Fashion is fun – or it is if you can afford to splash out on a new wardrobe of clothes every season. Sadly, most of us are not in a position to do this, as new clothes cost money; lots of money if you have designer tastes!
Closet Reorganization
Everyone should reorganize his or her closet at least once a year. We are all guilty of keeping clothes long past their sell-by date, or stockpiling garments bought in a hurry that either don’t fit or just look hideous. One way to make room for new clothes is to have a sort out and throw away everything that doesn’t fit or you never wear.
Go through your closet one garment at a time. Examine each item and make an objective decision. If you have not worn it in over a year, it needs to go. Likewise, if you know the garment is much too small or large, it needs to go, although it is worth hanging on to a few pieces in different sizes if you are a yo-yo dieter or your weight fluctuates over the course of a month.
Sell, Donate, or Throw It Away
Make a pile of discarded garments. Anything with a residual value can be sold online – eBay is great for getting rid of unwanted clothing. After all, just because you can’t fit into your designer skinny jeans any more, it doesn’t mean someone else won’t love them to bits. Look at what is left and decide whether to a) donate it to charity, or b) throw it in the bin. The other option is to donate unwanted garments to a friend in need, although they might not thank for you burdening them with all your cast-offs.
What’s Left?
Now you have discarded anything you don’t want, look at what you have left. Sort your clothes into piles of tops, bottoms, dresses, etc. This will give you a good idea of what you need. Say, for example, you only have one pair of jeans left after the Great Purge. One pair is not enough, so you can add ‘new jeans’ to your shopping list.
It is also worth looking at whether old items can be given a new lease of life before you throw them away once and for all. Turn a pair of worn out jeans into a cute pair of shorts, or transform a jacket into a waistcoat. Even simple makeovers such dying cotton fabrics or replacing buttons can make a huge difference to a garment and are very easy to do – even for someone with no sewing experience.
Time for a Shopping Trip!
Now for the best bit: shopping! Shopping is fun, but in order to make the most of your time and money, you need to plan it well. Wandering around a clothing store with no real idea of what you want is unproductive at best. One of two things will happen here. Either you will come home with nothing, or you will end up buying things you don’t need.
Instead, do some research online to check out the latest women’s fashion clothing trends. There will be some trends that are not for you, so you can avoid these when shopping. It really helps if you know what you are looking for, particularly if your taste in fashion is a bit suspect.
Do I Look Fat in This?
Visit a few of your favorite fashion stores and try some garments on. If in doubt about what they look like, snap a photo in the mirror and send it to a trusted friend for advice. Hopefully they like you enough to give some honest feedback.
Shopping Online
There are plenty of bargains to be found online. Look out for sales or discounted stock, as you will be able to pick up garments much cheaper. Coupon codes and vouchers are another way of saving money when you shop online. Sign up for voucher and coupon websites and use any special deals that come your way.
Try Before You Buy
One of the problems faced by online shoppers is that you can’t try on garments before you buy. Clearly, this represents a bit of a problem, but you can avoid most nightmares by taking accurate measurements and using the store’s buying guide to help you select the right size. However, before you buy, check the store’s returns policy to make sure they accept returns.
Give your closet a makeover this year. It’s good for the soul.
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