Go shopping in your own closet

image from rchappo2002


At the beginning of August I always start to feel like the hype of summer is over and have a harder time finding inspiration in my wardrobe, don't you? Everything in the shops looks tired and unappealing, it's harder to justify the purchase of a new summer piece I might not get a lot of wear out of, fall clothing starts to be on my mind...mostly, I'm just really sick of looking at all the knee-high gladiators parading around the city.

At these transition times, I find spending an afternoon digging around my closet is a better idea than hitting the sales. My strategy is to take "organizing" and turn it into "creating," so if you try any of this out you'll hopefully leave the room with a clean closet and a few fresh outfits.

Step 1: Get inspired. This is the most important part. Spend two days doing this before attacking your closet if you need to. Read blogs, visit forums and communities, check the fall collections at Style.com, buy your fave fashion mag (the first crisp fall issue, not the leftover summer ones!). Save a pile of images that inspire you.

Step 2: Review your inspirations and think about colour. One major element that makes the next season's offerings look fresh is the use of colour. Look for interesting new colour combinations in your inspiration photos. I was particularly struck by the combinations in Proenza Schouler's Fall 08 collection - mustard and purple! Navy, burgundy and a smidge of yellow! Now, run to your closet and dig around for items in these colourways. Put em together. Presto.

Step 3: Think about texture and proportion. If many of your inspiration photos are neutrals or all black, this is a good exercise to try. Group together all your similarly toned black clothing and think about how it could be layered or re-tailored (slimmer pants? shorter dress?) or cheaply embellished (patches, military details, new buttons, bows) to evoke a new silhouette or fall style that intrigues you. Match fabrics in similar tones with different textures - I like head to toe grey right now.

Step 4: Pull out all the things in your closet and drawers that you love but haven't been able to work into your wardrobe yet, as well as your oldest and forgotten favorites. Match these with your newest purchases. See what works.

Step 5: Create some glorious transition outfits for September with any floral items you picked up this summer, as they will still be looking fresh this fall. Consider wearing your heavy winter boots with a summer floral dress and a cropped cardigan. Pair black or grey tights with a pale floral print like this. (isn't she just so devastatingly perfect looking? All the time?)

Keep a notepad on hand and jot down the combination of elements in the new outfits you've created. Also keep a separate list for needs that occur to you as you try things on - a practical shopping list for items you might want to buy eventually to work with pieces you already own.

Now, if you've done this correctly, you should have a massive pile of clothing strewn all over the house. Be organized when you put it away - skirts with skirts, dresses with dresses, similar colors hung together. Keep a bag on hand to toss items you know you're through with to be donated to a thrift shop. Do some ironing so you actually get wear out of wrinkly items you never have time to deal with in the morning.

Ta-da! Hope you had fun...