DE-Construct to RE-Construct

How many of you have ever lived in a house during a remodel. Or had family or friends go through it? It's a NIGHTMARE. Everyone thinks the same thing, "It won't be to bad." And they believe the general contractor when he says "It will only take 8 to 10 weeks". RIGHT! That never happens and let's not get into the "going over budget thing" It's a huge decision to take on a major change and live in the midst of it. But many do and really don't have a clue what they are going to go through. BUT, when it's all over, it's ALL worth it. Much like 9 months of pregnancy that culminates with HOURS, sometimes DAYS of painful labor. Then... a beautiful child! Trust me, you don't want to get me started when it comes to labor talk.

SO, you say, what does all this have to do with fashion.? I try very hard to get you thinking first, in outer realms, before we get to the heart of the matter. And the heart of the matter here, is how we actually have to go about getting to the de-construction of one's current wardrobe to re-construct a new one. Living through the painful, yet liberating process it takes to get there. The truth about the garments you have chosen to leave in your wardrobe that still need to go is a step BEYOND the purge. It's The DE-construction phase...

Many of the clients I work with do a PRE purge before I get to their house and we get into their closets. I KNOW they don't want me seeing certain things they had hanging there. Knowing I'm coming gets them motivated. And that's a good beginning. They take out alot of things they were already prepared to get rid of. They had thought about it before and just hadn't taken the time to do it. So the purge gets the obvious things that shouldn't be there OUT!

Ok purge is done... good job. However we have to go beyond that. This is the "LIVING in the midst of the remodel". If purging just gets that obvious junk out of the way (that you weren't wearing and shouldn't have anyway), then all you have accomplished is creating empty hangers. And that's not so good. It's like getting things together for a garage sale. Not preparing your house for a remodel. The de-construction is the remodel you are going to go through in your head, your heart and your closet.

Before you go back to the closet to review what is left and why, you have to take time to define your personal style. You have to talk about your lifestyle. Your job and all it requires. Your life beyond your work. Your hobbies and your habits. Look back carefully at a two to four week period of your life. Then begin the process of identifying your own personal style, how your fashion "personality" aligns with the image you want to portray. This will help guide you through the de-construction phase. This phase entails performing a "LOVE IT" or "Leave it" examination of you current wardrobe. This means you have to try on each garment and talk about why it's there. Ask yourself how it's "defining" your fashion style and working into your daily lifestyle.

Again, as in our last talk, we must call upon our "wing-woman". Our stylish sister, our fashionable friend, the one person you think of and wish you had "HER LOOK". But beware!! Not everyone you know or may invite to assist you really knows how to be objective or truly has a "trained" eye. A professional who knows and understands body shapes and why certain styles work good on one body type compared to another it essential in this process. That's why it's so important to have two sets of eyes. One set who knows you and one set who knows the rest. I have ALWAYS had another set of eyes when purging a clients closet. A husband, a sister or mom, even the best friend.

So NOW the harder part begins. It's time to evaluate each piece and why it's still there. Eliminating the out of date, to tight, to loose, just got to go "clutter" still left, so you can re-define an authentic sense of style... Your STYLE!! I was just in San Mateo working with a lovely 38 yr business woman who REALLY wanted to recreate her personal style. One re-occurring sentence I heard was "That was given to me by..........." I couldn't believe how much of her wardrobe was from other people giving her their clothes. Here's the interesting part, she's 5'10", Yes, I said 5'10". OMG!! There are very few people who can give their hand-me-downs to a lady this tall and have it work. And as you may have already guessed, none of it did! One example, She had a coat that someone had given to her, and because she was tall, they must have thought she need XXL. She's an 8 on top and a 12 on the bottom. Typical body shape. When she tried it on, I looked at her and said "I didn't know OMAR the tent maker was making coats now". She was swallowed up by this pea green monstrosity. Her husband laughed so had he fell off his chair and she tossed it out with glee. Before that moment she felt "obligated" to wear it because it had been given to her. By the end of the de-construction process she understood SHE had to decide what she would put on her body, not anyone else. Gift or not!! Remembering also, it matters how it looks on YOU, not on the hanger. This is very important ladies.

So, if you're at a point that you know you need to get started on the de-construction process, Let's get going. Set aside a couple of hours. Make sure you have a power partner who is there to be objective and honest. AND, contact me so we can all work together to get to the point that everything hanging in your closet are pieces that reflect the persona you want to exude every time you get dress. For work, for fun, for an evening out, no matter what your wearing, it's the real YOU!! Looking forward to getting into Your closet WITH you.

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