Right now, you’re sick of everything in your closet, but spring is still a ways off.
Here are some great tips to make use of what’s in your closet, and change your look from frumpy to fabulous.
Our consultant on this journey to increase our style quotient is Sarah Costello, who studied to be a stylist with one of the best: Stacy London of “What Not to Wear” fame. Costello runs Sue’s Organizing Solutions (S.O.S.) with her mother, Sue, who started the business.
Here are her ideas for making the most of what’s in your closet, adding a few strategic pieces and looking like a bona fide fashionista!
1. Break Out of the Matchy-Matchy Rut
“If you bought it together, don’t wear it together,” Sarah says. It’s a common mistake to buy a cardigan set, and then wear it with the same skirt and shoes. That’s the definition of a fashion rut. Her answer to this safe-but-dull outfit is to pull everything apart. Don’t wear the cardigan with its matching shell—ever. Try a new blouse with the skirt. Put on some boots.
To help yourself, start by hanging matching pieces separately. If you need some ideas on closet strategy, start with this article: How and Why You Should Organize Your Closet Now.
Image created on Polyvore. (Click here for full product details and pricing.)
2. Layer Textures
Sarah is a master at mixing textures, and you can be, too. It’ll elevate your style with very little work. Here’s an example: Silk top, wool pants, fur collar, leather boots and suede purse. Looks much more interesting than the twin-set outfit we started with, but it’s no more work.
Image created on Polyvore. (Click here for full product details and pricing.)
3. Add a Snap
Those boots that hit mid-calf that you’re not sure what pants to wear them with? Sarah suggests pairing them with your skinny jeans, and add a slouchy sock outside the boot. Nothing juvenile—this is a great place for subtle—but that one little detail signals you know your fashion. In warmer weather, the equivalent is a neat roll up on straight jeans, and add a slight heel with no socks.
4. Rethink Your Undergarments and Tailoring
You might avoid that otherwise fabulous piece in your closet because it doesn’t quite fit right. The strap slips down or the waist pinches. Get thee to a tailor and get it fixed. If you feel good in it, you’ll wear it. While you’re organizing outfits, think about undergarments. Get some comfy thongs (I swear by Hanky Panky) to wear under your pants so you don’t see panty lines, and make sure your bras are holding the girls without giving you back fat lines. (My newest find is Coobie, and I’m a huge fan.)
5. Choose One Important Piece
The final tip is to choose one fabulous piece and work your outfit around it. So if you have a huge chunky necklace, keep the dress simple. Sarah loves putting clients in a sassy pair of shoes and then keeping the rest of the outfit neutral. Or try a cocktail ring during the day with everything else toned down. This strategy has a few benefits:
- You’ll wear accessories that have been hiding in your closet because you’re not sure if they’re too much.
- It’s an easy strategy that you can pull off at 6 a.m.—even before your first cup of coffee.
- You’ll look fashionable, but not like you’re trying too hard.
The final advice Sarah left me with? Never buy everything on a mannequin!
