The Clothing Chronicles  August 26, 2004 #149 FashionForRealWomen.com ================================================ In This Issue: Message From Diana Feature Article: Is Your Closet Ready For The Season Change? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ >> MESSAGE FROM DIANA How did it get to be the end of August already? I declare! Does anyone else feel like they're in some sort of time warp? Yes, it has been a while since my last issue. I've been so busy with various projects that I haven't sent one out in several weeks. Whoops! Perhaps you could help. I have numerous image-related ebooks in the planning stages and could use your help in determining what subjects you'd like to see first. To that end, I've devised two short surveys, one for fashion lovers and one for image professionals. I'll be sending them out early next week, so keep your eyes peeled. Your feedback is important, so if you're interested and can help, please do so. Yes, there will be a bribe involved. :-). More on this next week -- So what's on tap for today's article? A checklist for helping you to get your closet ready for the season change. It will be here before you know it. Enjoy! Diana diana@fashionforrealwomen.com ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Could you be an image consultant? With an eye for clothing and the information in this guide, you'll be floored by what's possible in the image industry. It's simply THE best resource I've seen on the subject, hands down. Start your future today! Click Here to Discover How to Become an Image Consultant ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ >> FEATURED ARTICLE Is Your Closet Ready For The Season Change? If you've been to the stores any time in the last few weeks, you've probably seen all the new season merchandise. If the vast array has you tempted to pull out your credit card and take home some goodies, let me tell you that your timing instincts are right: for even if the weather hasn't changed where you're at, the selection in the stores will never be better than it is right now. So if you live in a small town and/or if you wear an average size, grab while the getting's good. Otherwise, when you're ready to shop, you'll have to settle for what's left. But how do you know what you need? By knowing what you already have. If you haven't inventoried your seasonal wardrobe recently, take time to do it now. If you wait until the season is in full swing, you'll pay more and have less to choose from if you find that you need to make some purchases. So take advantage of pre-season sales and selection by prepping from the new season now. Yes, that means going through your closet, piece by piece. If the very thought of such an exercise sends your blood pressure soaring, don't let it. The stress comes from disorganization and will only continue until you do something about it. Once you get your closet in order, updating your wardrobe each season and getting dressed each morning literally becomes a snap. Here's how you tackle this task: 1. Make Time To Do It If you've been putting off cleaning your closet because you can't find a chunk of time to do it, do it in stages. There's no rule that says you have to do it all at once. Start by doing ten pieces at a time or a foot-long section at a time, or all of one type of garment at a time, like tops, pants, skirts, etc. Instead of sitting in bed and watching the nightly news, for example, watch the news as you also go through your closet. Or take a few minutes as you change out of your work clothes each evening to go through a few more pieces. Before you know it, you'll have gone through everything.   2. Sort As You Go So what do you do with each piece? Make a decision to do one of five things: Keep Keep everything that fits and flatters and that works well with other pieces in your wardrobe. Toss Toss any piece that is worn, stained, frayed, or ripped beyond repair. Repair If you have pieces that need new buttons, hems, or other small repairs, set them aside and tend to them when you're done. Donate Donate any clothes that don't fit, flatter, or that you've stopped wearing that are in good repair. Don't send anything to a donation center that should be tossed instead. Consign Want to recoup some of the cost of your most expensive pieces? Consign them. Some consignment shops will pay you when the pieces sell; others will pay you cash on the spot when you bring them in. Want to add to your wardrobe without adding to your debt? Sell some of your old clothes to pay for your new purchases.   3. Put Like Pieces Together Once you've gone through every last blouse, skirt, and pair of shoes, put everything back in your closet with like pieces together: all shirts together, all skirts, all pants, etc. This will enable you to mix and match easily, as well as let you see what you have and what you don't.   4. Make A List So now that you know what you have, make a list of the items you need to round out your wardrobe. Yes, it's really as simple as that.   5. Go Shopping What's the best way to shop? With a list. Not only will you be sure to get what you need, you'll be much less inclined to buy impulsively. Want to make sure you stay within your budget? Take cash and leave the credit cards at home. That way, you'll weigh each purchase VERY carefully. Getting your closet in order for the new season isn't difficult once you get organized. If you take the time to do it - even if you have to stretch it over a couple of sessions - you'll be able to gain control over your wardrobe and have one less thing to worry about. Need some more help in cleaning your closet and getting your wardrobe in shape for the new season? Download a copy of WARDROBE MAGIC, http://www.wardrobemagic.com to see how easy dressing well can be. ************** Until next time, Diana Pemberton-Sikes diana@fashionforrealwomen.com http://www.FashionForRealWomen.com http://www.FashionSavvy.com http://www.WardrobeMagic.com http://www.FashionJobReview.com ------------------------ Published by: Top Drawer Publications, LLC 256 S. College Ave. Newark, DE 19711 USA Copyright © 2004 by Diana Pemberton-Sikes All rights reserved. Want to get your wardrobe together in a flash? Try our best-selling ebook, Wardrobe Magic Archives index   Terms of Use | Privacy Policy © 2004 Top Drawer Publications, LLC All rights reserved. 256 S. 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