Climb Into Your Closet This Fall

Let’s face it; summer is OVER, people – time to turn on the heat, fire up the fireplaces, crawl under the duvets and hunker down for the impending winter (sigh). Of course, there’s always shopping to curtail our impending winter woes (The Bravern, anyone?) – but first, climb into your closet.

Last night, from 4:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m. (during a foreboding autumn deluge, no less) celebrity & personal stylist Tiffany Wendel – whose clientele includes both Jessica and Ashlee Simpson – gave free 15-minute fashion sessions at Hotel 1000’s Studio 1000, which offered up some of their urban bites ‘n’ eats (sugar cane skewered crab cakes, grilled painted hill’s beef satay, and their signature truffle fries) and a cash bar for this event.

These by-appointment-only personal style sessions (think speed dating rounds between you and your closet, with Tiffany as the facilitator) took a brief hiatus from 6:15 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., with a general fall fashion presentation by Tiffany.  She highlighted the fall fashion trends for this year – alas, think ’80s once again – with some lovely (non-’80s), “worth-checking-out” pieces from coast-to-coast: Barneys New York, Seattle’s The Finerie, and Seattle’s Sway and Cake.  Tiffany also went over some basic fashion dos and don’ts, which I’ve packaged – complete with my own two cents’ worth – into a “Top 10 Takeaway” from last night:

1.  Reduce. Balance and accessibility are crucial to any closet. Pack up and store the past season’s fashion fare in garment bags/plastic bins so you’re not fighting past them to get to the current season’s gear. Don’t hoard your clothes and justify it on an emotional basis; likewise, don’t over-purge. If you haven’t worn a piece in three years or more, either let it go or store it. Likewise, get rid of that “schlumpy” (Tiffany’s word) drawer of clothes (those comfort rags that really belong in the attic/garage for the next time you paint your place) to make room for the good, edgy stuff, which you’ll now wear more often. As Tiffany says, “Wear it. Own it. Love it!” (I confess I’m guilty here, as I love the comfort schlumpy has to offer, especially when I’m going nowhere farther than the laundry room/kitchen garden. The compromise I’ve found is to create a “middle pile” of schlump – clothes no longer closet-worthy but also not quite ready for the laundry/donation pile – that I can access daily/as needed. This way, I can have it all: precious showcase-worthy pieces à la closet, with a side of my beloved schlump.)

2.  Reuse. Have a unique, quality piece that you can’t live without but that doesn’t quite work with today’s styles? Get it tailored to fit today’s fashion trends (e.g., pant waistlines used to be higher; go get them lowered).

3.  Recycle. Consignment stores – both to buy and sell – are a great way to fund your fall fashion face-lift. (I absolutely adore vintage/consignment stores – the source of some of my best, most unique pieces.)

4.  Merchandise your closet. Do put items that look good together on the same hanger/close to each other as a reminder to wear them together. (I do this and it really works when all you have is 10 minutes to “get glamy” in the early a.m.).

5.  Avoid multis/clones. Tiffany warns against buying more than one of a piece and urges us to resist the temptation to buy that “perfect” piece in every color they have available. We’re not the Borg, after all. (I’d caution that this does NOT apply to very basic pieces, like t’s, camis, undies, and tanks …  for comfort counts, after all.)

6.  Be wary of sales. What?!? Why on Earth, when in these economic times we all need to be more frugal? Because sales lead to impulse buys that you may regret later. (I plead guilty to this one. Over and over and over … but hey, we all slip up occasionally, right? See #3., above.)

7.  Fit is everything – show your shape. Undergarments are key. Tiffany had one word for us last night on this matter: Spanx. (I’ll say no more here … for now … as I grin wickedly.) Denim jeans and corduroys also need to fit right; when you buy a new pair, start with one size tighter (believe me, they’ll stretch). (And remember, all body types are beautiful, sexy, and show-offable.)

8.  Accessorize your style. Do focus on basic clothing pieces you love and will wear over and over again, then dress it all up with that slouchy ankle boot, chunky necklace or artsy scarf. (Remember – the bling is in the bangle.)

9.  Buy quality. Good foundation pieces that are basic enough to not go out of style such as trousers, blazers, coats, belts, bags and shoes should last you several years (if not longer). Although the cost up front is greater, the long-term benefits will outweigh the costs over time. And you can always tailor them (see #2., above).

10. Pack lightly and carry a small suitcase. Have trouble packing for trips? Tiffany recommends 5-10 basic pieces that are comfortable, practical and interchangeable. (Your “bling” can be accessories that are easy to pack; see #8., above.)

So don’t wait until spring to clean – climb into your closet this fall to make it rock well into spring!