Revamping Your Closet

Posted by: Rachel Johnson// Randi Vasquez Photography

I love shopping. No, really, it's one of my "hobbies" that I put down on paper when you have to include a hobby for something and you never really know what to put down. Some of my favorite shops include local boutiques like Off the Rack, River City Apparel, and Luxe. My favorite national brands are Zara, H&M, Anthropologie, and Forever 21. Now, you may be completely opposite of me and actually loathe shopping. When I worked for a personal shopper, I met many women who despised it and preferred to hire someone to shop for them (which I'll gladly do for you, just message me). But what all women do have in common is a closet full of outfits waiting to be discovered.

Another "hobby" I thoroughly enjoy is exploring women's closets to help them put together fresh outfits that they normally would not consider putting together. It thrills me when I receive a compliment from a women saying, "Oh, I love your outfit! I would have never thought to put those items together!" Ladies, this can be challenging; however, with a couple of hours, a glass of wine and some creative juices, you may be surprised as to how many NEW outfits you have in your closet that you may initially never put together.

I was reminded last week when I was trying to figure out what the heck I was going to wear to work that I needed to actually explore my closet rather than being an OR (outfit repeater) every other week at the office. I pulled out this coral skirt I've had for a couple years and instead of pairing it with a simple black or white top, I chose a navy striped top. What brought the outfit together was my accessory that played with the colors of my skirt and top and really tied the look together. I had that sort of reaction like, "Hmmm, I think I have a new outfit to wear to work!" It makes you feel giddy, and suddenly you receive compliments like, "Oooh, cute outfit!"

So if you're feeling down about your clothes and need some inspiration without breaking the bank, here are a few suggestions for revamping your closet.(FYI, this takes time, so make the time and you'll be happy you did it!):

1. Lay out your typical outfit pairings. I.e. you always wear ___ skirt with ___ shirt

2. After you've done this, try mixing and matching the tops and bottoms or dresses and blazers.

3. Hint, color blocking is always trendy, so try pairing two bright solids or a solid with a fun print.

4. Mix up the accessories. Add a scarf or jewelry that you wouldn't normally pair with one of your outfits. Think outside the box on this one!

5. Ignore the faux pas. Navy and black CAN work together. Brown and black DO match. Ugh, who makes these "rules" anyway?!

6. Finally, remember that confidence is key. Sometimes, I do question if my outfit makes sense, but I never let anyone know it. Those are the days that I usually receive the best compliments. Happy closet shopping!

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