My Image Factor

Last year a poll of 2,491 women suggested women spend almost one year of their lives deciding what to wear.  That means the average woman will spend 287 days rifling through their wardrobe! That correlates into an extra 16 minutes morning deciding what to wear.

The study also found, on average, women will try on at least two outfits each morning before coming to a final decision, and that one in two women spend 15 minutes the night before work working out what to wear.

I’m not a professional organizer, but have some tips to make the time more productive.  To benefit from these tips, one first needs to understand  purchasing “outfits” is not always the best option. Retailers are good providing ideas with manufactures coordinating pieces in a certain color pallet.  Unfortunately many people will stay within that selection reducing their ability to maximize the new purchase. I for one, often find one piece will fit well but the style of the coordinating items don’t.  If it doesn’t read well on your body, how often will you wear it?   If you read the closet post, part one, you learned about pairing down the wardrobe for your body, now lets get it back into the closet.  Make a master list of what you have and then a second column of what’s needed.  This will start your shopping list.  Organize your clothing into  categories rather than outfits. Hang all jackets together, all slacks together, shirts together etc. From there, start separating into colors.  If you look into my closet (yes, I only have one,  and I share it with my husband) you will sees all blacks are together, all whites, blues etc.  My jackets reflect a color spectrum.  Black and whites together, then blues, plums to reds.  There is one yellow and one taupe jacket. (remember those odd pieces)   This makes it easier to put items together.

If you are starting a workable wardrobe, consider  one basic suit and a second complementary color in either a suit of separates or jacket and pieces that go with the basic suit.  Black and taupe for example.   This is what is called “capsule” building.  That way when you purchase a new item, it should coordinate with those pieces.  My rule of thumb of selecting a new piece, it has to go with at least three other items in my wardrobe. If something goes into the closet, something needs to go out.  After all, why are you purchasing a new piece? Once you embrace the idea of investment dressing, this makes sense.  Granted there are always those few odd pieces, bought for a special occasion or a weak moment.  But if you purchase a new piece, shouldn’t you be able to use it for more than one outfit?  This goes for accessories too.

This is one of the reasons people engage the services of a professional certified image consultant to get started on the right path.  In a previous post, I mentioned about having a color analysis. I remember back in the 80s people where running around in stores with little booklets of fabric swatches and saying  “I can buy this, it doesn’t match!”   If you have one of those, don’t throw it out, but remember it’s not about matching as much as it’s a tool so new purchases blend with those colors in your pallet.  You’ll have better options of mixing up your wardrobe pieces and create your own unique style, not something from the clothes catalog that looks good on the model!

Color analysis was a big deal back in the mid 80s.  That’s when I first was introduced me to the subject.  Friends of mine where running around with little pieces of fabric when they shopped and would often ask, are you a winter?  At first I didn’t have a clue…

Anyway the subject of color analysis has been taught as early s the 1920s.   It is based on not only skin tone, but your natural hair color,  the patterns in your eyes, the tone of dark circles, even your freckles and tooth enamel. Wearing clothes and cosmetics that match your color palette will actually smooth out and brighten your natural skin tone and even make dark circles, expression lines and wrinkles much less noticeable on your face.  Many often group color and refer to them by “seasons,” Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter.  Additionally there is a category called Neutral.   It could have just as easily been type A, type B. etc. Seasons is what we use. It can get quite detailed and if you are going to have a professional color analysis, make sure you engage  certified professional image consultant.  Not just some on wanting to sell make up or a sales clerk in the store as they have a specific agenda which is parting you from your money.

For our purposes here, when you wear colors that are complementary with your natural skin tones, the color is absorbed and results in you looking radiant.  However, with the opposite tones, the is reflected and you will have people asking if you have been sick or tired. The result will deaden your appearance.   A simple rule, you if you look fabulous in browns, tans and gold jewelry, you most like have warm peach to golden skin tones. If black, pure white and silver are youtr best, you probably have cool pink or blue  undertones. Remember this is a simplistic test.  A certified professional will also take into consideration such things as color value and intensity and lastly your age.   Once gray hair develops, your preferred pallet may change as well as consideration of coloring your hair.

If we asked you about your clothes closets, most people would say they are unhappy with it and they need to get better organized. Really?  Is it possible you have too much in your closet?  Be honest, do you wear everything in your closet?  Of course not.  There is always the one article of clothing you purchased for some special occasion. I have a formal, floor length dress worn once to a wedding that I will have very little opportunity to wear again.  I bet  too there are clothes that we’re waiting to wear when we lose 15 or 20 pounds. Better yet, how many have kept clothing that now is referred to as “vintage”?  Even if my body would fit correctly into that item, I doubt that I would feel the same about it today s I did when it was purchased.  We get attached to clothing, a special memory, event, gift etc. Putting those few “rare” items aside; if you would like to save yourself some grief and save money, here are a tips to help manage your closet.

First, take a day and take everything out of the closet.  One piece at a time, try everything on.  Separate your clothing into what are the best colors for you and what looks lousy. You might need to get a color analysis for this. (check the blog on color for tips).  Next with the pile that is complementary, separate that into what fits perfect and what doesn’t fit correctly place  into another.  With the pile that doesn’t fit, decide if it can be altered.  Check things like  shoulders, pant, skirt and sleeve lengths. If something can’t be let out  you might as well start a pile to give away.  Really good quality pieces you can check out selling  at an online auction or local consignment shop. Otherwise there are non-profits like Dress for Success and Goodwill.  If you are unsure if an item can be altered, check with your local tailor.  Often your local dry cleaner can provide some names.  Now from what is left, determine if you will really ever wear it again.  Do the same with the pile of clothing that fits well.  Will you really make use of that item?   Now you can start putting these items back in the closet.  As you do, create a chart of what you have and allow space for possible additions to make a piece of clothing work.

This is part of what a certified professional image consultant can do to help you create a truly workable wardrobe.  To learn more check out www.TheResourcePlace.com