Questions From The Audience, Part One

Greetings! Today is the day of the week that I try to answer questions and address comments that have come from you, my loyal readers. There were so many questions this week that I decided to divide and conquer. Today I'll spend time answering questions from the ladies...and then next time I'll answer all the great questions from you fellas.



First, April Braswell had asked about how to manage a wardrobe when you are between sizes. I responded to her in the comments, but I'll repeat my answer here, as I get this question from a lot of curious people.

Jennifer responds: Figuring out what to wear in-between sizes can be a challenge. You want to look your very best at all times, but you don't want to buy an entirely new wardrobe every month. However, there is one thing that you can do to stretch your wardrobe without breaking the bank. Try to put the focus of your wardrobe on less structured items (usually sized s-m-l instead of numbers) as these will fit a slightly broader range of sizes. It takes some looking, but there are some really great clothes sized this way. Reward yourself periodically with one or two key structured pieces that really show off your new figure...realizing that you will let these go once you've reached your next size.



Next, Lisa McLellan says, "I'm waiting for you to tackle the issue of finding everything you need or want in your size when you don't have any money. Then when you have some money you can't find a thing you like or at least not in your size."

Jennifer responds: This can be frustrating! Some of it can be helped by strategy, and some of it is plain ol' Murphy's Law. The first thing to do is to organize your wardrobe in such a way that you are never caught in the position of needing something right away. Know that you have enough outfits to carry you through even if something dreadful happens to a piece of clothing and it needs to be replaced. When you seasonally review the contents of your closet, take note of what needs to be purchased, and make a list. Then take your time finding these pieces. This gives you and your wallet some breathing room. Another tip is to discover your fail-safe brands that you can always rely on. This way you can shop online with reasonable confidence...and online shopping is one way to locate sizes that might not be in the stores at the time you go looking.



Lastly, Sue Crutcher asks, "I have to wear many hats during a day (construction worker, holistic health care provider, retreat manager, gardener, gourmet cook, hostess..) what to do...?!?"

Jennifer responds: You are a lady with many talents! When you have so many areas of your life that require different attire, it can be tricky managing your closet. But it can be done. First, you'll need to figure out how much of your time is spent wearing each hat. Then look for the crossover. Can one segment of your wardrobe satisfy more than one area of your lifestyle? If so, that is great! For areas that have no overlap, look at how much of your time is spent doing this activity. If it is a small amount, you really won't need all that much to outfit yourself...and this would be one of the few times I'd recommend a small capsule. What you will probably find is that one part of your life takes the most time...and that is where the largest amount of your closet should be dedicated to. Another thing to consider is maintaining some form of consistency across all your various "looks"... maybe having a signature color or a signature piece of jewelry that you incorporate in some small way into each outfit. Get creative with this...and let me know how it goes!



I hope you enjoyed this week's Q&A. Next week, I'll have answers for Matt, Yann, Aaron and John. Come back tomorrow for a discussion of how an attitude of gratitude can improve the outlook of both you and your closet. See you then...same blog time...same blog channel....



(For more information on creating a wardrobe plan, please visit my website!)