Press Play: A New Year and Look - Part 1

Reset. Play.  With the New Year comes a new beginning.  My goal for 2012 is to fine tune my wardrobe and purchase key items.  I don’t want to buy junk or waste my hard earned money on substitutes.  Here are some tips to getting your wardrobe and spending habits in shape.

1. Assess your wardrobe: Take a look in your closet. What items do you love?  Hate? Why? I took a long hard look in my closet and had some realizations.  I tend to buy into impractical trends.  How many Betsey Johnson dresses can one own? I own over 16! How often do you wear the items that fill your closet and drawers? I still have things with tags on them.

What three items do you feel were your best investments and worst ones of 2011? Why?  My best investments of 2011 were a David Yurman ring,  Givenchy ankle boots and a La Rok jacket. These pieces were unique, practical and functional.  These are the types of things you should be investing in - items that make bold statements, work with your current closet and are comfortable enough for daily wear. Less is more. You don’t need five pairs of shoes or tons of jewelry. You need to invest in a few key items and build upon that.  

 2. Create a list: Think about what your wardrobe is missing. My problem is that I love buying unpractical things.  I love dresses, high heels and bright colors. Thus, my closet tends to have a lot of looks for a night out on the town. This would be great if I had a Charlize Theron lifestyle, but I don't!  Your closet should have things that you can wear to work that can transition into evening or the weekend.  You want to look stylish and age appropriate. Take my advice; you only need a few “Saturday night” outfits.  This is not as easy as it seems.  When you go shopping, you’ll see that buying a sexy dress is a lot easier than finding a pair of black pants.  

When you create your list, think about items that you really want. Trendy items that will last a few seasons are great to buy at stores like Forever 21. On the other hand, having nice staples goes a long way.  Clothes that fit your body well will make you feel good and it will show.  Do you want a nicer handbag or do you want to upgrade your jeans? Invest in denim, handbags and outerwear as these are things you can pull out every season. With shoes and accessories, be careful. You want things that are practical for your lifestyle.  Once in a while, splurging is okay on fun items. I love my Prada double bow platforms and my Betsey Johnson dresses.  You should love everything in your closet. But remember, no junk!  

This is the End of Part 1.  Fashionistas: Check in next week for Part 2 and I will share my 2012 list with you.

xoxo Sunny

 

Comments

[Sunny H.]

Yes, having a third party helping with the wardrobe cleanout is helpful. I'm sometimes afraid if clean out my closeout I won't much left either!

Take your old items to Crossroads. Jeans, fasionable tops and jackets are usually purchased. It is a nice way to make some pocket money and give your clothes a second home.

[Carla Morton]

Thank you for this post Sunny! Over the Christmas break, I had my sister, a stylist in LA go through my closet with me. She was ruthless! I realized that I really only wear about 10% of my wardrobe. This winter: the leggings, I finally invested in became my daily staple.
They are warm and can transition from day/casual to evening/chic with just a change of a top and accessories. I'd rather have fewer, better and more wearable items than a bunch of junk!