag, Bakers heels, For Love earrings, Belt (n/a)

Evening Look 3
Imagine: At a winery

Main Staple: Scarlett dress

Accents: Steve Madden booties, Tommy Hilfiger wallet as clutch, For Love earrings

You may have noticed that:
I used the turquoise Bakers peep-toe heels in 2 of the above outfits. I also used the smoke and pewter For Love earrings in 2 of the above outfits. Additionally, I used the black Express clutch and the Express earrings twice in the above outfits. The strategy of choosing outfits early and being able to mix/match and coordinate also makes packing for travel much easier and maybe even fun instead of stressful.

It's not about how many items you have... it's about the quality of each item and your confidence to style each outfit with the pieces that work for you. As always, have fun and have a fabulous day every day!

<3 Catherine

Closet Cleaning

Today I took on the brave task of going through my clothes and getting rid of the ones I don't wear anymore. Most people have no problem chucking out their old clothes, but I actually get somewhat attached to mine and don't like to get rid of them, even it it's an item I haven't worn in years.

What my room looks like mid-operation:

I ended up letting go of 31 items, mostly shirts but a few dresses and skirts as well.
Among the cast-offs:
-The vest/jacket that I wore to Vietnam in '08
-The button up shirt I wore the last day of my Freshman year of high school (and haven't worn once since then)
-3 dresses that I bought and never wore
-The Relient K, my one time favorite band, t-shirt I bought a few years ago at Creation Fest.
-My first pencil skirt

Call me a dork, but I actually got really sad putting some of these into bags. *sniff*

De-clutter Your Closet

Turn your chaotic closet into a beautiful boudoir.

The seemingly mundane task of cleaning out a closet may not sound like the most fun way to spend a Saturday afternoon, but think about the results... Wouldn't it be nice to see every item of clothing in your closet? Wouldn't it be nice to be able to pick out an outfit in less than 10 minutes each day? Wouldn't it be nice to feel happy while picking out outfits and getting dressed every day? Well, this is all possible IF you de-clutter your closet.

A. The first step to the closet de-clutter process is to physically remove the clutter from your closet. Take out everything! (This will make a mess... but soon the whole closet and your room will provide you with a fabulous feeling and an inspirational room for dressing.)

B. Keep four laundry baskets, bags or boxes handy to sort your clothes.
1. Keep *Put aside as these items will be organized shortly.
2. Donate *Goodwill, Salvation Army, friends or someone in need
3. Cherish *This should be used only as a last resort and/or for keeping for kids. There should be VERY few items in this bin.
4. Alter *Hire a tailor or alter the clothes yourself to make clothing more 'fitting' to your body.

C. When deciding which category to send your clothes, ask yourself the following questions:
1. Does the item FIT well? (Remember sizes vary across the board.)
2. Is the item FLATTERING on your figure from all angles? *Use a tri-fold mirror to check.
3. Is the item functional? Can you sit, stand, walk and bend over, etc. in the item?
4. Is the item classic or trendy, timeless or outdated?
5. Is the item in a complementary color?
6. What is your comfort level in the piece?
7. Would you rate this piece of clothing at an 8.5 or higher (on a 10 point scale)?
8. Does this item coordinate with clothes and accessories that you already own?
9. Where can you wear this item? Will you really wear this item within the next 3 months?
10. Does this piece of clothing 'fit' within your defined style?
11. How do you feel in this piece of clothing?
12. Does the piece still look new, or is it tattered or faded?

Pick out the clothes that are not worn (or should not be worn) by you and place these items in the appropriate bins (Donate, Cherish or Alter). *Ask a friend for his/her opinion or hire a style consultant for objective, expert advice.

D. Once all of your clothes are placed in appropriate categories, take out all of the 'Keep' items and organize them into sub-categories: pants [dress, casual, weekend], suits, tops [dress, casual, weekend], (dresses [formal, casual, professional, etc.]), (skirts [dress, casual, weekend])... You can even further organize by color, fabric, etc. Find what works best for you!

E. Put clothes on matching hangers (color coded, all wooden or fabric covered).

F. Use boxes/ baskets for classy storage for smaller items.

G. Have fun and love getting dressed every day!

It will make for a very easy selection process when your closet is organized.

Extra TIP: Select outfits for the next week to save time in your busy morning. Even include accessories and shoes to make getting dressed even easier and faster.

(c) 2008 CB All Rights Reserved.

Invest in Yourself

Ladies & Gentlemen: Make your clothes work for YOU!

Your style is an investment. Many people convince themselves that worrying about one's style is superficial and of low priority. However, buying appropriate clothes and maintaining your style/image is an investment in yourself, your life and your future- socially, professionally and personally. The way you maintain yourself speaks volumes and often times speaks louder than what you may say with words. Typically, your style can tell people about you and your interests, like whether you're detail-oriented, artistic, conservative, etc. Are you portraying the image you want people to see?

Taking care of yourself is extremely important. Your style needs maintenance and upkeep. Are you still wearing clothes that you wore when you first started your job ten years ago? When was the last time you donated to the Salvation Army or Goodwill? Weeding out old clothes feels liberating, and it helps you 'cleanse' your wardrobe.

People do judge us based on appearances, fact. First impressions usually happen within the first five minutes of meeting a person. What kind of impression are you making? What sorts of impressions do you formulate when you first meet people? Pay attention to first impressions, style, body language... what do you discover? If one doesn't feel comfortable or confident, others can perceive that. Don't let this happen to you!!! Achieve comfort and confidence just by using the proper tips and tools that I provide in this blog and in my affordable StyleLife consultations.

So how much should you spend on your style? This is a tricky question. Some say that 20% of your annual income is a good amount to go toward your style and wardrobe (without overspending). If you're clever, you can easily stick to 10%. It's all about coordinating main, high quality pieces with moderate to high quality accent pieces. You should choose higher quality for the pieces you wear more often. In the end, the piece pays for itself especially if it's a little pricier than other pieces.

Find pieces that are timeless and look fabulous on you NOW. If you just have to have a piece of trend-only fashion then make sure it actually looks and feels fabulous on you NOW. Try it on before you get it home. Can you walk, sit, stand, bend over, move comfortably while you're wearing it? Does the color/ pattern accent your features, not make you look pale or tired? Does the piece fit and flatter your figure, height and size? Do you feel amazing in it? If you answered "yes," then congratulations, it seems that you have found a piece for your wardrobe! If you answered "no," then please put the piece back on the rack and move on to the next item. Your fabulous pieces are out there; don't give up! And don't settle for something that you don't absolutely love! The goal is for you to exude confidence by loving how you look and feel.

If you have style/ closet organization questions or want to completely overhaul your closet, I recommend calling a style consultant. Your image represents who you are. If you would like to speak with me personally, please email me at the address shown at the top right corner of this blog, and I will contact you. Thank you, and I look forward to working with you.

(c)2007 CB All Rights Reserved.

Style Update

Your style is a very personal and expressive form of art. Your style should be comprised of what you want others to see, what you want to see yourself, what makes you feel amazing and what excites you every day, especially when you get dressed. So, how do you achieve such an ideal style? That's easy! Take a thorough, OBJECTIVE look at yourself. Use the following questions as a starting point. Think of it as a very personal interview! Be honest with yourself and embrace the results.

List three (3) or more words that describe your personality.

List three (3) or more words that describe you, physically.

How do you think people currently view you, physically?

How do you think people view you based on your emotions and personality?

How long have you had your current wardrobe?

Do you have a defined style?

How often do you clean out your closet and weed out old clothes?

Do you own clothes that you don’t really like or don’t ever wear?

What is your least favorite piece from your wardrobe? Why do you still own it?

Who are your fashion icons? Why?

Are there any items of clothing that you want to try to wear but haven’t tried yet? If so, what are these items? Why haven’t you tried to wear them yet?

Have you recently had a life change (gaining/losing weight, graduation, new job, marriage, kids, divorce, career change, self-exploration)?

Are you bored with your style, wardrobe or closet?

Do you have a closet full of clothes but suffer from "I-don't-have-anything-to-wear-itis?"

Your style should reflect who you are, what you want to see on yourself and what you want other people to see. After thinking about the above questions, do you have a better sense of your real style? How different is your real style from the style you currently own in your closet? Do you currently have a defined style or a mix of everything?

When should you update your style? Well, if you are asking this question, then the answer is "now!" Confidence is the key when choosing and maintaining your style and wardrobe. If you aren't 100% happy with each and every piece you own, then it is time for a change. Maybe the change entails weeding out some older clothes and adding some new items... Maybe the change involves looking at yourself and your closet differently... Whatever the change, you're in for a treat! Wouldn't you feel better about your style, yourself and your life if you were more confident and projected that attitude in your style? I thought so.

What should you do if you don't have time to update your style or don't know where to start? That's simple. Contact me today for a free estimate. I will work to fit your schedule and your budget. I can teach you how to organize your closet, how to define your style and how to be confident with your style and yourself. I offer many consultation options from a Closet-Cleanout to Personal Shopping Assistance to a Complete Style Enhancement. I will work to fit your style needs, whatever they may be! Your style should represent who you are NOW. Focus on the present you because you are fabulous now! To contact me with questions, comments, concerns or to schedule a consultation, please post a comment or email me at the address located at the top right corner of this blog. Thank you, and I look forward to working with you! Remember, today is your day!

(c)2007 CB All Rights Reserved.

Contact Me Today

Would you like to enhance or update your wardrobe? Do you have questions about style? Are you hosting a large dinner or event and would like to find the perfect outfit? Are you interviewing for a new job, going on a blind date or dating unsuccessfully? Would you like some closet organization assistance? Have you ever wanted a personal stylist to assist you with your style needs and desires?

If you answered "yes" to any of the above questions, then I can help! I am a style consultant and life coach. I want to help you improve the quality of your life, without changing who you really are. My goals are simple. I want to help increase your confidence in yourself and in your style, to help you help yourself and to help you look and feel fabulous. I want to work with you!

I offer many consultation options and packages for the St. Louis, MO and Edwardsville, IL (62025) area. *I will travel outside of the area but may charge extra for travel time, mileage, flights, etc. Email me for more details.

If you have any questions or would like to schedule a consultation for yourself or as a gift, please email me at the address located at the top right corner of this blog. Thank you, and I will get in touch with you immediately. I look forward to working with you!