Your Stylist Advises: To Shop or Not to Shop
A new customer reached out to me this week asking me to decide if we should work in her closet first — see what she owns, get rid of what doesn’t work, put together new outfits from what she has that does work, etc… — or if we should just go directly to the stores and shop. I wrote her back a rather, lengthy email telling her that really this decision must be hers. Does she want to spend budget money more on my time by going through her existing wardrobe? Or, should she simply give me a listing of what she thinks she has that’s worth keeping, spend a bit less on my time but more on some new clothing?
Personally, I think it’s always best to try to salvage what you have that’s worthwhile first. For all I know as your new wardrobe consultant and personal stylist, you have made some terrific purchases over the years. You may not realize that the jacket you bought last season but never wore will look really great once you take it into the tailor and have the waist nipped a bit (about $25-$35) or that putting a belt over that simple red dress you bought on a whim will change its look completely and make you feel sensational in it (a new belt is typically much less expensive than a new dress).
On the other side of it, you may say to me that you already own two perfectly fine white blouses and don’t need to purchase a new one. I then go into your closet and see that those two blouses are yellowed, pilled or simple outdated and not worth fixing.
There are many, many choices out in the world today. Knowing what to pick and what to spend your hard-earned cash on can be difficult. I know that I love a lot of different looks and styles. I am open-minded to individuals showing their own taste and creativity when it comes to getting dressed. However when it comes to get myself dressed — especially as I have gotten older — I no longer want to be uncomfortable at all — even for a couple of hours at a party or event. I like high heels but will only buy ones that fit my feet just right and offer me some comfort. That’s why I tend to always go with a platform shoe. I love dresses but can’t stand feeling confined in anything. So, I usually purchase and wear dresses with more of an a-line style than straight bottom. I can’t buy it all, so I’d rather keep my fashion style within a certain look that I know always works for me.
What’s just right for you? Maybe you aren’t sure. Maybe you never realized that much of the clothing that you own already can be adapted to fit you better so you feel better while wearing it and flatter your figure best. Perhaps, you think you’re dressing just fine for the office but haven’t really taken a close enough look at that black suit that’s fraying at the edges. Or, that attending a school event for your children in an old t-shirt and schleppy jeans is fine (it really isn’t).
Call or email me and let’s set-up a time to talk about you, your wardrobe and your clothing needs. As your personal stylist, I can help you sort through the myriad of clothing and accessories calling out to you from the stores and crying out to you from the back of your closet.
Reach me at susan@ostrovs.com or 847-971-7507.