Monday, March 7, 2016

Like a River

If you enjoy shopping or hate to get rid of anything, you probably have many items in your wardrobe.


Your closet should be like a river. If things are flowing in, some things need to flow out. It becomes overwhelming when there are too many choices, so I end up wearing the same thing all the time.


The guidelines below are used to help me determine when it is time to let go of something. I try to wear all the clothes in my closet in regular rotation. If they do not pass the test below, they get put into a to-go bag.

1. Is it a good quality item and not showing any wear?
2. Does it fit well and reflect the woman I am now?
3. Do I feel really great when I wear this?
4. Is it a style that flatters my shape?
5. Does it work with other items in my wardrobe?



Using these guidelines to purge as I dress daily means I do not ever have to spend a whole weekend purging my closet. It is a maintenance step that saves time and keeps my wardrobe from overflowing with items I put on and then take off never to wear.


This white stretch cotton crew-neck tee was supplied to me by J.Jill. I love the feel of this tee on my skin. It can comfortably be worn with or without the jacket. It is a great basic!

The jacket is several years old and starting to show its age, so it is on the way to Goodwill today. The little animal print bag is one that I found at Ross a few years ago. That, too, will be in the to-go bag.

The shoes are by BCBGeneration from Saks Off 5th. The jeans are by NYDJ, but I recently found them at T.J.Maxx for just $29.99! I only shop T.J.Maxx at the beginning of the seasons for the best selection.



I hope your weather is also becoming more spring-like each day!

13 comments:

rosary said...

I hope you replace that navy blazer. I love that clean, classic look! A nice change from the Chico's flowing tops.

Sensationalbabyboomers.com said...

Great transitional look from winter to spring. Something we are still waiting for here in cold England.
www.sensationalbabyboomers.blogspot.co.uk

Sensationalbabyboomers.com said...

Sensational baby boomers

Love the transitional look for winter to spring. Waiting for spring to appear in the UK

Jenny said...

I just discovered your blog and am absolutely loving it! You are beautiful with wonderful advice. Your outfits are great and the tips about wardrobe are really good. I've learned over the years (I'm in my late 30's now) to only purchase and wear what is flattering. This makes a huge difference. You are right about quality, as well. I have gotten decades of wear from classic, quality clothing, and while I never look like a trendsetter, I'm always classically in style. Looking forward to learning so much more from you.

I rediscovered caring about my appearance a few years ago, and it has made all the difference in my life. I'm a better person now -- better in all respects.

Thanks for your blog. You have a wonderful message.

Unknown said...

Hi I just love the way you put things together and it looks awesome. I still stress all the time about what to wear and how to wear it. I am always complemented on the way I look but it takes forever to get there mainly because I am partcially coloured blind I mix colours up all the time and I can figure out what colours go with what.

My biggest thing right now is I retired two years ago. I don't wear hardly anything in my work stuff but its classy stuff and at home I tend to wear jeans or leggings with a long top but complete it with ear rings and such and makeup. How am I going to purge what is in my closet What items to keep and what to throw away.

Also because I have been out of the office for 2 years I have not been wearing my heels. I am finding it hard now on my feet to wear them but oh they look so good especially with a pair of jeans :(. How do you do it?


Thanks for letting me vent
Roxy (58)

Elaine @ Following Augustine said...

I love your river analogy! Over the years, my closet was more like a stagnant pond! New items flowed in from time to time, but I had trouble with the outflow. I'm learning though. Thanks to you, Pam, Jennifer and a few other fashion bloggers, I now have a lot better idea what should stay in my closet and what should go.

I agree with Rosary. I love today's look on you and hope that you have a replacement for that blazer if you're moving it out.

Unknown said...

I love your style! But, I wonder if you could make suggestions on how to pull that outfit off with a lower shoe? I really have never been able to walk in heels, (wider feet) well at all not to mention to me they can be painful ugh. I hope you have a solution.
Thanks!

Susan said...

I have several other navy blue jackets so you will see similar looks here again.

Susan said...

Louise, here is a cute flat shoe that might work as a similar style for you. http://www.saksoff5th.com/estyn-lace-up-leather-point-toe-flats/0400089216337.html?scrollTo=3920&href=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.saksoff5th.com%2Fshoes-handbags-shoes-flats%3Fsz%3D60%26start%3D60%26srule%3DNew%2520Arrivals%23%3FscrollTo%3D3920%26href%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.saksoff5th.com%252Fshoes-handbags-shoes-flats%253Fsz%253D60%2526start%253D60%2526srule%253DNew%252520Arrivals

Unknown said...

Ah thank you good idea and on sale!

Unknown said...

Those jeans and those shoes...❤ And they look terrific on you!

Yvonne said...

I also fall into that habit of wearing the same things over and over, so my solution is to hang outfit combinations together. Now if I could only find a way to do that for all my jewelry!

Susan said...

Yvonne, You could hang the jewelry on the same hangers with the outfits, or put them in a Ziploc bag that you attach to the hangers as part of the combination.