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The
Clothing Chronicles ================================================
In This Issue: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I've gotten several reports from people saying that they've emailed me but gotten no response. Since I try diligently to respond to all questions within 24-48 hours, complete silence from me probably means that your email didn't make it through my ISP's aggressive filters. Please try again. With all the measures in place these days trying to combat s.p.a.m., a lot of legitimate messages are, unfortunately, disappearing into the abyss. Also, one diligent reader alerted me to the fact that several of my reprintable articles on: http://www.fashionforrealwomen.com/articles/index.htm were appearing on one website without any acknowledgement. I've asked that webmaster to correct the situation and invite any of you who want to reprint my articles (more coming soon!) to so following the guidelines posted on that page. Now for today's topic: Do you have a clothing personality disorder? If so, it could be the REAL reason why you still have clothes hanging in your closet with the price tags on them. Enjoy!
Diana ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ How To Combat A Clothing Personality Disorder When actress Uma Thurman stepped onto the Oscar red carpet last Sunday sporting her dirndl-inspired Christian Lacroix dress, many fashion followers wrinkled their noses and said, "Eww!" "What was she thinking?" "How could she have missed?" "Fire her dressmaker!" In reality, I think she was just suffering from a temporary bout of clothing personality disorder. She took her classic, patrician self and dressed up in a gown designed for a high fashion dramatic. It's a lure even the most experienced fashion lover can fall prey to on occasion, so don't be too alarmed. She'll probably be back to her old self by the next awards show. So what am I talking about? If you already own a copy of WARDROBE MAGIC, or are a long-time subscriber to this ezine, you already know about clothing personalities. If not, let me give you a quick recap to bring you up to speed: There are six clothing personalities, the four primary of which include: The Classic So called for her preference for simple, classic styles in exquisite materials. She wants it simple and unfussy, but well made and of top quality. Grace Kelly, Diane Sawyer, and Uma Thurman are examples of Classics. The Dramatic Loves drama and unusual lines. She favors bold colors, striking details, and the high fashion look. Cher, Fran Drescher, and Gwen Stefani are all Dramatics. The Sporty Natural Prefers earthy-type colors, textures, and styles. Her clothes must be comfortable and functional yet stylish without too much fuss. Well known Sporty Naturals include Sandra Bullock, Julia Roberts, and Jennifer Aniston. The Romantic Loves ruffles and lace in form-fitting looks. She likes to dress up and loves fussy details, and often intimidates other women with her looks, figure, and the attention she gets from men. Sophia Loren, Marilyn Monroe, and Selma Hayek are all examples of Romantics. When you stay true to your clothing personality in your wardrobe choices, you "feel" right. People comment on how good YOU look, not how great your clothes are. The clothes are "you" and get worn again and again because of it. When you stray into types of apparel typically worn by other personalities, however, you may feel uncomfortable, even if the clothes fit you properly. People may comment on how your clothes look, not how great they make you look. Or they might say, "Is that new?" with no compliment to go with it. Something's just not right, but you can't quite put your finger on what it is. Some women know exactly what their clothing personality is and never stray far from it. Others are closet Sybils who have no idea who they are and try every style or trends that comes their way. But the majority of women fall somewhere in between: they have some clothes that are "them," and others that just aren't. So how can you combat your own clothing personality disorder? 1. Determine Your True Clothing Personality Grab a stack of fashion magazines or clothing catalogs and flip through them. Pull out the pictures of the items or ensembles that strike you immediately and put them in a pile. If you have to stop and think about whether you like something or not, or if your husband/mother/sister/or friend would like it on you or not, skip it. It's not "you." When you're done, look through your pictures. What do they have in common? Are they all simple, classic pieces? High drama? Ralph Lauren-like weekend chic? Frilly froufrou? Now go to your closet and look at the clothes that you feel good in and like to wear most often. What do they have in common with the pictures you pulled out? Do you see any similarities? Chances are, you will. We're instinctually drawn to our true clothing personality, even if it's been heavily influenced over the years by parents, partners, or work or social dictates. You should now have a good idea of what your clothing personality is. 2. Get Rid Of The Stuff That's Not "You" Now go through your closet and pull out the stuff that fits but you still don't wear. Why is it sitting there, oftentimes with the price tag still attached? Usually it's because it doesn't fit your clothing personality. These are the items you were lured into buying because they were marked down to a ridiculous price, or you saw a favorite celebrity wear something similar, or it was a seasonal "must have," or you bought it when you were shopping with someone else who liked it. It's been sitting in your closet, unworn, ever since. Consign, swap, or give away these items. They're taking up precious space in your closet and bogging you down with their clutter. Yes, they may have cost you some money, and yes, you may feel guilty disposing of them. But why keep them around as a reminder of your misstep? So you made a mistake. So what? Most people do, including celebrities with stylists (do you hear me, Uma?). Learn from it and move on. 3. Stay True To Your Personality In Future Purchases The new fashion season is just around the corner, and you may be thinking about what you need or want to add to your wardrobe. Start by making a list. Next, go back through those pictures you pulled in step 1 and see which of those items fit your list, lifestyle, and budget. Buy them. Or, if you really like something but can't afford it, look for a similar style in your price range. As you get into the nitty-gritty of shopping, don't be tempted by the things that have caused you to misstep in the past, like impulse purchases, the latest "must have" item, or shopping with friends or relatives who have different clothing personalities than you AND strong opinions about what you should buy. They will only confuse you. Instead, make your list and go by yourself. Go on your lunch hour or click away online when everyone else in your house is asleep. Be merciless in your assessment BEFORE you reach for your wallet.
If you say, "yes!" to all these questions, buy it. You're on your way. If not, put the item back and look for another that meets your criteria. Be discerning when choosing apparel. The more editing you do up front, the fewer mistakes you're likely to make. Once you get into this habit of being picky, you'll have more space in your closet, more money in your bank account, and a lot less clutter to weigh you down. You'll also shine every time on the red carpets of YOUR life, instead of making poor choices that set your critics all atwitter. Stay true to your clothing personality. It's the easiest way to create your own signature style. Need some help determining your clothing personality? Download a copy of WARDROBE MAGIC to see how easy looking good can be. ************** Until next time,
Diana Pemberton-Sikes
http://www.FashionForRealWomen.com ------------------------ Published by:
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Publications, LLC Copyright © 2004 by Diana Pemberton-Sikes All rights reserved. |
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