Shop from Your Own Closet

Photo courtesy of HBO.com

The Canadian consumer confidence index hit an all time low last week, and while I believe that means we should keep spending responsibly to keep our economy running, rather than hastily tighten purse strings and serve a self-fulfilling prophecy, it did bring to mind a dilemma that many face at some point in the economic cycle:  How to freshen up your wardrobe when your wallet is especially light.  The solution? Shop from your own closet!  Unless you are a would-be contestant of What-Not-to-Wear, your closet can be a treasure trove of great pieces, that with some tweaking and massaging will result in fresh outfits that feel like new.

1. Channel Ms. Fix-It.  Weed out every piece of clothing that needs ironing, a button sewn on, or alterations.  Schedule time to attend to each of these tasks.  If you don't have time to iron, most drycleaners will wash and iron your shirts for as little as $0.99 - that is a lot cheaper than buying new ones!  Sewing buttons on a few items will take you less than half an hour while watching TV.    Plan to take items that need alterations to the tailor the very next day.  Depending on how many pieces you own that fall into this category, you could significantly expand your wardrobe just by stopping here!
2. Play dress-up.  Try on items you haven't worn in a while and mix and match to see what works.  We tend to get stuck in ruts when it comes to dressing and reach for the same things over and over again.  Take 30 minutes to an hour and just try things on with the goal of coming up with atleast 5 new outfits.
3. Be creative.  Find new ways to wear items you already own.  Throw a v-neck sweater over a dress and wear it as a skirt.  Expand wearability of your sleeveless tops by layering them over a fitted long sleeve T.
4. Fill in the gaps.  "I would wear this, but I need [insert here: tights, camisole, layering turtleneck...] first!"  To ensure all your clothes are wearable, make a list of the low cost basics you need to fill in the gaps in your wardrobe - black or on-trend coloured tights for skirts or dresses, long sleeve knits or camis to layer under sweaters, etc.  Schedule time in your daybook or Outlook, and go stock up on these items.
5. Make full use of your accessories.  Most of us have our accessories in a disorganized mess, making it difficult to grab and go.  Lay your jewelry out on a tray on your dresser (like the ones below. Similar styles available at Solutions in Canada) or place in your top drawer to allow easy access and maximize use.  Hang belts so they are visible in your closet and fold scarves in neat stacks on a shelf.

Jewellery Trays, The Container Store

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