“The only thing that separates us from the animals is our ability to accessorize.”
~Robert Harling, Steel Magnolias
One of us, but we’re not naming names, spent 20 minutes this morning trying to find a certain pair of sandals. The abrupt switch from winter-ish weather to summer-ish weather caught us, our closet, and our shoe collection somewhat off-guard.
Style Girlfriend Guru DONNA GAMACHE reminds us that moving into spring is a wonderful opportunity to change out our closets and — dare we say it? — get rid of some things to make room for the fabulous new Spring trends.
Spring is here and it’s time to switch from winter Clothes to spring clothes in our closets. What better time to really examine what is in your Closet before putting it away or putting it in your closet?
What items do you have in your closet or in storage that really should be purged? Getting rid of the things that don’t fit, the pieces you are just tired of, and the pieces that you just don’t wear brings a fabulous freedom.
There are many ways to unload your discards. Consider:
- Donating to charity
- Organizing a swap with friends
- Having a garage sale
- Taking them to a consignment shop
If you are going to donate them to charity, all you need is a bag or box and time to take them to your local Goodwill or other drop-off location.
If you are going to swap with friends, have a garage sale, or take them to a Consignment Shop, your pieces need to be in season (this means you may have to store your winter things till next season) and must be in good condition. If you have ever organized a swap or had a garage sale you know it is a lot of work. If you have the time, go for it; if you don’t, you might consider taking your clothes to a consignment shop. Here are ways to ensure you get paid well:
- Prep your clothes as if you were going to wear them out (which means checking for ripped seams, replacing missing buttons, and ironing or steaming them)
- Put your clothes on hangers if appropriate and if not, make sure they are folded neatly
- Prep your shoes as if you are going out on the town by giving them a quick polish and then checking for scuff marks and worn heels
- Prepare handbags by making sure there are no rips or missing hardware. Consider giving the bag a shape by stuffing with tissue paper
- Inspect jewelry to make sure there are no missing stones and the metal is in good condition
You will get paid most for taking your pieces to an upscale consignment shop which means you must make the clothes, shoes, handbags, and jewelry look like new. This will get you the biggest return on your pieces and the time you spend.
If you have even more time, you may want to consider posting your items online. There are many sites that allow you to sell or swap. You will need to follow the suggestions above, take photos, upload the items, and write a clear, concise description for each piece. Here are some sites you may want to check out.
- www.eBay.com
- www.I-ella.com
- www.Portero.com
No matter how you choose to get rid of unwanted pieces in your closet, always remember that what should remain are clothes that fit your personal style, flatter your shape, and make you feel good about what you have on.
DONNA GAMACHE, speaker, author, and coach works with clients to help them create a Powerful Presence. Donna combines her personal experiences as an image consultant, boutique owner, representative for two designer lines of clothing, and the work she has done with entrepreneurial women as Executive Managing Director of eWomenNetwork, to help professionals define who they are on the inside so they present themselves authentically. She has two published books and hosts the monthly Gamache Panache radio show.
Do you regularly clean out your closet? Or do you hang on to clothes long enough for them to come back into style?
p.s. Great way to clean your closet? Have a girlfriend help!
Thanks Girlfriend Guru Donna for your great fashion advice, like your previous Girlfriend Guru posts:
- Update your Spring/Summer 2012 Fashion
- Personal Style – with a Dash of Red (For Valentine’s Day)
- Fit to be Styled
- Quick Changes for Festive Holiday Looks
- True Beauty – 5 Steps to a Beautiful You
- Appearance Matters
- Trendy ways to wear Animal Prints.
p.s. As a reader shared, you can also swap your old clothes with friends.
What friend would you dare to clean out and organize your closet with? Any organizational/ closet girlfriend advice? Share!
RESOURCES:
- The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing – my girlfriend Julie highly recommends this one! I think I need it too!
- Spark Joy: An Illustrated Master Class on the Art of Organizing and Tidying Up – By the author of the above best seller on organization and decluttering, this is a visual master class of the process
- Cleaning and Organizing Box Set: Essential Tips on How to Clean and Organize Your Entire Home in Less Than 1 hour Combined with 31 Days to Clutter Free … Your Home, Clutter Free Revolution – FREE on Kindle! –> Join Amazon Kindle Unlimited 30-Day Free Trial
Spring is here and it’s time to switch from winter clothes to spring clothes in our closets. What better time to really examine what is in your closet before putting it away or putting it in your closet? For information on how to clean your closet, go to www.DonnaGamache.com/blog and read “How Spring Ready is Your Closet.”
What items do you have in your closet or in storage that really should be purged? Getting rid of the things that don’t fit, the pieces you are just tired of, and the pieces that you just don’t wear brings a fabulous freedom.
There are many ways to unload your discards. Consider:
· Donating to charity
· Organizing a swap with friends
· Having a garage sale
· Taking them to a consignment shop
If you are going to donate them to charity, all you need is a bag or box and time to take them to your local Goodwill or other drop-off location .
If you are going to swap with friends, have a garage sale, or take them to a consignment shop, your pieces need to be in season (this means you may have to store your winter things till next season) and must be in good condition. If you have ever organized a swap or had a garage sale you know it is a lot of work. If you have the time, go for it; if you don’t, you might consider taking your clothes to a consignment shop. Here are ways to ensure you get paid well:
· Prep your clothes as if you were going to wear them out (which means checking for ripped seams, replacing missing buttons, and ironing or steaming them)
· Put your clothes on hangers if appropriate and if not, make sure they are folded neatly
· Prep your shoes as if you are going out on the town by giving them a quick polish and then checking for scuff marks and worn heels
· Prepare handbags by making sure there are no rips or missing hardware. Consider giving the bag a shape by stuffing with tissue paper
· Inspect jewelry to make sure there are no missing stones and the metal is in good condition
You will get paid most for taking your pieces to an upscale consignment shop which means you must make the clothes, shoes, handbags, and jewelry look like new. This will get you the biggest return on your pieces and the time
Spring is here and it’s time to switch from winter clothes to spring clothes in our closets. What better time to really examine what is in your closet before putting it away or putting it in your closet? For information on how to clean your closet, go to www.DonnaGamache.com/blog and read “How Spring Ready is Your Closet.”
What items do you have in your closet or in storage that really should be purged? Getting rid of the things that don’t fit, the pieces you are just tired of, and the pieces that you just don’t wear brings a fabulous freedom.
There are many ways to unload your discards. Consider:
- Donating to charity
- Organizing a swap with friends
- Having a garage sale
- Taking them to a consignment shop
If you are going to donate them to charity, all you need is a bag or box and time to take them to your local Goodwill or other drop-off location .
If you are going to swap with friends, have a garage sale, or take them to a consignment shop, your pieces need to be in season (this means you may have to store your winter things till next season) and must be in good condition. If you have ever organized a swap or had a garage sale you know it is a lot of work. If you have the time, go for it; if you don’t, you might consider taking your clothes to a consignment shop. Here are ways to ensure you get paid well:
- Prep your clothes as if you were going to wear them out (which means checking for ripped seams, replacing missing buttons, and ironing or steaming them)
- Put your clothes on hangers if appropriate and if not, make sure they are folded neatly
- Prep your shoes as if you are going out on the town by giving them a quick polish and then checking for scuff marks and worn heels
- Prepare handbags by making sure there are no rips or missing hardware. Consider giving the bag a shape by stuffing with tissue paper
- Inspect jewelry to make sure there are no missing stones and the metal is in good condition
You will get paid most for taking your pieces to an upscale consignment shop which means you must make the clothes, shoes, handbags, and jewelry look like new. This will get you the biggest return on your pieces and the time you spend.
If you have even more time, you may want to consider posting your items online. There are many sites that allow you to sell or swap. You will need to follow the suggestions above, take photos, upload the items, and write a clear, concise description for each piece. Here are some sites you may want to check out.
- www.eBay.com
- www.I-ella.com
- www.Portero.com
No matter how you choose to get rid of unwanted pieces in your closet, always remember that what should remain are clothes that fit your personal style, flatter your shape, and make you feel good about what you have on.
Spring is here and it’s time to switch from winter clothes to spring clothes in our closets. What better time to really examine what is in your closet before putting it away or putting it in your closet? For information on how to clean your closet, go to www.DonnaGamache.com/blog and read “How Spring Ready is Your Closet.”
What items do you have in your closet or in storage that really should be purged? Getting rid of the things that don’t fit, the pieces you are just tired of, and the pieces that you just don’t wear brings a fabulous fre
