Spring Preview
While spring is still a few weeks away, the fashion world has been at work since sometime last year planning the color line up for Spring 2016. Pantone is the color guru. Not only do their color choices affect what the models are wearing on the fashion run ways, but they affect the colors used in design and decorating. You can see their website and the Spring color choices by clicking here.
In my fashion posts for the next few weeks I have taken Pantone's color choices and shopped in my closet. Most colors put out by the designers fall into similar color categories and you probably already have something that resembles some of the colors in your closet. For example the color "Serenity" is very close to a light denim blue. "Peach echo" is related to the dark coral family and "Buttercup" the vibrant yellow.
Pantone picks two colors that become the central focus of the spring line up. This year it is "Rose Quartz" and "Serenity". While you can be trendy just focusing on those two colors, I love to see what I can do with all ten colors put forth in the spring line up. I have so many clothes and I was able to find most of the colors already hanging in my closet or folded in my drawers. A few things I ended up purchasing, but mostly at thrift shops.
The color guide is there as that, a guide. Not everyone can wear "Fiesta" or "Iced Coffee", but you can find the colors that suit your skin tone and make up scheme best and then accent with pieces in the other tones and colors. For instance, maybe your outfit consists mainly of "Snorkel blue" and "Green flash". You could then accent that with "Buttercup" beads around your neck and wrists, or use a "Lilac gray" bag or "Iced coffee" shoes. You will see some of my "Spring line up" over the next few weeks.
In the mean time don't be afraid to try new things. I will confess, I have a hard time getting out of my comfort zone, but that is part of what writing this blog is about. Learning, changing, adapting and growing. We should never be stagnant, and when we find that we are, well, it is time to do some spring cleaning. Continue reading for our first Closet Clean Out Tip...
Closet Clean Out - Tip 1 - Organize
If you are like me, you love to shop, or maybe you don't, but you have a closet full of clothes, many of which you don't even wear. The first thing to do is organize. I know this may be counterintuitive, but I find that if I organize first then I can more easily see what I have and what I don't. Also, I have a second reason for organizing first, as I organize I purge.
I like to organize things in different ways. Sometimes I organize strictly by color; all the yellows together, reds together and so on. I do this by hanging rack and drawers. Right now, I have short sleeve shirts with prints by color, short sleeve shirts without print by color, 3/4 sleeve shirts with prints by color, 3/4 sleeve shirts without print by color and so on. I would love to be more of a minimalist, the whole capsule wardrobe has it's appeal, but I love options and I love colors and I love different shapes and lengths. I guess I just love clothes!
So as you delve into your closet, don't be afraid to pull everything out...but be aware this does take time and you and your spouse want to be able to sleep on that bed where you are piling all your clothes. As you organize according to your own system, get rid of stuff. That pink blazer your never wear because it is just not the right pink for your skin tone...donate it. That turtleneck you love but it's covered in pills, throw it away. Pilling does not look attractive on any clothing. That skirt that is a tad too tight, give it to your skinny friend. I hate to tell you girlfriend, but if you are anything like me, that weight is not coming off very fast and by the time it does, you will want to buy a new skirt.
I know organizing can be an overwhelming task, but look at it in bite size chunks. Look at your hanging racks first. How can you organize your tops, dresses or skirts so that you have a better idea of what you have? Start with the long sleeve tops. Leave everything else on the rack, but the long sleeve tops. Take those out and pile them on your bed or hang them on an empty rack. As you are handling each shirt, decide do I want to keep it, do I want to donate it, or do I need to try it on and decide after I look in the mirror. An item you bought because it was such a good deal, may now not look so great. Even if you never wore it, get rid of it, because keeping it will not guarantee you will wear it.
One thing I read about reducing clutter said to get rid of ten things at a time. So your assignment today, ladies, is to reorganize your closet and as you do, try to get rid of at least ten things. If you do more than ten you are awesome and I feel good that I inspired you to do that much! Tell me your success stories in the comments section below. I'd love to hear from you!
Next week we'll talk about those pesky socks and underwear.