14Aug

How to Build a Wardrobe for Each New Season

August 14, 2019 Melrose Fisher

Each season brings forth new energy and excitement about getting last year’s clothes out of storage. Suddenly, everything feels brand new again! Or, does it? Well, it should if each season’s wardrobe is properly prepared in advance. Rotating clothing for the change of seasons can be an easy process if you know how to do it and have the right help.

The benefits of seasonal wardrobe rotations:

You’ll get inspired by clothes you already own.
Periodic inspections of clothing keep you from having a cluttered closet.
You’ll be forced to consider getting rid of ill–fitting, outdated items and make room for new clothes that make you look and feel great.
There will be fewer items in your closet, which means that it will be easier to dress every day.

Here’s how to evaluate, rotate and pare down your wardrobe for each new season:

Step 1: Evaluate Each Item

For each article of clothing in your closet, ask yourself if there is a purpose for each item. There should be a purpose for every piece of clothing you are keeping (e.g. for work, leisure, special events, etc.) or else it is just clutter and it needs to be donated. If you don’t have a purpose for the clothing, let it go.

Next up, ask yourself if you actually like each piece of clothing. Tastes change and so do trends, if you aren’t in love with an item, donate it. You aren’t likely to wear it if you don’t love it.

Do all of the items in your wardrobe fit well? If it doesn’t fit or feel comfortable, set it aside. Anything that doesn’t fit can either be donated or altered.

Lastly, donate or toss any clothing or accessories that aren’t in great condition.

Step 2: Sort Through the Seasons

There will be three categories of clothing to sort through: the incoming season, the outgoing season, and the season–less items. Choose the outgoing season’s items that you wish to keep and then prepare them for storage.

Before you put every piece of the previous season’s clothing into storage, take a few minutes to consider the following:

Do you still like the piece?
Does it still fit well?
Is it too worn for another season?
Do you think you’ll wear it again next year?

Use these deciding factors to keep or donate the outgoing season’s clothing and you’ll save yourself time and aggravation when pulling out your clothes a year later. The change of seasons is the best time to let go and make room for the new.

Step 3: The Incoming Season’s Rotation

Once you get your incoming season’s clothing out of storage, it’s time to reintroduce it into your wardrobe.

While you spend the effort to bring out next season’s pieces, consider a few of these questions:

Is the item in perfect condition?
Do you like wearing it?
Do you need any additional items to pair with the piece?

Step 4: Decide What You Actually Need

Now you have evaluated each item based on its condition, purpose, and wear-ability. You have also sorted your clothing by seasons. However, you may still have some questions:

What kind of pieces are you missing?
Are there gaps in your seasonal wardrobes?
What’s on trend for upcoming seasons?

Need more help?

Building a wardrobe can be a daunting task, but the easiest time to do it is when the seasons are changing. You’re likely to already be in your closet, rotating out one season’s items for the next. While you’re at it, it’s a smart choice to build the perfect wardrobe for the season and to prepare last season’s wardrobe for next year (you’ll be happy you did).

It will be fall before we know it. Now is the time to be taking your fall clothing out of storage and to consider how you can reintroduce it into your wardrobe. You will also want to do a review of your summer items before packing them up until next year.

I’ve given you the steps to build your wardrobe for each new season, but I understand that it may still sound like an overwhelming process, or perhaps you simply don’t have the time or don’t want to do it. If you need additional help, that’s what I’m here for! I can help you decide what goes and what stays, how to pair clothing, revive clothing, and how to set you up with a perfect wardrobe for every season. Call or email to set up an appointment!

15Jul

What to Do When You Have a Closet Full of Clothes and Nothing to Wear

July 15, 2019 Melrose Fisher

A closet full of clothes and nothing to wear is something that every woman can relate to. This is a popular conundrum to have, but why? This is one of the most frustrating situations to be in when dressing for work, special occasions, or just everyday events. You know you can relate!

Typically, when we have a full closet and feel like there is nothing to put together it’s because we haven’t actually made a functional wardrobe. Making poor judgements in the fitting room or hasty decisions at checkout are a couple of reasons for a wardrobe that doesn’t work well for you.

Why isn’t your current wardrobe working for you?

You refuse to let go of old clothing
Out with the old, in with the new! If you are holding onto ill–fitting or outdated clothing, then it’s merely taking up space in your closet. If you haven’t worn a garment sometime over the last year, odds are you won’t wear it again; so, let it go.

Your clothes don’t fit properly
Don’t keep clothing that doesn’t fit, it’s not good for your wardrobe or your psyche! If the fit isn’t right, then you won’t feel comfortable in that garment and you won’t want to wear it anyway, so don’t keep it. Make way for new clothes that fit your body and make you feel comfortable and confident.

You buy things you don’t absolutely love
Sometimes we shop and buy things just so our efforts aren’t squandered. Shopping can be time-consuming, so in order to feel like it wasn’t a waste, we go home with a purchase, regardless of whether we absolutely love it or not. Clothes are meant to be loved; if you don’t love it, don’t buy it!

How can we can fix a less than desirable wardrobe?

Everything fits
When consciously building a wardrobe, instead of aimlessly buying clothes, make sure that everything fits and that everything fits well. All of the clothing in your closet should make you feel good, if it doesn’t you aren’t likely to wear it! Choose clothes that make you feel fabulous.

Define your personal style
When building your wardrobe, choose a cohesive selection of clothing that represents your individuality. Instead of choosing clothing at random every time you shop, create a wardrobe that showcases your unique style, and keep building on it.

Create your color palette
We tend to choose similar colors all of the time, so you may relate to this. Always grabbing the black clothing on the rack? Well, it’s important to know what colors suit your skin tone and hair color. There are certain colors that you may not be considering (or even avoiding) when you shop. It’s important to know what colors suit you and to start integrating them into your wardrobe.

Everything complements your lifestyle
Do you tend to buy things on trend? Sometimes we buy trendy pieces of clothing or clothing that looks great on a friend only to find ourselves scarcely wearing it. Buy clothing that fits your body type and lifestyle, or else your closet will be filled with rarely worn clothing. Define what fits your daily needs – whether it be comfort, function, or style – and build your wardrobe based on those criteria. Your aim is to have a functioning wardrobe that you love, so embrace the kind of clothing you need for everyday wear.

Create easy outfit combinations
When you have created a wardrobe of items that look great and feel great, creating outfits will be much easier. If you’ve chosen the colors that flatter you, everything fits as it should, and all of the garments reflect your personal fashion and lifestyle, dressing is easy.

Need some help building your new wardrobe?

Creating a wardrobe that works for you can be a bit intimidating or even overwhelming. Maybe you aren’t even sure where to start! That’s where I come in – I’m here to help you with donation decisions (see: wardrobe auditing), understanding your personal color palette, and determining which garments will fit your lifestyle. Together we can work on perfecting your wardrobe!

19Jun

First Impressions Are Everything: Here’s How to Always Make a Stunning One

June 19, 2019 Melrose Fisher

Clothing speaks before you do. It’s human nature to make a quick judgment about someone upon first appearance. Even those of us who have been taught to not judge a book by its cover can’t help but to quietly assume someone else’s values, work ethic, personality traits, and probable lifestyle.

Imagine how we view people in uniform. We might view a police officer as stoic, brave, or stern. A farmer could be seen as humble, hardworking, and down to earth…literally. Thinking of any other professionals now? I bet you can decide what kind of person a teacher, real estate agent, or construction worker is just by a first impression. Now you might be imagining how others view you!

First impressions are not reserved for job interviews and business meetings alone. It’s important to always be on top of your game no matter where you go or who you’re around. Why? Because first impressions are everywhere! You truly never really know when and where you’ll meet a potential new client, friend, or even your next boss.

Fortunately, there is no need to put forth job-interview-effort when choosing everyday outfits. If you create a wardrobe that suits your body and lifestyle, dressing to impress will be truly effortless.

Make your first impression before you even speak. Here’s how to do it:

1. Mind your posture

Project confidence by standing and sitting up straight. Walk with purpose and keep your head up, chin parallel with the ground. Good posture is important for first impressions because you can either radiate confidence or appear to be insecure. Whether you’re walking into a board meeting or walking into the gym, be mindful of your posture and what your body language may be expressing. Body language can tell others how you feel about yourself, so show them you love and respect yourself just the way you are.

2. Be comfortable in your clothing

In order to appear confident and capable, it’s important to be comfortable in whatever you choose to wear. Being comfortable can make you feel more empowered and that will translate to how you make first impressions. Make sure your clothing fits your body the way it should. Clothing that is too loose can come off as a bit sloppy, while clothing that’s too tight can look inappropriate. If your clothing doesn’t fit you perfectly, get it tailored to suit your body. The investment in properly fitting clothes is well worth it when you look and feel your best. Not to mention, once tailored properly, you’ll be able to start wearing all the ill-fitting clothing you’ve neglected to wear since you bought it.

3. Represent your profession

Your clothing should always be appropriate to the setting you’re in. Keep your look neat and tailored no matter the occasion. It’s just as important to look tidy in the grocery store as it is at work. Remember that your clothing represents you, your status, and the company you work for. Decide what your “uniform” should be to represent what you do. Should your signature style be conservative like a banker or super chic like a master hair stylist? Especially if you want to establish yourself in your field, your outfits will let others know what kind of work you do.

4. Make a statement

Choose to show the world who you are with the clothing you wear. Wear styles that flatter your body and colors that compliment your skin tone. One of the best things about building a wardrobe is showcasing your personality with it. Your clothing says a lot about you, so use it to show off elements of your personality. Bright accessories, bold handbags, and stylish prints can give others a first impression they aren’t likely to forget. But it’s also okay to make a more subtle statement with understated style to portray a more reserved look. The important thing to remember is, be true to you – make the statement that you want to make.

Lastly, remember to mind your head to your toes. Make appropriate makeup choices and don’t forget that people notice your shoes.

Need some styling advice?

Are you still not sure how to properly make a statement or represent yourself with your clothes? If you need some advice in styling your wardrobe to make a killer first impression every time, I’m here to help! Reach out and let’s get your wardrobe first-impression ready!

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