Fall/Winter Wardrobe Planning
September 2005


Fall is the time of year that I like best to rearrange my closet and make room for the winter clothes. The urge to try to bring order out of chaos this time of year may actually be scientifically based. According to Dr. Abby Calisch, professor of psychology at Argosy University , Dallas explains, "The need for organizing or cleaning may be related to changes in light and the circadian rhythm." Days get shorter and people are driven to prepare the home for survival, similar to animal hibernation. For a less scientific explanation, fall and winter items tend to be bulkier and require more space. If you are lucky enough to have a large closet to keep everything in one spot, then you can simply shift the winter items to the front. For many of us, this process requires two closets, one of which is usually in another room.

Now I know that we have all heard the rule of thumb, "If you haven't worn an item in a year, get rid of it." I don't subscribe to that philosophy because of fashion trends changing so quickly now. Plus, if you've become a smarter shopper, many of your clothes are classics and don't necessarily go in and out of style. So what I recommend is to systematically go through your closet and make a determination based on the style principles that we have been discussing over the last several months:

1.  Does it fit properly? Forget about your promise to lose ten pounds - if you have been at the same weight for two years, you are probably going to stay there. Get rid of anything that is too big (yeah, right), or too small.

2.  Is it of good quality? Garments that bag and sag are generally made from inexpensive fabrics and don't hold up well throughout the day. If it shows wear or has obvious stains, it's gotta go. If it is an item that you absolutely love and can be altered to make it more functional (i.e., adding a lining or interfacing can oftentimes add enough stability), then get it fixed.

3.  Does it flatter your figure shape? Remember the four basic body shapes: hourglass, triangle, inverted triangle, or rectangle. Dress to conceal the negatives and accentuate the positives.

4.  Does it flatter your proportion? Are you short, tall, large or small? The weight, drape, texture and cut of your clothes can flatter or frighten. Too-long skirts and too-full pant legs are worth altering if they are of good quality and fit.

5.  Is it in your color family? Winter-Summer (cool colors) and Fall-Spring (warm colors).

6.  Does it fit your personal style? Classic, sporty natural, drama queen or romantic.

Rules number one and two are absolute musts. Items three through six are merely guidelines. As we've discussed, we can often offset a less than perfect style by the way in which we pair it with other items. For example, colors outside your family can be worn in small doses or not close to your face. A jacket that by itself may be too long can be paired with a shorter skirt to create a more flattering proportion. Before you decide to keep or toss a questionable item, think about ways you can wear it. If you have existing items in your wardrobe that can be paired with the garment to make it work, keep if. If it requires you to buy an item new to make it acceptable, toss it.

Don't forget to go through your accessories at the same time. My husband told me years ago that good shoes are a necessity for men, so I've tried to maintain that same philosophy. Check to see if there is wear on the soles and heels. If it is a great leather pump and is not scuffed, take to a cobbler for repair. If they are worn or out of style, get rid of them. Shoes, unlike jewelry, take up a great deal of space. Even so, I did finally manage to get rid of several necklaces this year that I realized looked dated and inexpensive.

Now it's time to organize. Some women like to group by colors, others like to group by items - all the blouses together, all dresses in the same place. There are others that organize by occasion - special events/evening, work/career, and casual. Whatever works for you, just make sure you can find everything quickly. Stacked rods are a quick fix for doubling the space. Pull-out shelves can be a wonderful addition. If you are do-it-yourselfer, home improvement stores can provide you with a closet organizing system. If you need help, closet organizing companies abound.

However you decide to approach the process of wardrobe rejuvenation, when it is completed, you can look at your closet with pleasure and confidence knowing that you do have "Something to wear!"

When Fashion Trends Die

I found this article on the Internet ( http://fashion.about.com/od/latestreands/a/trendover.htm ) about the cycle of fashion and I thought it was very interesting.

1. The Emerging Trend. The American Marketing Association refers to this as the "distinctiveness" part of the cycle, where the trend is highly sought after. You know this when you see something new on TV, the red carpet, or fashion shows (generally available only to celebrities and fashion industry types.)

2. The Emulation Phase. Everyone wants a piece of the trend. You see it in fashion magazine, newspapers, and Internet (higher priced designer collections).

3. The Saturation Phase. The item is now everywhere and has become affordable with low market pricing or designer knock-offs.