Category Archives: organization tips

My 5 Top Productivity Hacks For Busy Women

Posted in how to, organization tips, tips and tricks by

If you are like me and trying to find some kind of balance between a busy career and a busy family, there are two things that you probably can’t live without – your planner/calendar and a glass of wine and hot bath. With two teenagers, one freshman and one senior, a husband with a busy career of his own, and two brick and motar stores and one online store, life can get pretty hectic. Being task oriented and a natural organizer, always feeling like I wasn’t able to get everything done that needed to get done started to wear me out. But, after three years of owning this business on my own, I have come to the conclusion that is just how I am going to feel. Every day is a choice between what is urgent (deadline driven) and what is important – needs to get done but doens’t have to be today. But, I don’t want my life to be about checking off tasks on a to do list either. There has to be balance. This is where my productivity strategies come into play and why I wanted to spend some time sharing my top 5 with you.

  1. Start with your goals and roles and let that drive your tasks. As an entrepreuner, it my job to set the vision and chart the course of where we are going as a company. As a small business owner, I am CEO, COO, CFO, CMO….you get the picture. I can become so embroiled in “to do” lists that I don’t give myself time to learn, to dream, to envision, and to plan. I am a huge fan of Franklin Covey, and one of the reasons I still carry an old fashioned paper planner is because of the Weekly Compas cards that are the cornerstone of the system. I fill out this card every Sunday when I do my weekly planning, and I do it BEFORE I make any task lists. The top of the card is all about me: what are my physical, emotional, mental and spiritual goals for the week. Then, the rest of the card is divided into roles, and I always put them in this order: Home; Wife/Mother; COO; CEO; CFO; CMO; Writer. The reason I do this is because it keeps me focused on home and family first. My career can consume me if I let it, but I still have bills to pay, a house to keep clean, laundry to wash, etc., and, more importantly, I have family members that need me to be present. Once I have focused on home and family, I move on to the different roles I have at work. As the COO, I ask myself what is the most important thing I can do as the one responsible for directing the ship. As the CEO, I ask myself what is the most important management task I have this week. As the CFO, I write down my financial tasks for the week. As the CMO, I consider what marketing tasks are essential. This way, I am controlling the task rather than letting the tasks control me.
  2. Prioritize your tasks. Have you ever checked your email, and two hours later, you are just getting to your first task on your list. Why is email such a black hole? I truly have a love/hate relationship with email because of this. One of my mentors says, “Email is just someone else’s priorities.” I think that is true, and I have noticed that if I let myself just float from task to task without a plan, I fall into email and many other wasted time black holes. Therefore, before I walk in the door or say hello to my first customer, I write out my tasks for the day, and I make sure there are not more than seven. Then, I prioritize them according to the Franklin Covey system. A is for deadline driven/urgent tasks, B is for the important/non deadline driven tasks. Each A task gets a number like A1, A2, A3 as do the B tasks. By taking the time to consider the order in which I want to accomplish my tasks, I do better at avoiding black holes.
  3. Set your intention for the day. I love The Miracle Morning by Hal Elrod, and use it most days. I start with daily coaching that I get through an app on my phone called Fabulous. Then I get myself centered spiritually with a bible study. Next I listen to 10 minutes of a professional development book. Right now I am almost finished with Brendan Buchard’s High Performance Habbits. I then write down my thoughts and observations in my journal. Next I do a 10 minute meditatation, usually on mindset. Last, I visualize myself going through my day (and life) enjoying my staff and my customers and my day. I visualize myself tackling my to do list with peace in my heart and not with overwhelm. I also visualize myself accomplishing my life goals. This whole process takes about an hour, but I am more than happy to give myself this time to get centered in the morning before I start my day.
  4. Check off what you accomplish. I know this is a totally type A thing to do, but it really does help me when I know I did not get everything done that needed to be done that day. If I can look at all the things I DID accomplish, it makes me feel better about never really being able to feel totally finished. Sometimes I even write things down that I did that were not on my list too. If I was not able to complete a task, I use a forward arrow which lets me know I need to add it to tomorrow’s task list. This is also very helpful because it then becomes an A task for the next day. Sometimes, my day (or week) blows up with unexpected events, and I have a lot of arrows!!
  5. Put your phone away when you get home. I work hard all day. I am the first one to get there and the last to leave. Both myself and my family deserve for me to be fully present when I am home, and I am never fully present when my phone is around. I set it on the charger, and I don’t pick it up again until the next day. This may mean that I don’t always respond to emails, texts, and customer messages, but I need to give myself this time to avoid burnout.

A few other things that I do that really help is to always plan my week on Sundays, as I have mentioned previously. This allows us as a family to get our ducks in a row, so to speak, and avoid surprises during the week. Everyone knows what is going on and what to expect. If arrangements need to be made, I make them on Sunday so we are all set for the week.

These tips work for me, and I know there are so many productivity strategies available that I haven’t mentioned, so in this week’s Wednesday Wardrobing, I am going to share these as well as chat with my live viewers about what works for them as well. You can watch that video live at 6 p.m. MST today, 10/26/22. Watch live here: https://www.facebook.com/events/497432998949397

Closet Clean Out Challenge Step Four: Organize Those Accessories

Posted in closet clean out, dressing your best, fashion, fashion trends, how to, organization tips, tips and tricks, women's clothing tips by
Chilling in Downtown Casper

In this last step to creating an organized closet, I am tackling organizational strategies for your accessories. A true Fashionista’s style is never complete without the finishing touches, and dis-organized accessories can be as frustrating as disorganized clothing. Let’s jump in.

  1. For shoes I recommend trying to group shoes by their category: tall boots, shoe boots, heels, casual/sporty, and flats. I like to separate my summer shoes from my winter shoes, so I have a cubby organizer for my summer shoes and shelves for my winter boots. I have friends that also use shoe boxes with labels or clear plastic shoe boxes to organize their shoes. You can still find the over the door shoe holders as well if you are limited on space. Perhaps you can use a bin to store your summer shoes when it is winter and vice versa. While you are organizing, make sure you are also examining your shoes. How is the tread? Are the toes scuffed? Do they look worn and outdated? When was the last time you wore them? Get rid of shoes that are outdated, worn out or so uncomfortable you never wear them. Create a trash pile and a donate pile. As you eliminate a style, write it down on your shopping list if you need to replace it. When you are all done, take stock of what you have. Are you over stocked in a certain style like shoe boots but don’t have a single tall boot? Additionally, with your colored shoes, consider if they are in your best colors. If you are an autumn and have bright cherry red heels, you are probably not going to find much in your closet to go with those. Wine colored heels would be a much better choice.
  2. For necklaces, I think organizing them by length and color makes the most sense. I have a multi-pronged hanger in my closet that I have my necklaces hanging on. They are organized from shortest to longest. I have grouped similar colors together as well. When I go through my annual closet clean out, I consider which necklaces I haven’t worn and analyze why. I have my earrings in a jewelry box with several small, earring sized boxes. I also keep my dressy jewelry separate from my more casual pieces.
  3. For handbags, I have them sitting on shelves and organized by color. I tend to stick to neutral handbags so mine are black, brown, tan and grey. I keep my wallets and smaller bags lined up in small baskets and these can sit underneath your clothing if you don’t have shelves in your closet. I highly recommend that you apply the principles of your best colors to get rid of handbags that are not in your palate. When you build your wardrobe around your best colors and buy those colors in your accessories, handbags and coats, you end up with a very put together look that always matches. You avoid the hot pink purse with a red coat and olive pants debacle.
  4. For scarves, I recommend a drawer. I have mine in small circles lined up in a dresser drawer. A slim basket that you can slide under your bed also works if you are short on space. Having them piled so high that you have to dig through them isn’t very efficient, especially at 6 a.m. Organize them by color and type. Keep your outdoor scarves separate from your outfit scarves and your wraps separate from those. I put my wraps with my sweaters which are folded on the top shelf of my closet.

I have posted before and after pics of my accessories in my own closet in our discussion for my Closet Clean Out Challenge: Step Four Live Video which will air tonight. You can see those pictures of how I have organized things there or join us tonight at 6 p.m. MST to watch the video live and ask questions!

At the end of the day, an organized closet will save you time getting ready in the morning. And, while we are on that subject, a well thought out outfit rarely happens with sleep in your eyes. Choose what you will wear at the end of your day before you go to bed. Get everything ready, including what jewelry and shoes you will wear. Take the time to change your handbag, if needed. Consider what coat will look the best so you don’t pair your puffer jacket with a dress, as an example. When you feel put together, your confidence will go up exponentially. It is worth the extra few minutes to do this before bed.

Well, that is it!! You made it!! Congratulations on your newly organized closet. I know you will enjoy getting ready ever so much more now! Tune into next month’s blog and live video series where I will be talking Spring 2023 fashion trends, including color, style and fabric trends. I am also headed to market next month, so you will want to join our VIP Facebook group so you can follow along with my market journey and have a good laugh at the best and worst things I see each day. I will also be posting “Be The Buyer” posts so you can help me decide when I am unsure! You can get all of that on Fashion Crossroads Fashionistas.

Closet Clean Out Step 4: Organize Those Accessories!

Posted in how to, organization tips, personal style, tips and tricks by

Once you have taken the time to get your clothing organized by using my 3 step closet clean out process, you might now be ready to take on those unruly accessories. If the goal of a cleaned out and organized closet is ease of dressing, then we cannot claim success until grabbing the perfect necklace, scarf or shoe is also just as easy as grabbing the top and bottom. The process for organizing your accessories is very similar to the one I taught you for your clothing. Here are the steps:

  1. Organize by color: When you put your outfits together, you are building a “color story.” In most instances, you choose a neutral bottom color and then pop it with a top and layer. Your accessories are just an added layer in that palate. Thus, to make grabbing the correct accessory easy, your most important organization strategy is to separate them by color.

Take necklaces, as an example. For many of us, our accessories are in basket or drawer that we have to dig through to find what we need. I suggest, instead, finding a way to hang necklaces in your closet on some type of multi-pegged hanger. You can buy a wooden peg coat rack, as an example, if you don’t have a ton of jewelry to organize. If you have more, look for a peg board or closet addition that has multiple pegs. Then, take all of your necklaces out and begin laying them out on the bed. Put all the like colors together using the colors of the rainbow as a guide (ROYGBIV: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet).

2. Organize by length/shape: Once you have an accessory category separated by color, the next step is to put them in order from shortest to longest or smallest to biggest.

In our necklace example from above, depending upon the length of your pegs, you may be able to fit 2-4 necklaces on a single peg. Put the longest in the back and then work your way forward to the shortest. This will allow you to see what you have even when you have several necklaces hanging together.

3. Lastly, organize your accessories by type. You can choose casual and dressy, heels and flats, satchels and duffels, neck scarves and long scarves, etc.

Continuing with the necklace example, put your casual necklaces together and your dressier necklaces together, all the while keeping them in their color and length order. You might have a peg with blue dressy necklaces organized from shortest to longest and a peg with blue casual necklaces together organized by shortest to longest. A helpful benefit of doing this is you will instantly be able to see what can be easily layered and worn together.

For earrings, you can easily organize by both color and type. I have a jewelry chest that has a drawer with boxes. I have organized all my earrings by color within these boxes. This same chest also has drawers with larger boxes. I use these for my bracelet, necklace and earring sets so they always stay together. I also have a top portion where I put all my gold and silver “every day” earrings.

An ingenious way to organize your scarves is with a scarf hanger. This is essentially a grid of metal circles all joined together and attached to a hanger. You can put your scarves on the circles using a slip knot, and when you are done, you can clearly see what scarves you have. I also recommend organizing scarves by color and length. If you have a lot of scarves, you might want to consider getting a separate scarf hanger for each type of scarf: short, long, and shawl.

I love to organize my shoes with an inexpensive cabinet I found at Target that has rows of boxes, each one big enough for one pair of shoes. I have my summer and winter shoes separated so I know exactly where I need to go to find the shoe I am looking for. I can also use the rows of boxes to organize by color, starting on the far left with red and moving right and down through the colors of the rainbow.

Purses can also be organized by color and size. They work well standing up, so if you have any shelves in your closet that are good for folded things, these will also work well for your handbags. Follow the same principles: first organize by color and second organize by size so you have your smallest purses on one side and your largest purses on the other.

Once you have everything organized, stand back and take stock. Are there any accessories that just stick out like a sore thumb? Maybe 95% of your necklaces are neutrals but there is one in neon, as an example. Ask yourself if you have anything to match that necklace. Chances are, you may have bought it for a specific outfit that you might not still have. Do the same with your scarves, shoes and purses. The ideal closet is organized not only around color but around colors that look good on you! If you have things in there that are not serving you, get rid of them! When you do this, getting dressed in the morning is a breeze because everything you have matches everything else you have.

My last tip for the perfectly organized closet is to create a space where you can hang your outfit for the next day each night before you go to bed. A logical place in on the back of your closet door because it will allow you to have enough space to see both your top and bottom. Don’t just pick out a top, bottom and layering piece; pick out an outfit that will make you feel great, including the perfectly matched accessories!

If you’d like to see me explain this process in person, watch me live tonight at 6 p.m. in our VIP Facebook Group.

New Year New You, Closet Cleanout Challenge: Re-Fill

Posted in closet clean out, clothing, clothing, quality, value, dressing your best, dressing your figure, fashion, how to, organization tips, tips and tricks, women's clothing tips by

pearsonphoto2020_196

So here is where the rubber meets the road, so to speak, and this is why you have faithfully gone through Get Organized: Step 1 To A Closet That Makes Sense and Refresh and Renew: Step 2 To A Closet That Makes Sense .  Now, you are truly ready to take advantage of your newly organized and cleaned out closet.  If you would like, you can join our VIP Facebook Group, Fashion Crossroads Fashionistas , and watch my videos explaining the process.  I will be airing Step 3 live tonight at 6 p.m.  You can get entered to win free gifts by watching the videos and commenting with your biggest take-away.  

The goal for today’s time spent in your closet is to create a “Buying List” where you will record all the things you need to shop for in the future.  I recommend that you carry this list with you in your purse for those unplanned shopping days.  It will keep you on track to purchase the things you need, and, as a result, you will be a smarter shopper who avoids bringing items home that have to be eliminated in your next closet clean out!

Please grab a piece of paper and divide it into 3 Categories:

  1. Basics I Need
  2. Items that Need Matches
  3. Trends I Want To Buy
  4. My Best Colors

BASICS I NEED:

This section of your list should include all the core basics that are missing from your closet or need to be replaced.  Basics include solid neutrals such as grey, black, white, tan, navy, brown.  Take a moment to take stock of your sleeved and sleeveless tops, jackets, skirts and pants.  Are there any that you didn’t pull out but that are wearing out? If yes, write this down on your list.  Other items in this category might be classic prints and fabrics like Hounds-tooth,  tweed, some basic plaids, etc. Also consider your layering pieces.  Are there any jackets that need basic tops to complete them? Do you have any basic slacks that lack a coordinating blouse or top? Do you have a good white blouse? Do you have a basic black dress that can be dressed up or down? Do you have a nice pair of black work slacks? What about your shoes? Do any of these need to be replaced? This step should produce the biggest portion of your list because these are the core items in your closet that work back and forth with everything else.  These are the things that you should spend more money on and focus on getting quality that will last.

ITEMS THAT NEED MATCHES:

This section of your list is for all those printed items that need a match to make them work.  Is a there a jacket that you don’t wear enough because you don’t really like the top that goes with it? Write that down.  Is there a printed skirt that needs a top to match?  Maybe you eliminated a top that you always wore with that skirt in steps one or two of this 3 step process.  Now you need to replace that top.  Write it down on your list.  It is also helpful to take pictures of any printed items so when you get to the store you can remember what colors are in the print.  Better yet, however, is to set some time aside to go “match shopping” and bring all of your items with you so you can see not only how the colors work but also how fabric textures and styles work as well.  Try new items on with your old items and see how they work together before you buy them.

TRENDS I WANT TO BUY:

Make sure you leave some room in your closet for current trends that will keep your wardrobe updated.  Take some time to read trend reports (I’ll have one coming in the near future), and identify your favorite trends of the season.  Write these down so the next time you are shopping, you can pull out your list and remind yourself what you need to look for.  Trendy items can be less expensive because they are the most likely to come and go quickly and won’t need to stand the test of time.  Just keep in mind, the lighter the fabric, the more it will show your figure flaws.  Usually, the thicker (not stiffer) the fabric, the better the drape will be and the better job the item will do of disguising extra weight.

MY BEST COLORS:

If you have ever had the chance to have your colors done, you know how important it is to wear the right colors for your skin, but did you know that changing your hair color or going grey will change the colors you can wear? Your best colors do no stay static your entire life.  If you noticed that your closet is filled with a myriad of different warm and cool colors, that is an indication that you might not be sure what you are.  Honestly, this topic deserves a blog post all on its own, but let me summarize the steps to determining your best colors, according to the Color Me Beautiful method (Richmond, JoAnne.  Color Me Beautiful: 4 Seasons of Color, Makeup, and Style. Taylor Trade Publishing, 2008.)

  1. Are you warm (desert panorama) or cool (snowy mountain scene)? One clue you can use is your hair.  Warms usually have golden blonde, strawberry blonde, copper, red, or chestnut brown hair.  Cools usually have ash blonde, grey, silver, medium or dark brown, and jet black hair.
  2. If you identified yourself as a warm, you are either a Spring or Autumn.  Likewise, if you identified yourself as cool, you are either a Summer or Winter.
  3. Next, categorize yourself as a light or a dark based upon your hair color.  Lighter colors of hair like blonde, light brown, light red will be a considered a “light.” Conversely, darker colors of hair like brunette, dark red or black will be a “deep.”
  4. Putting all of this together then:
    1. Cool and Deep = Winter
    2. Cool and Light = Summer
    3. Warm and Deep = Autumn
    4. Warm and Light = Spring

So that’s it.  You’ve made it!  Wow! Great job! I’d love to hear your feedback on your biggest “ah ah” moments from going through this process.  And now…happy shopping!

Next week, I’ll be adding a bonus step focused on getting your jewelry, scarves, handbags and shoes organized too!

Closet Clean Out Challenge Two: Refresh and Renew

Posted in closet clean out, clothing, dressing for your age, dressing your best, dressing your figure, fashion, how to, organization tips, personal style, tips and tricks, women's clothing tips by

pearsonphoto2018_010I hope you have enjoyed your newly organized closet! If you missed joining me for Closet Clean Out Challenge One: Get Organized, you can read my blog post or watch my live video from my weekly Wednesday Night Wardrobing video from last week here.

I performed step 1 on my own closet, and it felt good to get things organized.  I eliminated about 15 items that I knew I would never wear again.  They were cluttering my closet, and having the extra space feels good! Heck, now I have the room to buy more…smile!

For those of you who are ready for step 2 in creating a closet that makes sense, this week’s step is called refresh and renew because we are going to take a hard look at what you kept.  I am guessing there were some items that you didn’t pull out because you just can’t bring yourself to get rid of them or because you rationalized their value in your wardrobe and the potential that you will…someday…wear them again.  I know you did this because I did the same thing.  This week, I have challenged myself to wear some of those “sacred cows,” as I call them.  If I can create an outfit that I like with them, they get to stay, but if not, they have to go.

As I have analyzed the top 10 rationalizations I used to determine which items to keep, I think they are probably some of the same ones you use too.  For me, these are the main arguments for hanging on:

  1. I might lose weight and be able to wear this again.
  2. If I would just take this to a tailor and get it altered I would wear it again.
  3. This is still fashionable, and I still love it, so how can I let it go?
  4. I wore this item for my anniversary with my husband so I should keep it for sentimental value.
  5. I might need this for a party, vacation, or special event some day.
  6. I wouldn’t be caught dead in this any more, but I could wear it around the house or when I go camping.
  7. I can’t have too many sweaters, vests and coats; I live in Wyoming!
  8. This is a classic that never goes out of style.
  9. I can’t fit in this anymore, but I will use it as “motivation” to lose weight.
  10. I just bought this item last year, so it is a waste of money to get rid of it.

Do any of these excuses seem familiar? Building from this, I think we can create a list of corresponding questions that will help you evaluate what you kept to determine if those items really do need to stay in your closet another year.  So, here is what I want you to do: go through your closet and gather up all your “sacred cows” (the items that you have probably considered letting loose before now but always talk yourself out of) and every other item you did not wear in 2019.  Take them out of your closet into another room and then, one by one, answer the following questions for each item:

  1. I might lose weight and be able to wear this again. Is this item either my current size, ONE size bigger,  or ONE size smaller than I wear today? If the answer is “no,” it goes.
  2. If I would just take this to a tailor and get it altered, I would wear it again. Can I take this item to a tailor in the next 10 days? If the answer is “yes,” put this date on your calendar and keep it.  If the answer is “no,” it goes.
  3. This is still fashionable, and I still love it, so how can I let it go?  If the item is still in fashion and you still love it but haven’t worn it in a year, you need to evaluate why.  Take a minute now and try it on.  Maybe there is just a fit issue that you don’t like.  Perhaps it clings too much in the wrong places.  Maybe it is itchy.  Maybe it drains the color out of your face.  If you discover any issue with the item that has been keeping you from wearing it, it goes.
  4. I wore this item for my anniversary with my husband so I should keep it for sentimental value. This one is tough.  We tend to attach sentimental value to items we wore for special events, and we hold on to them for that reason.  For me, the decision to keep these items is really about space.  Do you have the space to hold onto items that you will probably never wear again? If the answer is no, it goes.  Is there another place that you could store them, say perhaps a cedar chest? If the answer is yes, move it.
  5. I might need this for a party, vacation, or special event some day. So I am particularly bad about number 5.  I had dresses I hadn’t worn in more than a year (and that I didn’t wear on my last beach vacation) that I was saving for my next beach vacation.  I had a hard talk with myself and they ended up in the “donate” pile.  After all, part of the fun of a vacation is buying something new for it.  Do you know for sure that you are taking a vacation or having a special event in 2020 that you would wear the item to? If the answer is “no,” it goes.
  6. I wouldn’t be caught dead in this any more, but I could wear it around the house or when I go camping.  Do you already have enough “wear around the house” or “painting” or “cleaning” or “camping” items? (I’m guessing your answer will be “yes.”) Are any of those worn out? (probably yes again.) Consider adding these items to your comfy group after you have thrown some others out.
  7. I can’t have too many sweaters, vests and coats; I live in Wyoming! Yes, hoarding coats and sweaters when you live in a state that has 6 months of winter seems to make sense, however, how many coats do you really need? Let me help you out: 1 long dress coat, 1 3/4 length dress coat, 1 casual coat, 1 sport coat (like a skiing jacket), and 1 spring coat.  Okay, okay…maybe you can add 1 trendy coat, but I’m giving you that one, coat hoarder….I’m speaking to myself here.  Coats are especially needed by the poor and disadvantaged, so that is even more incentive to get rid of them.  As far as sweaters go, if you didn’t wear it last year….guess what….it goes.
  8. This is a classic that never goes out of style. Another particularly tempting rationalization for me is the “you should never get rid of a classic” argument.  Well, here’s what I know about clothing from having been in this business for over twenty years.  Even when manufacturers and designers bring back a classic like the blazer, they change it just enough to make the older ones seem out of date.  The changes are small things like length, number of buttons, collar style, sleeve length, etc., but they are just enough to cause your “classic” item to become “vintage.”  Here’s my rule for “classic pieces:” if you haven’t worn it in the last TWO years, it goes.  Oh, and just in case you need to know what items qualify as “classic,” here is a list: blazers; solid collared, button up blouses; layering pieces like tanks, turtle necks and light weight sweaters; suit skirts in neutral colors; slacks in neutral colors; basic black dresses.
  9. I can’t fit in this anymore, but I will use it as “motivation” to lose weight. Okay ladies, I’m going to be in your business a little here.  Pardon me.  I have your best interests at heart, I promise.  Our bodies change as we age.  At 48, I am going through this very thing myself.  There are certain aspects of my body that will never look the same as they did five or ten years ago.  I am a BIG advocate for staying active and healthy, however, I am also realizing that I need to let some expectations about my body go.  Size 4 may be gone for me…I don’t know.  I’m working on it to see.  But, I definitely know size 2 is out, and I don’t want to work that hard to get back there any way.  If it is too tight or too small for me to get into, it goes.
  10. I just bought this item last year, so it is a waste of money to get rid of it.  We ALL make buying mistakes.  Who knows why we do it? Maybe we were influenced by a shopping partner or we were in the mood for something new or out of the box that day.  Whatever it was that caused us to buy it, we have questioned that decision ever since.  As an example, I pulled a pair of floral wrap pants out of my closet during the first step of this process that I just bought last summer.  I wore them once and then passed them up the rest of the season.  Why? They really weren’t me.  If it’s new, but you keep passing it by for other things when you get dressed in the morning, it goes.

Okay, that’s it.  These are the top 10 rationalizations I have made (and I’m guessing you have made) and my answers for them.

If you want to watch my video explaining this process, watch my live video from last night. You can find that in our Fashion Crossroads Fashionistas Facebook Group here.

Closet Clean Out Challenge One: Get Organized

Posted in closet clean out, clothing, fashion, how to, organization tips, personal style, tips and tricks, women's clothing tips by

pearsonphoto2018_102It’s a New Year.  How about a New You? With a year full of possibilities ahead, why not shake off that dead weight? I don’t know about you, cleaning out the old and bringing in the new feels like a great way to start the year.  That’s why I am doing a “New Year New You Closet Clean Out Challenge.” Want to know more? Read on…

There is something about getting organized that is so refreshing.  Shedding clutter makes me feel lighter, what about you? One of the most important places to get organized is in your closet.  We all know the frustration of searching for an outfit in the morning and pulling out item after item that is worn out, too big, too small or out dated.  Ugh.

I have a four-step system that I use every year in my own closet that is very effective in weeding out the items that I don’t wear and identifying items that require a match or another item to make them work more efficiently in my wardrobe.  I also find that when I take the time to apply these four simple steps, when I am finished, I can clearly see what I have and what I need.  Suddenly, I see new outfit options that I hadn’t noticed before because everything is organized in a way that makes sense.

This blog post is the first in a series of four New Year, New You, New Closet tutorials that will take you through this process, and hopefully, have you feeling lighter and de-cluttered as well as excited about your closet and shopping opportunities again.  I’ll be recording a video of today’s blog post during my weekly Wednesday Night Wardrobing Live Video broadcast within our VIP Facebook Group, Fashion Crossroads Fashionistas. Here’s a link to join the class: https://fb.me/e/2adC8R5Bm

So let’s dig in.

First, do me and yourself a favor.  As you complete the following steps, if you come across an item that you KNOW you will never wear again, pull it out now.  Don’t get bogged down yet in trying to decide about those scared cows…you know, the things you just can’t seem to let go of even though you haven’t worn them in 3 years.  We will deal with those in our next video.

Now, down to business.  The first step is to organize your closet by type.  First, separate your tops from your bottoms.  Put dresses in a separate section.  Now, organize your tops by sleeve length – short, ¾ and long.  Next, separate your tops by type.  Within the sleeve length grouping, separate the collared blouses from the pull overs.  If you have more than one season in the same closet, also separate summer from winter within each of the groups.  When you are finished, you should have your sleeveless tops grouped together.  Next should come your short sleeve tops and then your long sleeved tops, summer together and winter together.

Now do the same thing with your bottoms. Start with shorts and move to capris, ankle pants and long pants.  Then, within each group, separate by fabric.  Put your denim together, cottons together, slacks together, etc.  Then tackle your skirts, and organize them from shortest to longest.

I bet you feel lighter already! One more step! Now, within each group, organize them by color using the acronym ROYGBIV.  This stands for red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet.  Group like colors together.  For example, your pink tops will go next to the reds and your turquoise tops will go next to green or blue, depending on what hue the turquoise is.  Put your black, white and brown at the end.  Group your ivory and cream after white.  Next come the tans and browns.  Last, put your greys after the blacks.

Now, go have a glass of wine! You did it!

You have a week to enjoy your newly organized closet.  Watch for my next blog post and video called Closet Clean Out Challenge Two: Renew and Refresh.  In these tutorials, we will take a look at what you have and figure out what you need to get rid of and what you need to keep.

To watch my weekly Wednesday Night Wardrobing live videos where I will explain in more detail each of the steps, join my Fashion Crossroads Fashionistas VIP group page on Facebook and tune in Wednesday night at 6 p.m. MST.  I’ll be doing some fun giveaways at the end of the four part series which I will explain in this week’s video.

Happy organizing!

10 Tips For Making The Perfect Clothing Gift At Christmas

Posted in clothing, fashion, how to, organization tips, tips and tricks by

Tis the season for giving and for feeling at a total loss or aimlessly wandering in hopes of the perfect gift just “jumping out at you.” As a boutique owner of over twenty years, I’ve done my fair share of helping customers buy for their loved ones. I’ve also handled a few returns where the gift receiver was offended by the gift.

Buying clothing is a lovely gift and something everyone can use for years to come. While it can be intimidating choosing for someone else, there are a few simple steps you can take to help you make a great buy. I am a big advocate of clothing as a gift because it takes time to make a great choice and shows your loved ones that you really wanted to choose something special for them. There is nothing about clothing that feels impersonal, and when you take a few simple steps, you can increase your odds dramatically of finding the perfect item.

The following are my top tips for buying clothing as a Christmas gifts. The most important thing you can do is know your stuff. Before you go shopping, spend some time in your loved one’s closet or peruse several photos of them. If you can’t look in her closet because she doesn’t live nearby, is there a significant other or friend that might be able to do it for you? Pay attention to a few things:

1. What colors are her favorites?

2. What is her size? Look at several different types of tops like stretchy pullovers and more tailored button up tops. Do the same with bottoms. Make sure you know what size she wears if the item is sized in numbers like 8, 10, or 12, as an example. Make sure you also know what size she wears if the item is sized in small, medium or large.

3. Does she seem to gravitate to solids or does she like prints? Does she like small prints like florals or larger prints like plaid?

4. What body issues does she have that might create fit issues? Is she busty? Does she have broad shoulders or a thick waist? Would she want to cover her middle or show it off? Is she short, average or tall?

5. What kind of clothing does she need? Is she a teacher? Does she work in an office? Is she a banker or Real Estate Agent? Is she a stay at home mom? Should you be choosing professional items that she can wear to work or more casual styles?

6. How trendy is she? Does she care about keeping up with the latest trends or does she choose clothing based upon comfort and feel?

7. How old is she and does she dress her age? Perhaps she likes to be trendy and look a little younger. Perhaps she avoids trends.

8. Is her style artistic, conservative, tailored, or outdoorsy? Try to focus in on the general style that she wears both at work and at play.

9. Are there certain brands that she loves?

10. Is there a certain store that she loves?

Once you have written all of this information down, take your list shopping. Share it with the sales associate at your favorite boutique as well as your observations about what you would like to buy. If your loved one has a favorite store, go there. Likely, if she is a regular customer, they will either know her or be able to look up her shopping history. If they have a layaway program, check to see if your loved one has a layaway. Buying items off a layaway is a fool proof way to give clothing because you know if she put it on layaway, she already loves it. If she doesn’t have a layaway, then my advice is to stick to the basics. Tops are an easier fit than bottoms. Choose pull over stretchy tops like seaters, tees, sweatshirts that are more likely to fit.

Then, accessorize the top with some special touches. Add a scarf and earring. Get her a hat and gloves. Choose something that shows you not only thought of her but wanted to make it special. I can assure you, if she thinks you really worked hard to choose the perfect gift, she will cherish it.