Style More With Less
Style More With Less = l.i.m.e
It’s my approach to style… Less. Is. More. Everything.
Recently I held a dinner party and some of the female guests wanted to see my closet. They were curious what it looks like, knowing that I help women with their personal style.
So, all of us, chatty as can be went on a trip to my closet. Twenty minutes later, after many questions and explanations, we emerged.
One woman exclaimed “This is all you have? I assumed you would have closets and closets full of clothes…”
No, I don’t.
I used to.
But I discovered that was not really me.
What surprised them the most was not the organization, beloved family photos on the walls, or amount of clothing; it was the perceived LACK of clothing…I don’t have as much as one might imagine.
I do not believe a large wardrobe constitutes a good or better style. You can have a lot of things and never wear them. I would rather have a lesser amount and view what I have with richness, creativity and possibility.
I am more true to my own style when I have honed in on what is most important to me with my values of how I live my life.
Over the years simplicity visionaries such as Janet Lurhs who in the late 90′s wrote, The Simple Living Guide and last year, The 100 Thing Challenge, by Dave Bruno have been great inspirations. Basically I have a formula of style simplicity I share with my clients and now with you:
- Only keep what you love to wear and feel good wearing.
- When you buy something new that is not part of a coordinated outfit, make sure you have 3 other things in your wardrobe that will go with it. Solo items tend to stay solo; they are the ones that still have their tags on them, 2 years after purchase and end up in the purge pile with my clients.
- Greatly consider the caring for factor of the items you buy. Do you really like to iron? or hand wash?
- Don’t have clothing just because you think you should have it. You know?, a basic, if it is not your style.
- Consider clearing out your closet every year or at least when you move.
- Keep your closet well organized to prevent overwhelm and encourage creativity.
- If you find you buy out of habit without really needing or wanting anything, take a deeper look at what might be going on inside that makes you shop this way.
- Challenge your current beliefs about having stuff.
- Whenever you buy something new. Release something old.
