The 100 Thing Challenge

If you thought that I was being rather severe when I said that I will give away an item of clothing if I haven't worn it in the last year, wait till you hear about Dave Bruno.

Dave Bruno is really into minimalism. Not only as far as his closet goes, but for all of his possessions. He began what has now become a grass-roots movement called "The 100 Thing Challenge." The goal: pare down your possessions to a mere 100. And that includes clothes!

In an article titled "How to Live With Just 100 Things" in the June 5th issue of Time Magazine, Bruno admits he is down to five dress shirts and one necktie...but wasn't sure whether to give away one of his three pairs of jeans. However, he does count a pair of shoes as only one item.

This is not the first exercise in minimalism that has caught the public's attention. In 2005 Alex Martin started a performance project where she wore the same brown dress for 365 days in a row. You can read about her project at brown dress . The most amazing thing that she discovered was that the majority of people in her professional life didn't even notice she was wearing the same dress day in and day out!

Now I do have to say that both the exercises mentioned above are far more extreme than I would ever recommend to a client, let alone follow myself. Even so, when I share with clients my slightly more generous philosphy of paring down a closet, many of them initially balk at the idea of having "too few clothes." They can't imagine surviving with "so little." However, after doing the work of weeding out, they soon discover that having less is actually the key to developing that great wardrobe they've always wanted.

So even though I won't be joining Dave Bruno in his "100 Thing Challenge" anytime soon, I'd like to thank him and all his followers for demonstrating that not only is it possible, but perhaps also desirable to get by with fewer items in the closet.

(For more information on wardrobe planning, or to sign up for my free E-Zine, please visit my website.)

Wardrobe Planning, Closets, and Clutter

In the Simple Living News Issue #63 there is an excellent article by Suzanne Saxe-Roux titled "The Answer to Closet Clutter, A Cultural Perspective." In this article, the author talks about a phenomenon of French living that is little known to Americans -- the French do not have closets. Here's the link if you'd like to read it:
http://www.simpleliving.net/news/2008_march_april.asp#05

In the article, we get to hear how Suzanne Saxe-Roux and her family moved to a small village in France. It was only after relocating to a house bereft of closets , that they realized they had to figure out what to do with all the clothing that they had transported with them.

Ultimately they decided that they would have to whittle down their wardrobes quite a bit in order to make a go of it.

What I loved about this article was how this family follows the same basic procedure that I recommend to my clients:

1) Pare down your wardrobe, eliminating anything you do not love, do not need, or that does not fit or flatter.
2) Seasonally switch out your clothing; pack away winter when summer arrives, and vice-versa. Use this time to do another closet assessment and clean out.
3) Limit your outfits to a specific number.
4) Keep all the current season's clothing in view.

Now here's the best part: from the article we find out that Suzanne and her husband keep approximately one week's worth of clothes out for themselves, and that is it. Are you shocked? Amazed? In awe? You might look at that number and think "No Way! I couldn't do that!"

But I beg to differ. Nearly everyone can survive very stylishly with only a little more than that if they engage in a little wardrobe planning. Limiting your wardrobe can be the key to significantly upping the qualilty and style quotient of your closet.

So, go take a peek at "The Answer to Closet Clutter" by Suzanne Saxe-Roux. You will be very impressed...and very inspired.

See you here next time...same blog time...same blog channel....

(For more information about wardrobe planning, or to sign up for my free E-Zine, please visit my website.)

It's Q & A Day

Welcome to Q & A Day. Today I have a number of great questions from you, my loyal readers, that I shall attempt to answer with wit and charm. And if not that -- well, then I'll resort to words.

First, Kevin Hogan asks: "Is there some kind of a mental disorder attatched to a closet stuffed with clothes from 15 years ago that I've not worn (and I've moved in the interim)?"
Jennifer responds: Yes, there is. It called compulsive hoarding. But before anyone starts to worry, very few people with just an over-flowing closet would fall into the category of a compulsive hoarder. Most people with too many clothes just have an unrealistic picture of how many garments they actually own, how many they actually wear, and how many they actually need. They may also be victims of affluenza and the KUWTJ virus ...pesky psychological challenges, but not full-blown mental disorders. Unless the hoarding extends to spaces beyond your closet and to things other than clothes, I would say you just need to invest a little thought and time in some good ol' purging. Fifteen years is a long time to hold on to clothes you don't wear.

Next, Aaron asks: "If I want to convey a comfortable, confident image, how do I bring my evening/weekend wardrobe into harmony with my work stuff?"
Jennifer responds: It really depends on several things. A few have invested a tremendous amount into their image as a brand...and for them, there is very little difference between work/not work. They dress for their public no matter what the occasion. An example of a person with this view is Dave Lakhani. His image is consistent across the board. For the rest of us, however, there is the recognition of a difference between work clothes and casual clothes. My recomendation is that when choosing casual attire, aim for neat and clean. Unless you're off to the gym, avoid tennies and sweats. If you're wearing a cap, that should be clean, as well. Avoid throw-away T's with silly slogans (although sports team T's are allowed--especially Patriots, Red Sox and Bruins). You can also mix up the work/casual wardrobe as well. A nice button-down with jeans and loafers for example. I'll go into this topic at more length in a later post, as it is a really good question deserving of a more thorough answer.

And last, Sue wonders: Have you been peeking into my closet, Jenn?"
Jennifer responds: Oh, Sue, you caught me! X-Ray vision. Bought my glasses from a comic book ad...worth every penny.

Have a good evening, all! And come back next time for a discussion on the pros and cons of new clothing. See you then...same blog time...same blog channel....

Jennifer Skinner, Wardrobe Planning, Style Development, Image Consulting

Gratitude as an Element of Wardrobe Planning

Over the past week, I've been discussing how the Paradox of Choice affects both our clothing choices and how we maintain our closet. Today I'll share some thoughts about how approaching your wardrobe with an attitude of gratitude impacts your ultimate satisfaction with your wardrobe.

If I may share a bit about my wardrobe planning philosophy -- I believe that the most functional wardrobe consists of a pared down closet full of clothes that you love that look great and reflect how you wish to be perceived by the world. A closet that is overburdened with too many choices leads to an inconsistent image and dissatisfaction with your overall appearance. We've been talking about some of the reasons this is so.

However, it is very hard to be satisfied with less choice unless you can be grateful for the clothing that you've chosen to be in your closet. When you aren't grateful for what you have, you are longing for what you don't have. Here is where wardrobe planning can help you figure out what to keep and what to let go of...and it can give you a sense of peace surrounding the choices you've made. It also gives you a plan for moving ahead into the future, so that you can let go of a lot of the fear surrounding not having "enough".

Right now, I am in the midst of a wardrobe updating of my own. I have a wardrobe of clothes that I love, and have served me well. But for many of these outfits, their functional life is near over. It's time to let them go, and bring in some new. However, I am still very grateful that I've had these outfits, and I will continue to be grateful for them until I have replaced them. My wardrobe plan allows me to be able to strategically replace these garments without anxiety.

Remember:

You are a work in progress. Thinking that your closet must be perfect before you can appreciate what you have will set you up to fail. Think instead of seeing every piece in your wardrobe as having a function...perhaps you are not able to afford the quality of clothing that you desire, or this season you will not be able to update as extensively as you thought you might be able to. Be grateful that you have a functional wardrobe that is easy to manage. Love the garments that you wear, take good care of them, and appreciate them for how they serve you today...knowing that you are not tied to these garments for the rest of your life. Having a plan for slowly upgrading, for slowly improving, for always evolving is far more valuable than having the perfect wardrobe today.

Join me tomorrow when I share how keeping up with the Joneses can disrupt even the best laid wardrobe plans. See you then...same blog time...same blog channel....



(For more information on the topics of wardrobe planning, style and image, pleasestop by my website.)

Good Enough -- Better Than Best?

Yesterday's posting was all about the opportunity costs of opportunity costs -- what we lose when we put too much mental energy into figuring out all the pros and cons of minor decisions. Now today we'll touch upon the concept of "good enough".

We are all lured by the idea of "best" and everything emotionally associated with it. When you are the "best", or own the "best", what exactly does that mean to you? Why is it so important?

Come with me on a semantic journey here: the word best can be used as both a noun (as in "do your best") and as a superlative ("that is the best car"). The superlative form connotates hierarchy -- if you are the best xyz or own the best xyz then unquestioningly you are or have the highest quality or most desirable xyz of all.

And this means...? Status. Freedom from worry and doubt. "Best" means precisely that there's nothing better...which means you've made a great choice. Ahh...the nirvana of "best"!

We as humans will put a lot of energy into "best" because of how it makes us feel. For some it is more important than others, but we are all affected by this drive. The problem comes when we spend so much energy finding the "best" of something when the truth is, it may not exist. Because, it so happens, "best" is also extremely subjective.

Enter "good enough". Sometimes it's far wiser to go with a suitable choice, rather than stressing out over finding the very best. "Good enough" doesn't have to be a throw-away term of defeat. You can have very definite criteria for what is good enough, and your standards can be quite high. Looking at your options in this manner will save you a ton of stress and worry.

Now, how does this apply to our closet? If you've been following my blog, you probably already have a good idea how to do this. But here are some more ideas to ponder:

1) When shopping for clothes, think in terms of great, amazing, fantastic, fabulous, beautiful....pick your adjective. These are concrete descriptors that can help you make distinctions between items. But avoid obsessing over finding the very best that exists. "Best" is illusory.

2) Begin to see when your desire to find the best option is filling an emotional need rather than a practical one. On the practical side, there are extremely good reasons to have high quality. But if you are trying to find the best because you fear those opportunity costs, fear not.

Tomorrow is Q&A day, when I take questions from the audience. So if you have a burning question that you would like answered, please ask! See you tomorrow...same blog time...same blog channel....

(If you would like more information on wardrobe planning, please visit my website!)

Questions from the Audience

Greetings!

Today I would like to take time to answer some questions that have come from you, my loyal readers!

First, Kevin Hogan asks: "Does it count as a small wardrobe if you have a bunch of clothes in the closet and only wear a few of them?"
Jennifer replies: It sounds like you need to do some weeding! The world only sees the clothes that you put on, not the ones "hanging" out in your closet. And if you don't wear them, the clothes have no function other than to take up space. Think of it this way: you don't really need them if you aren't wearing them in the first place. Build your wardrobe around what you DO wear. Get rid of the rest. Then you will have a small wardrobe!

And now a question from Steve Chambers: "How do I get rid of those pants I no longer fit but can't get rid of yet?"
Jennifer replies: This is a common problem for many people. I call it the problem of the "someday clothes". Someday they'll fit again, someday they'll be in style again, someday I might need them.... but someday rarely comes. Or if it does, you find that you actually don't WANT the article any longer. You lose the weight, you want NEW clothes! The style comes around again, but you're just not into it any longer. The way to separate yourself from clothing that is no longer useful is to box it up and store it away for six months to a year. Hey, go through your closet and take out ALL the stuff that doesn't really fit and do the same. If, after a year you haven't missed them, donate the box to charity straightaway...don't even open it!

And lastly, Aaron Agostini wants to know: "What are some basic recommendations for guys? I want to communicate something professional, but we have a fairly business casual office."
Jennifer replies: At the top edge of business casual, I would recommend a nice pair of dress pants and a button-down shirt. Add a pair of good leather shoes and a belt and you are good to go. Slightly more casual is to change out the dress pants for a pair of khakis. And the next step down is to trade a polo shirt for the button-down. Never, never go for jeans...even of the other guys are doing it! And watch the shoes...you don't need dress shoes per se, but stay away from anything blatantly casual. The shoes can keep an outfit looking just that one step snazzier than the next guy without being too over-dressed for dressed-down office.

Cheers, everyone! I'll be doing another Q & A next week, so do ask the questions! As for tomorrow, I'll be elaborating on The Mysterious Paradox of Choice. Come back and see why too many options actually causes stress. See you here...same blog time, same blog channel!

(My website on wardrobe planning just loves visitors!)

What Have They Got That I Haven't Got?

The longer I stayed in Sweden the more apparent it became. There was a certain element of style the Swedish had that Americans had long ago abandoned. What was it? I'll tell you in just a moment.

But first, let me recap the lessons that I had thus far so painfully learned:

#1) Style is not about owning a large quantity of clothes.

#2) Style is not about wearing all the latest fads.

#3) You can't throw a suitcase/closetful of mis-matched clothes together and expect an outfit to appear like magic. Well...I suppose it is possible...chimps typing on typewriters will eventually produce a line of Shakespeare...but you get my point.

#4) There is a difference between truly having style and merely being "in style".

And now back to our regularly scheduled program:
Ok, so here's what I began to notice. The Swedish girls DID NOT own large amounts of clothes. In fact, they owned a relatively small amount. They were also really picky about what they chose to wear. They wore each article of clothing often, but never when it was dirty or wrinkled. By the years' end I knew the contents of most of my classmates' closets by heart...or if not by heart, I recognized most of what they wore. They knew the secret to managing a stylish wardrobe was... less is more. This is such an important point that I will just have to elaborate upon it at a later date.

Tomorrow, however, I'd like to answer questions that have been addressed to me both here and elsewhere. If you have a question, please ask, and I'll try to respond. I'll see you tomorrow.

(Or if you can't wait that long, please visit my website on wardrobe planning for more information.)

Opposites Attract

To say that the only thing I learned while living in Sweden was that my distinctly American fashion sense was truly off the mark would be downplaying the tremendous experience that I had while abroad. Living in another country opened my eyes to wonderfully new and exciting ways of viewing the world. I often wish that I'd had the experience when I was much older than sixteen, because I feel that in many ways I was too young to really absorb all the lessons that were presented to me.

Nevertheless the experience was formative in more ways than one, and I remain ever grateful that I had the opportunity when I did.

But I digress... I believe I promised to tell you about Caryn....

To set the stage I must tell you that sixteen-year-old Jennifer was about as clean cut and straight-laced a girl that ever there was. Sandy from the musical "Grease" had nothing on me...I was as clean as the new-fallen snow. Adam Ant even wrote a song about me! (Ok, well perhaps that is a little overboard, but you get the idea.)

By appearance, Caryn was everything I was not--a rebelious mix of punk and goth with a The Cure/Depeche Mode/Ramones-ish bent. Her favorite color was black, but she wasn't afraid to throw a splash of color or a funky pattern into the mix. She altered her clothes in any way necessary to pull off a certain look. But more than that, she could look at an article of clothing and know instantly if it fit her overall look. Everyone I had ever known had always dressed to fit in. Caryn, however,dressed to fit her own personal idea of style. She judged each article of clothing NOT by whether it was acceptable to everyone else, but by whether or not the cut, the color, and the style were right for her.

Caryn had an enormous influence on me. The year that I returned home to the states I even adopted a large part of her style as my own. (Yes, I was still learning....) She taught me a powerful lesson about developing a style persona and using it to guide your choices in clothing.

Of course, Caryn also realized the impression her clothing choices made on others. And so the year before college, she began to adopt a less rebellious, more mature style...might I even say it was a wee bit preppy! But as always, her choices we consciously made with an eye to the consistent image she wanted to project.

Check back tomorrow and I'll let you know about one amazing feature of Swedish style I learned that year that most Americans are clueless about...and even Caryn didn't know! Until we meet again....

(You have an open invitation to visit me at my wardrobe planning website. Don't knock, just come on in!)

A Style to Call My Own

It didn't take me long to discover that I really had nothing to wear that year in Sweden. I managed to squeak out a few weeks of dressing...until I started to get a wee bit rounder. And then most of what I'd brought with me didn't fit.

To make matters worse, the Swedish girls dressed in a way that was entirely different from my American friends. At first I really couldn't put my finger on exactly what it was other than to say that many of them wore things that I would have been embarassed to wear back home. Like big mohair sweaters (chunky-knit cotton was big back home) and socks with sandals (eeeek!). Some things were the same, like Converse All-Star high tops and jeans. I had become so accustomed to seeing nearly everyone in the states dressing like carbon copies that it took me by surprise to see something different. And I'm ashamed to admit that at the time I thought they did it because they didn't know any better.

Several things, however, became exceedingly apparent to me as the year went on. These Swedish girls each had a unique style that was all their own--and dressed in a manner that I felt intuitively was more "grown up". All the kids in my American high school wore jeans day in and day out. These girls favored slacks and skirts. What I had originally seen as a lack of fashion sense was really a lack of conformity...and a very highly develped sense of personal style. I was really a fish out of water. I had nothing to wear and no style to call my own. Until I met Caryn.

Caryn was another exchange student from the states. Had we not both been far from home that year I am not sure we would have ever become friends, as Caryn dressed in a manner that I found...welllll... frightening. I'll explain more tomorrow...but let it be known that we did indeed become the best of friends, and this girl taught me more about developing style than anyone before or after. So come on back now, y'hear?

(Or mosey on over to my website and take a gander while you are waiting.)

The Tale of Two Suitcases

I was so excited! I would be spending my Junior Year as an exchange student in Sweden. Here was my chance to be *that girl* abroad! It didn't matter that I couldn't speak Swedish or had no idea what the Swedes were like. And it didn't matter that I could only take two suitcases with me. I was going to S-W-E-D-E-N! The land of ABBA!

Just before departing, my mother and I went shopping for clothes. And in my usual manner of purchasing, I managed to bring home a small handful of disparate items with no relation to one another. Distant cousins, perhaps. Maybe. I remember that among the items were a pair of purple flower-print jeans (really--these WERE trendy at the time), a pair of olive-green high-waisted pants, a red short-sleeve knit sweater, black leggings, and a brand new pair of white Nikes. But perhaps the worst mistake I made was this: I bought most things just a *tad* bit too small. After all, I would be LOSING weight on the other side of the pond, wouldn't I? Please don't laugh...I really thought I was going to impress my new European friends with my ultra-trendy style. (I did mention that I was young and clueless, didn't I?!)

What I know now that I didn't know then is that you cannot throw two suitcases' worth of individual items together and expect to get a year's worth of outfits out of the mix. It is not possible. It does not matter how wonderful each piece of clothing is on its own if it doesn't have an outfit to belong to. And in the context of two suitcases, it better have more than one outfit to belong to!

This is the same problem that so many people have with their own wardrobes...only it is their closet they are challenged by, and not a suitcase. But the principle is the same. Without a plan, you will end up looking into a full closet/suitcase and saying to yourself, "I don't have a thing to wear!"

So there I was in Sweden, with two suitcases full of a disaster waiting to happen. Come on back tomorrow and I'll tell you about the girl who rescued me from my own cluelessness ...same blog time...same blog channel....

(If you can't wait that long, you can read more on wardrobe planning at my website!)

The Young and the Clueless

I'll admit it. As a young person, I was clueless about style. It wasn't until my late teens and early twenties that I even began to develop anything remotely like a personal style. Now it wasn't that I couldn't recognize style when I saw it...I certainly knew who the stylish girls were in school. And I was envious of how they always looked so trendy and well put-together. But I had no clue about HOW they did it. And I began to fall into the terrible trap of believing (along with everyone else) that the MORE clothing you had, the MORE stylish you would be. Probably because my family really couldn't afford to spend all that much on clothes, while I just "knew" that these trendy girls could. And so I began to accumulate. Little by little, over time. All the time thinking that eventually I would find just the right outfit to miraculously confer upon myself that mystical state of STYLISH.

Ummmm...I was wrong. But it would take me years to figure that out. And in the meantime, my wardrobe developed into a schizophrenic mess of odds and ends that looked absolutely amazing on the dummies in the store, but looked...well, not equally amazing on me.

However my style misadventures really came to head my Junior Year in high school...the year I spent abroad in Sweden. Looking back, it was SO bad that it was comical. Come back tomorrow, and I'll let you know why...same blog time, same blog channel...

(And if you can't wait that long, pop on over to my website for more information on style and wardrobe planning.)