Wardrobe Solutions?

The recent issue of Real Simple magazine had several articles that featured low/no-cost ways to improve your life, from the kitchen to your makeup routine to your wardrobe. The wardrobe article in particular gave me many things to think about.

The article focused on three women and gave them some key pointers to make their wardrobes easier to manage and tips on how to switch what they already own to make brand new outfits. Solutions that every woman can use in their lives.

Unless that woman is me.

The first woman was told to sort through her closet, determining what should stay or go by asking herself three question about each piece. “Do you love it? Is it flattering? Is it you?” If an article of clothing failed even one of those questions, it has to go.

None of my clothes fit right, many items bought out of desperation to not be naked and I just don’t know what is “me” in terms of fashion. And if that’s the criteria I’m judging on, then my wardrobe would be pared down to one pair of jeans. That includes every shirt and all my underwear. And if I ventured out in public like that, I would probably be arrested.

The second woman was told to sort her closet based on type of apparel (jackets with jackets, shirts with shirts, etc.) and then to sort by color amongst those groupings. This was so she could easily see what she owned and put together new outfits quickly.

You mean, everybody doesn’t sort their closet based on clothing types? Huh? How would you function?

The third woman had a wardrobe so large it spanned three separate closets in her home. She had multiples of the same piece and was encouraged to not have multiples of things that she doesn’t use often. This unearths your unique pieces so they are readily accessible.

So if I throw away the 6 t-shirts that are all from Express, somehow I will magically find trendy, flattering and cute clothing behind them? Or does that only work for this woman who has a sister that works in the fashion industry and gives her freebies?

I hear a lot of my friends that are stay-at-home moms lament the fact that their wardrobe has gone downhill since they started spending most of their time in the confines of their home. Well, since I’ve started telecommuting my wardrobe has suffered the same demise. I have delusions that I will dress smart and stylish, but the second I put on something that even remotely fits that classification I immediately feel overdressed. If I step out in public people always ask, “Why are you all dressed up?”

I don’t think there is a way to win this frumpiness battle.

Leave a Comment to “Wardrobe Solutions?”

  1. Oh, clothes. My constant struggle. I always end up rotating through the same shirts and pants. I just can’t bear to get rid of some of my clothes because… maybe I’ll wear them someday! But the reality is, I don’t like them.

    Yeah, that’s how I organize my closet, in groupings of the type of shirt or whatever.

  2. Jill- my new resolution to looking good (and since I am typing this in a banana yellow cub scout leader shirt, I may not be the best person to listen to), where was I? Yes, wardrobe issues. I decided to start buying all of my important pieces at one store, a store I really like that has quality clothing. J. Crew, because it is spendy I don’t buy often. My philosophy is that if I am buying everything at the same store, eventually everything will have to mesh and look good together right?

    However, that said? I still buy all my jeans second hand. I’ll still pick up a sweater or t at target every now and again. Mostly though, I stick with Jcrew.

    hope that helps, from the banana yellow shirt wearing internet weirdo.

  3. Cardine: I’m the same way, thinking I’ll wear something someday but then I don’t, so it just takes up space in my closet. Lately though, I’ve been doing too well at getting rid of things I don’t wear or are worn out and my closet is looking pretty sparse.

    Heather: That philosophy totally makes sense! I like that idea. Now I just need to pick my store, maybe I’ll follow your lead and choose J. Crew, especially since many of their styles are a little more timeless.

  4. I”m with you, at least on your first point. All my clothes look the same, and when I buy new stuff, I realize later its…the same.

  5. I always feel better being more dressed up than dressed down. A lot of those wardrobe things (as much as I love Real Simple) can be such crap. They only help a select few people.

    I am currently trying to redo my wardrobe (mainly with help from Target) so I totally feel your pain. All my clothes feel too sloppy or too young on me and I still haven’t found the new perfect denim skirt so I continue to wear the ones that are literally falling apart. (Yeah, I am talking about those skirts that were dying a year ago…I’m still wearing them. Sigh.)

  6. Well said. I’m definitely in the same boat. Jeans and about 5-10 tshirts that I rotate. Anything else and I feel totally overdressed.

    Magazine articles suck and are totally unrealistic.

  7. Found your blog through KathEats … I noticed in your about section that you were born in Peoria, IL …. ME TOO! What a coincidence. I saw that and about died :) I live in CA now. Kudos to your blog!

  8. I sort my closet too.
    Tops are in one closet – in color order. The other closet holds my bottoms – sorted into skirts, pants, jeans and then dresses and suit jackets.

    I have too much – but I can’t get rid of anything!
    I’m going to try the hangers backward thing – and determine what I really don’t wear…even though I know there are things that I love or have expectations for that I still won’t get rid of… but at least I can be ruthless about deletion after that.

    I do have some things I LOVE that I bought in multiples – if you love it, it fits and it’s flattering there is no reason not to!

    Jill, I think this calls for a flickr show of some of your favorite things so we can help you identify your style!!!

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