How To: Shop Your Closet

How To: Shop Your Closet

Guest Post by: Danielle Thayer

We’ve all been there. It’s Friday night, and you’re supposed to meet your friends in, oh, say…..five minutes ago.  You, however, won’t be going anywhere in the near future because you’re standing in your underwear amongst a mountain of clothes you’ve haphazardly strewn about the room. Alas, you have nothing to wear.  

In these situations, your first instinct will most likely be to splurge on something new. This, like many of your past expenditures, will be something that you will only wear once before banishing it to the back of your closet with the rest of your wardrobe rejects. It’s a vicious cycle that most of us in today’s economy cannot afford to perpetuate. So how do you fix it? Well, I’m glad you asked.

The first step is to ask for assistance from a couple of friends who you trust to give you an honest opinion. If they show any resistance, lure them over with the promise of cocktails and free clothes. Then, one by one, try on each item of clothing you own. Yes, everything (preferably to Right Said Fred’s I’m Too Sexy on repeat, but this step is not mandatory). Get rid of anything that no longer fits, shows signs of wear and tear, or that you would simply be too embarrassed to admit you actually own. Items that are still in good condition can be donated or passed off to friends, while the rest can be given to a company such as Patagonia or The Salvation Army, which will recycle your rags into any number of completely usable and awesome things. Items that are out of season or those that you rarely wear (i.e. evening gowns) can be placed into storage in order to make the remaining items in your closet more visible.

Now that you’re the proud owner of a newly organized closet, have a celebratory drink and take stock of any wardrobe staples that you may be missing or that need to be replaced. Great fitting jeans, a classic t-shirt, and a little black dress are all pieces that can easily transition from day to night with the right accessories and should be a part of any versatile collection.

Already have these pieces? Vary the number of looks that you can create by picking up a stand-out pair of shoes, a bright handbag, or a scarf in a fun print. A few well-chosen accessories will add limitless possibilities to the items you already own.

When the process is complete, the resulting outcome should leave you with a closet full of newfound possibilities and a warm and fuzzy state of happiness.

Blogger: Casey Colette

Casey's handbag

BIO: Danielle Thayer works as a marketing coordinator by day, offering fashion-related gems of wisdom such as how to choose a standout handbag and why the right travel accessories make flying more fun. On her down time, you’re most likely to find her being dragged behind her abnormally large Siberian husky or surfing the web for cheap flights to awesome places.