Closet Karma by Kara Kurcz

THE BOMB BEFORE BAJA

2009-12-01T22:00:00-08:00

The first thing people do when they come to my house is run to my closet... everyone wants to know what sort of 'karma" does it hold. Well, even I have bad days... It is Thanksgiving week, my in-laws are in town and I am rushing to a rendezvous on the Mexican Riviera and a bomb has detonated in my closet.

Note the forbidden wire hanger from the dry cleaners and my Arden B leather jacket. And the classique entier blazer just popping up begging to go on my cruise.

CAUGHT RED HANDED!

Teresa discovers a JCrew cardigan on my closet floor... GASP! Even KK has her bad closet days!!

REDEMPTION

Teresa is relieved to realize my accessories are still in order!... PHEW! I haven't lost all face!

DON'T BE THE WARDEN OF YOUR WARDROBE!

2009-11-25T17:44:00-08:00

We are our own worse critics. That is why during the Holidays, when it comes to our closet, we consider it GUILTY until proven INNOCENT!

We judge our jeans after too much of Aunt Jenny's jello. We condemn our coat when it's 0 degrees Celsius outside. And we damn our dresses if they are not designer.

Yes, ‘Tis the Season...

...to Disapprove of our Duds.

This year try not to be the warden of your wardrobe. STOP passing judgment! So what if you can't jam yourself into your favorite jeans for one day? Don't set yourself up to fail. Have a great outfit ready and waiting that you CAN fit into comfortably after all that turkey.

Weather outside is frightful?

---Then pick a great scarf out that makes you feel delightful!

You’re worried about recycling that red dress from last years X-Mas party?

---Dig through some fashion magazines and find a fun new look that you can mimic with your hair and makeup.

Try wearing bold accessories! The holidays are fun and your closet is not the enemy. It is time to retire your gavel and reconcile. Give yourself a break this Holiday. Have fun! Relax! And ENJOY!

YOU'RE ONE HOT HOLIDAY TAMALE!

DATING YOUR CLOSET

2009-11-13T09:47:45-08:00

Your closet is just like a personal relationship...

There are times when you flash a nasty glance out of the corner of your eye towards it hoping no one catches you.
There are days when you feel like ignoring it because you hope the issue at hand will just disappear.
And there are moments when your heart skips a beat and rejoices as you lock eyes with it.

Your closet can make you feel happy, sad, angry, overwhelmed, worthy and/or perplexed. Name an emotion and I guarantee, at some moment in your life, you have felt it.

SO WHY IS IT THAT WE NEVER TREAT OUR WARDROBE OR CLOSET SPACE LIKE WE WOULD A RELATIONSHIP?

One of the hardest things to do in any relationship is "lose our expectations." It's not fair to EXPECT something or someone else to make us feel better. We have to rely on our selves for that.

Just like with your interpersonal relationships in life, the relationship with your closet needs to ebb and flow. When you feel anger or resentment, take a step back and think ... what was your part? Are you taking the time to get to know your closet? What clothes make you feel great? What clothes do you need to stop gravitating to? When we have been with someone for a really long time you need to find ways to rediscover your relationship. Your closet is no different.

Don't dismiss things just because you've never tried it before.
Don't ignore a problem and hope it goes away.
And don't have predetermined notions of how your closet is going to make you feel.

Look at it every day with fresh eyes and an open mind. And next time your closet evokes an unexpected emotion from you...take a deep breath...step back and think...do you really want to turn this into a fight?

GABBING ABOUT RECYCLED GARB

2009-10-21T11:40:33-07:00

A Closet Karma Cutie has the "gift of gab" especially when it comes to gossiping about her garb! So when my inbox got flooded with emails from one Fashionista fawning over a new fall find...I knew it was my duty to divulge...

After several months of searching, Wanda finally landed an executive level position at a PR company...the only problem was...her closet! The recession had put it through the ringer. All that was left was a lump of pants, a pile of pumps and everything else...to put it nicely... was "frump". Wanda's wallet was in a pinch, so what was she to do? She knew she couldn't afford any designer duds brand new. So she ran to her lap top to see what she could find...a news caster's website it turns out was her goldmine.

That is right ladies, tvnewscloset.com is where Wanda revamped her wardrobe. It is a consignment site primarily for news casters and TV personalities, but, lucky for us the majority of clothes fall into "business and business casual". The site is very easy to navigate. The prices are fair and while the selection can be thin at times there are some great gets!

When I started to dig around I also found 2chicksconsignment.com in the same price range.

And if your looking to be the bell of the ball with some higher end goods or gowns check out these web consignment sites.

runwayclothesconsignment.com

vickissecret.com

turnaboutshoppe.com

Just remember when shopping consignment the same Closet Karma rules apply. Know your material and know your budget. Don't let anyone else tell you what a steal is!!!

Have a delightful time digging up some good deals!

xoxo KK

"KISS" IT GOODBYE? Or "KISS" IT HELLO?

2009-10-08T20:44:37-07:00

At Closet Karma we are always looking for great new products that will make fashion for the hustle and bustle gal more accessible. When my dear friend told me about KISS nails, I thought, could it true?

Although it has taken over 2 decades...was KISS the evolution we had been waiting for since the Lee Press-on of 1989?? I am not going to lie, I was skeptical. The mere thought of gluing anything onto my nail bed made me break out in a cold sweat. Flashbacks from science class after senior prom haunted me... my lab partner Tim taunted me for weeks...everyday I came to lab with one less nail attached. I was stuck between a rock and hard place...literally...the glue was rock solid and if I pulled too hard my real nail started to come off!! All I could do was patiently wait as little by little the nails chipped off.

My friend (I will call her Betty ) assured me KISS nails are different. She said everyone at work was talking about how great her nails looked and they thought they were real! Now my friend is surrounded by media people everyday and she is probably one of the most active people I know. If her peeps were fooled by these KISS nails, then I had to try them! I hate getting my nails done so what sealed the deal for me was that the box said they last 10 days. Plus they are just under $5.00 a set!!

I couldn't go at this challenge alone. So I recruited my college roomie Carolyn to join me in the challenge. She and I were attending our Alma mater football game (Go Hawkeyes!) that weekend and we decided if these nails could last through a weekend of tailgating and mayhem , then they could withstand any challenge!

The application was easy. But the glue smelled reminiscent of my high school nightmare...this made Carolyn and I a little nervous. However, the actual color of the nails was fantastic! The choices weren't Escort Red or Princess Pink. The actual nails seemed much easier to file as well. They were a lot thinner than fake nails of the past and they just had a more "real" appearance.

About 4 hours into our experiment the nails became...restless...

We arrived at a pub around 8pm and by 8:30 my thumb had popped off during a handshake...or... was it a tequila shot?

Ahh, things may have been hazy by that time...but I do remember the nail popping off onto the bar...UMM...EMBARASSING!?!

I quickly ran to the bathroom and re-glued without anyone noticing. By 10pm Carolyn had three rascals lose on her right hand... we quickly re-glued and crisis was averted.

While we both were annoyed at the fact 10 days had turned into 6 hours, we agreed the nails were fooling people and "heck they looked pretty!"

That night we headed to bed and I awoke with 4 casualties on my right hand. I decided to give up and pop off the rest of the nails. This was much easier than I had remembered, but my actual nails were defeated by the treacherous smelly glue.

Carolyn decided to take her complete set to town. We left the house at 9:30am and through a football game and tailgate her nails were in pristine condition. The glue seemed to start loosening about 10 hours later, and yes my friends not one, BUT TWO of her nails popped off! At 9 pm I glanced at her hand and immediately had a post prom flash back...I knew where this outcome was rapidly heading. WHY GOD WHY?!!

Our conclusion was, this town ain't big enough for two tailgatin', beer drinkin', Hawkeye cheerin', textin', ladies wearing not so favorable press on nails. So we outlawed the obvious. SEE YA NAILS! However, for the experienced press on and acrylic loving ladies out there this might not be a bad get. They do look very real and the colors are lush. Just so you know, the nail recovery time will be at least a week if you decide you want to "KISS" it goodbye.

FALL INTO THIS SEASON WITH GRACE

2009-10-01T13:54:13-07:00

Early autumn can be a tricky time. You are faced with the question,"what to wear"? But with all these big bulky items coming out to play, the bigger question becomes, "what should go"?

Everyone gets separation anxiety. It can be triggered by the loss of your favorite pair of sandals or packing up your marvelous maxi dress...put the panic button on pause. It's just time for these items to take their vacation.

WHAT TO PACK AWAY: Shorts, Maxi dresses, sun dresses, sandals, flip flops, hot weather tanks/tube tops, summer skirts, and, floral or summer prints.

But your Summer wardrobe isn't always a waste in the winter! Many items can be a fabulous foundation for your fall frocks.

WHAT TO KEEP: Jeans, basic t-shirts that can be layered under fall garb, tanks that can be building blocks, scarves, hoodies, shrugs, cardigans, blouses and leggings. Also remember 90% of accessories are year-round so make sure to maximize the use of your belts, bags and jewelry when possible!

So slip gracefully into fall so you can focus on sipping on a cup of hot apple cider and not sifting through your closet. -KK

SWEATING THE SWEATER SEASON

2009-09-18T05:16:49-07:00

Dear KK,

Fall is my favorite season! But the thought of dealing day in and day out with the sweater shelf in my closet leaves me wishing I could just spring forward to spring. Do you have any advice on how to avoid an avalanche every time I attempt to grab a sweater off the top shelf?

-Sweating the Sweater Season

Dear Triple S,

I find that sweaters are one of the "hard to let go" items in a woman's closets. First of all, they are nostalgic. The cardigan you wore when you met "Carl" reminds you of your first kiss. The ten turtlenecks sitting on your top shelf make you feel fuzzy at first glance. And then there is the word "sweater". It is such a broad term. Now a days a sweater could be considered a zippy, a hoodie, a pull over,a jersey and even a turtle neck!

Finally, sweaters are seasonal and they tend to be bulky...which means they find an inconvenient home on your top shelf. There they sit, staring at you all spring. And 70% of them just end up collecting dust . Suddenly, that cozy cardigan has just turned into a closet catastrophe.

So what to do? Well, first of all, you need to change your attitude towards your apparel. Think of each article of clothing as an emotion. Remember your wardrobe represents who you are...so you need to take an inventory of what is going on with you. Take time to sift through each sweater. How does it make you feel? Are you happy? Are you excited to wear it? Does it make you feel secure? If you find you have no positive emotion associated with an item... it needs to go. Now let's say you find sweaters that make you feel safe and secure? ... well, then treat them as such... throwing your security on the top shelf where you can never reach it is like purposely losing your house keys. You need to find a place in your closet that is accessible for your sweaters. This will take a little work and you will have to rethink your closet arrangement every fall. Try putting items you won't wear until spring into bins. Then place those bins on your top shelf making space to hang sweaters in your closet. I know hanging sweaters can be tricky but there are lots of affordable and fun ways to do it. As you know, I am a big fan of Joy Mangano's options, her sweater hangers actual work. They don't bend or crease the sweater. She also has several great cubbies that you can use to hang in your closet.

Also look for liquidation sales at organizational stores if you surf the internet you can find lots of great deals on discounted items for your closet.

Have fun with the process and don't be afraid to 'keep things hanging'!

-KK

The Fundamentals of Fabric

2009-09-09T20:09:54-07:00

HOW TO LEARN THE FUNDAMENTALS OF FABRIC IN A NOT SO FAB ECONOMY:

Just like you wouldn’t shop at Home Depot for organic produce you can’t go sifting through the deeply discounted aisle and be upset when you find low quality synthetic fibers. Your wallet, your closet and YOU need to be in sync before you even step out the door. To align your shopping senses start with three basic building blocks:

1.) What is your budget? Free websites like are a great resources.

2.) What do you need? (Remember, NEED VS. WANT -- there is a big difference) We all want a fabulous new wardrobe for fall, but when looking at your budget, you need to figure out what you need.

3.) How long do you expect this item to last? For example, if you are planning to look fabulous at your ex-boyfriend’s wedding…and all you care about is being the Belle of the Ball for one night, then it is perfectly acceptable to buy what I call a "one wear/one wash” item. BUT, if you need a new dress for fall that has to get you through two weddings, a company party, and a bar mitzvah, then you better make sure you’re getting the best bang for your buck.

There are two types of fibers: Natural and Synthetic

Natural of course are things like silk,cotton and wool
Synthetic fabrics include Polyester, acrylic and Lycra

Natural fibers are normally the most expensive and the best quality, but in an economy such as this, it’s tough to afford the quality that you want at the price that you need. So the most important thing is to shop smart!

YOU MUST BE A MASTER OF MATERIALS!

You don’t need to be a scientist to figure out that certain materials look and feel better on your shape. So start by simply examining the garment. Just paying attention to the “fit” can be the first clue to the quality of the material.

Does it tug in areas like the armpit or waist? That can be a sign that even the stitch is cheaper.
Is the material transparent? Hold the material up to the light. Can you see your hand through the shirt?
What is the quality of smoothness? Run you r hands over the material -- even scratch it a little, will it easily snag?

PAY ATTENTION TO THE LABEL!

Where is the location of the fiber label? This can be a big quality clue! Some of the cheaply made garments tend to hide the fiber content label in areas that are not easily seen.

-Checking the Fiber Content -- 80% natural 20% synthetic -- is usually your best bet but checking out the ratios you will get a good idea of the quality of the fabric. Learn what made fibers shrink versus what fibers may fade or bleach.

KNOW YOUR SHOPPING ENVIRONMENT!

The bottom line is...if your wallet is hurting, so are the stores. Store buyers are desperate to find low-priced items with a high market value, just like the consumer is desperate for a deal. Shopping smart will not only make you feel more satisfied, it will send a message to the stores that you demand quality.

The influx of cheap cookie-cutter products from overseas being sold at 5 x their valued price is a huge trend right now. It’s putting the independent designer out of business. It is up to the individual to decide if that is OK or not!

I am all for buying a $35.00 dress, and if it falls apart after one or two wears, so be it! It was a great deal and I got my money’s worth! BUT, if I purchase a $78.00 dress whose material and cost was probably the same as the $35.00 dress, and I chose to NOT read the label, then SHAME. ON. ME. To me, it makes much more sense mathematically to wait and save up $150.00 to buy a higher quality garment down the road then to impulse buy the $78.00 .

2009-09-02T05:09:40-07:00

Dear KK,

I don't have the luxury of a separate closet for my purses and shoes? Like many women, I'm more addicted to buying footwear and/or handbags. I want to make my purses as easily accessible as my shoes and clothes as you know purses are an equally important part of a woman's wardrobe as anything else.

-Terrorized By My Need to Accessorize

Dear Terrorized,

In a perfect world if the fashion fairy were to grant one closet wish what would be? A.) A bigger closet? B.) Unlimited Bag Buying or C.)Both

If your answer is A.) you probably need to reassess your accessory situation.

If your answer is B.) You probably need to reassess your accessory situation.

If your answer is C.) You DEFINITELY need to reassess your accessory situation.

I like to think of shopping like eating. It is a basic need for me and I am not ashamed to admit it. When I have a healthy relationship with my closet, my wallet and my favorite stores... I return home not only feeling fulfilled but happy! When I choose to make poor choices and ignore what my fashion diet...I come home feeling depressed, bloated.. and full of regret. If you are looking at your closet and it's overstuffed and underused there is something much bigger than organization going on... "your eyes are bigger than your stomach!" If you are not using it, it needs to go!

Anything that sits there for longer than a year is like the ding dong waiting to throw a wrench in Just like counting calories you have to know your maximum intake in order to get the best results. Clear out the unwanted and the unused. But keep the accessories that excite you and make you feel like a million bucks -- but don't COST a million bucks.

Shopping is not a negative thing. Fashion is fabulous as long as all aspects of your life are in line. Your wallet, your closet and YOU have to be in-sync. If you love handbags and shoes, wouldn't it be more fun to resell shoes you are not wearing so you can afford and bring home a new pair of Jimmy Choos...

AND ACTUALLY HAVE SPACE ON YOUR SHELF! And once you have cleared your closet's karma you can get creative how you display your shoes and bags if there is still no room. Think of your accessories like art and have fun displaying them. If there is no clutter, you will be proud to show your masterpieces off!

Enjoy your Fashion Renaissance!

PREFALL FUN

2009-08-27T05:10:00-07:00

DON'T FALL APART 'CUZ FALL IS AROUND THE CORNER

It’s the end of summer and you’re restless to revive last season’s rags…

You wake up in the middle of the night drooling over a dream.... a man delivered you a darling Dior dress…Prada pumps…and…a black American Express Card! You try hard to fall back asleep...no dice! So you crawl to the kitchen to make a pot of “Joe” and that’s when reality sets in. “OH NO!!” Fall fashion is just around the corner and you’re BUMMED about your Budget!

Cheer up Butter Cup! Here are some fabulous finds under $50 that will fuel your fashion needs for "prefall" and buy you sometime while you save $$$$ for the real spree.

Medusa’s Makeup

Not only is this makeup line affordable (6.00 for an eye dust) it’s fun and fashion forward! You will feel like a super model dusting on the wide array of colors. Medusa’s eye shadows have to offer 48 colors in total! And for just $8.00 more you can buy Medusa’s sealer. Dab the clear liquid on your brush before dusting and your eye dust turns into eyeliner!

Pearl’s Please!

This fall is a flash back to flappers with pearls galore! Long pearls, short pearls, colored pearls…everything is “pearltastic!”

The great thing is if you don’t own a set from the late 80’s you can find strands just about anywhere and they are not expensive. I just picked up this pair in a boutique in Geneva, Illinois for $14.00! But you can check out some other styles for even cheaper at The Limited and Icing By Claires.

Can’t Get En’uff of the Cuff!!

It is all about the chunk this season too, so recycle those vintage cuffs if you can! If not, look for textures and mixed metals while shopping. This little accessory will dress up even the drabbest of duds and it only costs $6.80 at Forever 21.