My beef with New Year’s resolutions is that they are usually time consuming items that are set up to make you feel bad if you fail. Losing weight, starting an exercise regimen or meditation practice; these things require daily dedication, and are therefore challenging to fit into our busy work and family lives.
We at RLS believe that more people should be attempting “Fashion Resolutions” this time of year. I’ve come up with three Fashion Resolutions, each requiring a different amount of time to effect, but all saving you tons of time and stress in the long run.
Happy New Year!
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Lani’s Fashion Resolutions
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1. Wear What You Own
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We’ve all stood in front of the closet and thought, “There is so much in here, why do I keep shopping?” Also, I know I’m not the only one who loved maternity dressing just because of the limited options in my “capsule wardrobe.” The last month most of us are down to 3 or 4 outfits, which by then is pretty much all the decision making a pregnant woman can handle! Have you heard of Project 333, the minimalist fashion challenge that invites you to dress with 33 items or less for 3 months? And yes, that includes shoes and accessories (but not pajamas and underwear) 😉 . This is one option to minimize your fashion overwhelm. Another option is to just stop shopping. (I bought the Calvin Klein jacket I’m wearing in the above photo ten years ago, and it is still one of my most complemented articles of clothing!)
Have you read the much-forwarded article in the New York Times, “My Year of No Shopping” by Anne Patchett? I was at a holiday party the day after I read it and a woman there said that she and a friend were going to take on the challenge. Of course, some people never shop but probably should. 🙂 One of Mrs. Patchett’s main points was the amount of time she saved by not shopping. Imagine if all the time you spent shopping/hunting around for the perfect *fill in the blank*, was yours to use for another endeavor? Or just to sit around do nothing?
This is how I feel about special occasion shopping. There are certain events which require a new outfit, such as your own wedding, your first trip to the Oscars, or your child’s bar or bat mitzvah. However, someone else’s wedding or bar or bat mitzvah should not send you into a tailspin. My personal rule of thumb is to always have three or four nice dresses in my closet that I can pull out for such occasions at any time. And when I find a cocktail dress I love, I buy it without guilt, knowing the time it will save me later when I do have an event. In fact, I have a big event this weekend but I’m not spending hours on the “Rent the Runway” website, worrying that my first-choice dress will get cancelled at the last minute, or trying to shop in-store in the crazy cold weather. Instead, I’ll set aside 30 minutes to get dressed right before the event, knowing that one of my mainstays will fit and feel like the right outfit for that night. Until then, no worries.
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2. Create a New You
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Do you not have reliable, ready-to-go outfits in your closet? Then make some! Create a Pinterest board of your favorite looks, then re-create them with clothes you own or buy. Or, hire a personal stylist to help you create a new, intentional wardrobe you love! Just do it! This relatively little amount of work will save you so much time, energy and money on a daily basis. Actually, to connect back to our first fashion resolution, if you create a wardrobe you love with ready-to-go outfits, you won’t need to shop (or worry about your wardrobe!) in between seasons.
Ready to ask for help? Email me at lani@real-life-style.com to inquire about a free 30 minute phone consultation.
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3. Clear Your Clutter
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Are you not even sure what is in your wardrobe after all this time? Are you sure there is good stuff in there, but you can’t see the forest for the trees? Or are you afraid to buy more until you make some space and gain some clarity about what you actually have and truly need? Then give yourself a Wardrobe Makeover. Pull every single piece of clothing out of your closet and ask yourself if it fits and flatters (and is in good shape) before you put it back. Organize what is left in categories and by color so you can see what you do and don’t have/need. We all have one area where we blindly keep purchasing and one we have completely neglected. Going through this process will help you figure out which is which in your closet.
Again, Kyle and I are here if you need help! You can hire us as a team or Kyle individually at a lower rate.
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What are your Fashion Resolutions this year? Reply to our newsletter email to speak with me directly or post on our Facebook page to share with the whole RLS community!
Lani Inlander is a personal stylist who has been working with clients who want to feel their best and look put-together every day for 20 years. You can find her in the Washington, D.C. and New York metropolitan areas. Are you looking for professional training to be a personal stylist? Click here to learn how you can train with Lani at The Stylist Studio.
You can find Lani Inlander and Real Life Style on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram.
