about a month ago…i was going through the closet of one of my new clients…once we were done…she told me that she was surprised at some of the items that i told her to hold on to…
i don’t know if it is the whole “what not to wear” fear…that a wardrobe stylist will come in and get rid of every stitch of clothing one owns…or just not understanding the difference between style & trends…but most importantly…fit…
i do talk alot in this blog about cleaning out the closets…purging…getting rid of the items that don’t serve a purpose anymore…but there are definately pieces that i will tell my clients to hold on to…
so…what, when you are weeding through your closet…should you absolutely…positively save…even if you haven’t worn it recently? here are some definates…
– the item that makes you look ten pounds thinner…even if it’s out of style…say for example…you have that skirt (insert whatever the item may be)…a supremely flattering item is always a keeper…even if it looks strange or dowdy for a season or two…you never know…fashions do change…and then again…so may your body…the key here..is the fit of that item…
– classic evening wear…silk pants…an embroidered kimono…a charmeuse tunic…anything that still fits and is in good shape…even if you had a baby two years ago and haven’t been out after midnite since…the next time you have to attend a once-every-five-years formal event (and believe me…they do come up when you least expect it) you may not have to buy new clothes…
– high quality classics in good condition…what i’m thinking of are things like tweed blazers and cashmere sweaters…that one year may fit a little too tight for the style…or may have a cowl neckline when everyone’s wearing turtlenecks…or may have collars that are a little too wide or too narrow…for a short time…these so-called classics may look out of place to you…but if they’re in good shape…hang on to them…because the style standing of these sorts of details always changes…and they’ll look good again someday…
– the skirt or pants that fit last year…but now are a little too snug…or a little too big…some of my clients…whenever they gain or lose ten pounds…tend to think this is it forever…and out with everything that reminds them of their former shape…but if your weight fluctuation is recent…and if you tend to go up or down a size consistently over time…it’s smart to keep items that fit in your normal range…even if they don’t fit right now…
and sometimes…items that are in your closet are kept but changed…perhaps a skirt is shortened…or the sleeves are changed on an item…a good tailor truly can perform miracles on items that don’t serve their purpose in the current state…but tiny tweaks…can make an old un-used item…a new improved item…
