My Closet Cleanup remains the most popular service I offer, for many reasons…

Living among clutter leads to a cluttered mind, and your closet is no exception. The average woman wears 20% of her clothes, 80% of the time. I encourage my clients to have fewer, well-selected pieces that work beautifully for their body types rather than a closet full of clothes that don’t work.

Organizational experts say that everything in our lives should be beautiful or useful. And getting dressed is SO much easier when your closet is pared down to just the garments that make you look and feel great!!

Many women keep clothing from years ago that may no longer fit or reflect their current style. The key is to honor who you are right now – not who you were 10 years or 10 pounds ago.

In your closet, as in life, you need to get rid of the bad in order to make room for the good. Your wardrobe should always reflect who you are and where you want to go. Ill-fitting, unflattering, guilt-inducing garments do not deserve valuable real estate in your closet.

YOU get to decide how you want to feel each morning when you open those closet doors.

Take a look at the contents of your closet. How do you feel when you see all your clothes? Overwhelmed? Guilty? Uninspired? Dated? Cluttered?

Would you prefer to feel at ease, inspired, stylish, and uniquely you?

In order to create a relaxed environment from which to select your clothes, you must pare down and get rid of everything that isn’t making you feel happy and confident.

Your goal is to make room for a closet full of clothes that you will wear ALL the time.

Want to DIY a Closet Cleanup? Here are my tips…

To get started, set up 4 piles: one for donations, one for alterations, one for trash (underwear, socks with holes, etc.), and one for sentimental items that aren’t worn regularly but you may want to keep (to be stored elsewhere!) Next, take everything out of your closet by genre (pants, tops, dresses, etc.)

Then, ask yourself the following questions:

Does it fit me?

If you haven’t worn it in the last 3-6 months, you must try it on. We are not here to guess on fit, we are here to know for sure. If the garment fits, it makes it through to the next question. If it doesn’t fit, consider whether it can be tailored, and if that cost is worth it. For example, a hem is a cheap alteration, but if pants are a size too big, that is a more expensive one.

Does it flatter me?

Many a pair of pants will fit you but not flatter you. As a client of mine used to say, “they go on”. Just because pants “go on” your body does not mean they make you look good. Let’s raise the bar of expectations for your clothes! They should be working for you and your body.

Does it make me feel fabulous?

Hopefully if something fits and flatters you, it will also make you feel fab. However, certain garments may be outdated or just no longer reflect your current look. Too many women keep clothing from years ago that may no longer fit or suit their evolved style.

Would I buy it again if I saw it in a store today?

This is my favorite question to ask clients when they are having trouble making a decision. It reminds them to let go of the past and honor their present size, shape, and style.

If you answer no to any of the above questions, donate, alter, or trash the item.

(If you personally would not want the item due to substantial tears, stains, or scuffs, throw it in the trash pile.)

If you must hold on to some garments that have sentimental value, pack them safely into a bin that can be stored elsewhere. The idea is to create an active closet, one that is full of clothes you wear all the time.

WHEN YOU’RE DONE:

> Put everything you are keeping back in your closet according to category (shirts, pants, dresses, etc.)

> Simplify your “getting ready process” by organizing by color within each category. This will make your closet look more like a boutique, and changing the way you arrange your clothes will also help you notice garments you would normally pass by.

> Take all garments out of their dry cleaning bags (they deprive your clothes of oxygen and can cause the fabric to deteriorate).

> Hang up as much as possible so you can “shop” your closet with most items in the same place

> Get rid of wire hangers. They damage your clothes, create shoulder puckers, etc. I recommend velvet covered hangers like Huggable Hangers.

> Use matching hangers and hang everything in one direction.

Need some help or want to book a shopping trip? Contact me!

Yep, I’m totally over those same cozy-stretchy-not very flattering pjs and sweats I used to rush home to with heart eyes after a regular work day, BC*.

Turns out that months of constant wearing has made me not only sick of my clothes, but sick of how they make me feel.

Pj’s at my desk in the morning are cozy, but once mid-day hits, I feel BLAH.

I don’t dare suggest we all wake up, shower, get dressed, do our hair/makeup/whatever. Because truthfully, right now, that’s too big of a leap.

Maybe you’ll join me in taking a baby step. I’m going to stick with the coffee in my pjs at my desk for the morning routine. It can be quite a delicious start to the day. But – knowing I don’t feel good after a few hours, I’m going to at least put on workout wear around lunchtime.

The bonus to this plan? Wearing athletic clothes makes you more likely to work out. (Try it out for yourself if you’re hoping to avoid (or remediate!) the quarantine 15.)

You can learn more about this concept here.

In a nutshell? Researchers have found that wearing gym clothes makes it more likely that you will actually exercise, which may happen because wearing workout gear acts as a reminder to make healthy choices.

On days I’m not going to exercise, I may even put on “real clothes” (note: practically anything goes these days). A pair of jeans and a tee make me feel like a superstar.

So if I buy anything right now, it’s going to be (stretchy, of course) new jeans (current faves below), a tee or two and some new workout wear (so I don’t continue to want to burn mine).

Even though most of us see hardly anyone, you can dress for yourself and see how you feel, if you hold yourself differently at your desk or during a zoom call or on a walk with the kids.

We are up against something massive here, and it will require some resistance, but I am a fan of baby steps as they are attainable and not too overwhelming.

So, it’s your friendly neighborhood stylist here, suggesting you (kind of) get dressed, for about half the day, and see how it goes. Maybe later I’ll push you a bit harder. Stay tuned

XO,

Jill

*Before Coronavirus

Can We Zoom? 

Executive Presence, Professional Image, And Impactful Communication In A Virtual World

Your ability to convey executive presence and communicate effectively is more important than ever. From “hybrid outfits” to macroexpressions, learn the dos and don’ts of effective virtual communication while conveying confidence and building trust with colleagues and clients.

We will cover:

Setting the Stage: Ensuring a Great First Impression

The Power Skills: Body Language and Facial Expressions

Dressing the Part: The Science of What You Wear

Effective Virtual Communication: Best Practices

Participants will be able to: make a powerful first impression online, build trust and empathy virtually, project a professional “Zoom” image, and communicate with clarity and impact on video calls.

This session is 45-60 minutes plus Q&A and presented via (what else?!?) Zoom.

Visit my speaking page to hear what audiences say about my talks and contact me to schedule a live presentation for your group!

This image sums up my current fantasy – a relaxed and casual but pretty kimono perfect paired with a tiki bar and fruity cocktail.

Wear with your favorite denim cutoffs and funky sneakers (like these that I featured last week) or dress it up with white jeans and a white tank broken up by a metallic belt and hoop earrings.

Easy, comfy and stylish.

For all those tropical vacations we have to look forward to.

Ironically, I hardly ever have time to shop for myself, so this is it – I’ll notice pieces as I’m shopping for clients or browsing online, and keep a mental inventory of it all. The things I can’t stop thinking about make the cut!

(You can see past Friday Favorites, here.)

As the weather gets warmer, I’m a sucker for all things white, and this open weave sweater will be sweet with a pair of distressed jeans and these Steve Madden sneakers, (a fun alternative to the $500+(!) Golden Goose sneakers I won’t be buying)… In case you hadn’t noticed, it’s all about the sneakers right now. Pair them in outfits you might normally dress up, and you’ll create a youthful casualness that is right on trend.

Speaking of which, try a chunky white sneaker with this jumpsuit – or keep it dressy with a nude strappy heel. This garment is a super bargain compared to the designer version I recently found and fell in love with. I’ll wear it with a denim jacket until it’s warm enough to wear on it’s own for summer nights. Such a fun alternative to a dress!

NBC’s Studio 10 had me in to talk about it. Scroll down for video.

A few things I’ve seen in my travels that have made their way either into my closet or onto my wish list…

The swimsuit: Proof that a one-piece can still be sexy, this Maaji bathing suit with deep plunge has a fun combination of patterns and somehow shows a little but not too much!

The denim skirt: I love a denim skirt as a cute alternative to dreaded shorts in summer. So many of my clients tell me they hate shorts and with good reason – it is very difficult to find some that flatter.

The handbag: I LOVE this color and though I don’t wear much of it, I’d let this bag be my outfit’s statement piece.

The belt: Metallics are the neutral that go with everything, and they add some needed shine to your summer wardrobe. Bonus: this belt is stretchy and allows for the summer imbibing that may occur while wearing it

The shoe: These sandals are replacing my favorite gold gladiators from a couple of years ago that I wore mercilessly. I bought these and painted mine (with fabric paint!) a more muted gold because they were a little too shiny for me. Love them.

Want something for yourself? You can shop these pieces here.

Do you like my Friday Favorites?  Check out more here!

This post contains some affiliate links, which means that any purchases made through such links will result in a small commission for me (at no extra cost for you). Please note that I only recommend looks that I personally love and always have the best interests of my clients and readers in mind.

I admit it.  Friday Favorites has become my wish list. Some of which I may have already bought for myself

As the weather warms up, (and then says, “just kidding!”) layer my favorite denim jacket over a lightweight sweater and pair those stripes with Sanctuary camo pants. Though it may be chilly, the white scarf says spring…

Throw in a metallic shoe, any metallic shoe (I don’t discriminate) and some hoops, and you have a great weekend casual look.

Remove a layer or two and you’re good when the sun shines.

I already know I’ll be wearing this ensemble a little too much this spring!

You can shop these pieces here.

Do you like my Friday Favorites?  Check out more here.

This post contains affiliate links, which means that any purchases made through such links will result in a small commission for me (at no extra cost for you). Please note that I only recommend looks that I personally love and always have the best interests of my clients and readers in mind.