***First things first, please donate to your local food bank (or places like Meals on Wheels and God’s Love We Deliver), check in on the elderly, and call your mother and father.
I want to help you with your closet clean out, and it all starts with sharpen your editing skills, because trust me you have them, you just need to practice them in order to find your style story, and create a closet of fewer, better things. I posted another video on Instagram yesterday that has the info below, but it’s shorter–this version has a bit more detail.
How to begin? For me it’s not about making three piles of clothes on your bed–the yeses, the maybes and the nos, it’s about learning what you love most and what works best on you. To me that begins with making lists. I love lists. Thinking about them, then actually writing them down on paper, are often the best way to solidify ideas, sometimes with surprising results. So to begin to uncover your style story and define what you love, your job is to make a few lists. At some time or other, you put a lot of thought and care into the clothes you’re acquired. You owe it to yourself to take the time and make these lists. Honestly, you will be paid back for your effort. And really write them down. Put pen to paper.
The first, most important lists are your Wardrobe Favorites, the items in your closet that you feel define your style. They should be things you wear fairly often—not gala event evening gowns, five-inch heels or three-piece suits unless you wear them on a weekly basis. They can, however, be items that you don’t wear as often as you like, because maybe you get stuck in a clothing rut, just grab the most comfortable clothes in your drawer more often than you’d like to admit, or you don’t have enough of those favorite items to wear them regularly. You want to work towards the goal of creating your uniform. The most stylish women and men and I know—and I have met or gotten to know some very stylish people, have a uniform. And if you a uniform sounds boring and drab—just know my uniform might be minimalist and simple, but yours might be floral dresses and colorful shoes.
Back to the list, imagine the items you write down are your packing list for a trip. I know right now that feels like wishful thinking, but we all need to dream a little. However, this trip isn’t a beach escape, the kind of trip you’re packing for depends upon what your average week looks like. If you work in an office, it’s a trip with client meetings and some down time. A stay-at-home mom? What you would wear on a trip with your children. Somewhere in-between? A little of both. You get the idea. I’m guessing you would pack your favorite, most versatile pieces you feel confident in that really represent your personality. (When you pack successfully for trip, doesn’t it feel good?! And the opposite–when you pack in an unthoughtful manner and don’t have clothes that are right it’s beyond frustrating.) Leave out your walk the dog, run to the grocery, exercise outfits.
Make one list for Fall/Winter and onefor Spring/Summer. Note: an item can be very specific or a more general category. Even if it’s a general category—be as descriptive as you can within it. You can make one item your down-time outfit if it varies greatly from what you wear everyday (mine doesn’t in fall/winter but does in spring/summer). unthoughtful manner and don’t have clothes that are right it’s beyond frustrating.
I’m sharing my lists below so you get the idea. Once you get these done, there are more lists. But shorter ones. I promise. Stay tuned! xx J
Fantastic post! Thank you so much.
I’ve starting making lists already.
Thank you so much for encouraging your readers to support agencies who are doing their best to help others in these trying times. That’s what I love the most about your site–style, yes, but never short on social responsibility. You are an inspiration.
Also, I appreciate the list. It’s unintentional, of course, but it’s as if it were tailor-made for me since there is a great deal of overlap with the pieces I habitually wear or have on my wish list.
I bought the navy Blaze Milano blazer in your shop, and am sending two heavy weight Blaze Milanos, and two designer dresses (that I never wear…ever) to consignment, which should cover the cost of the new blazer. Your methodical approach is helping me a lot.