Over 40 and Loving It!

Jeannette at Age 45

To get the most from your wardrobe you've got to establish an organized system. You want to be able to be ready at a moment's notice, looking and feeling totally pulled together.

START IN YOUR CLOSET

1. Go through your closet and pick out anything you haven't worn in over a year.

2. Get rid of mistakes. If it doesn't make you look great, if you're tired of it, if it still has its tags, then give it to charity.

3. If it has a great deal of sentimentality linked to it but you never wear it, then put it in a box, and tuck it under your bed or in the basement. But don't let it take up valuable space in your closet if you don't wear it on a weekly basis.

4. If it doesn't fit and it can't be tailored, toss it. Face reality. It hurts more to look at that garment than it does to clear it out.

5. Make repairs. Chances are, you're not wearing it because it's not ready to go out. If you don't take them to be repaired in one month, then you know you're really not that crazy about it.

Put Clothes into the Following Categories:

1. Looks good and fits.

2. Would look great if it fit.

3. Never looked that great but is almost new.

Keep the first category, think seriously about the second category, and think about consigning the third category. Your mistake could be someone else's party dress!

TOSS IT OUT NOW, I DON'T CARE HOW GREAT IT FITS! Anything plaid, especially kilts; Everything flannel, especially shirts and certain nightgowns; Bell bottoms; Logo tee shirts; and Nylon warm-up suits.

What stays:

1. The first thing to put back in the closet are those out-of-season clothes. Keep them separated to avoid confusion. A garment bag will do the job. (Hint: Cut a small opening in a pillow case and use it as a garment bag.)

2. Next to the garment bag, put your special-occasion clothing. If you have several outfits, consider putting them in another garment bag. In the bottom of the bag, store the jewelry, shoes, hose, and other accessories that are used only with this clothing.

3. Right in front of you when you open your closet should be only the clothes you wear all the time.

4. Group together shirts, then pants, then suits, so it's easy to find things fast every morning or when you're rushed for time.

5. You may need to trim out some items. How many black skirts do you really need? Keep the higher quality, better-made items.

AIR OUT YOUR CLOTHING

Install a hook on the outside of the door. Use it to air out the clothing you wore before returning it to the closet. Doing this will save you money on dry cleaning.

USE A FULL-LENGTH MIRROR

Install one on the inside of the closet door, or use a free standing mirror. You need to see your clothing in its entirety to see if an item is really working for you.

YOU NEED LIGHT

It is absolutely necessary to have a bright light installed in your closet. You need to see what you have in order to wear it.

TAKE CARE OF YOUR SHOES

Take your favorite shoes to be re-heeled and resoled.

Get rid of outdated shoes. Nothing can date an outfit faster.

Toss any shoe that is uncomfortable. Realize that over the years, your shoe size has changed. Your foot has gotten bigger or wider, and it's not going to shrink!

Invest in shoe trees or keep shoes in shoe boxes. Stuff shoes with tissue or newspaper to hold their shape. Take a picture of the shoe and staple it on the box so that you won't have to open every box to find your shoes.

And last, but not least, I would certainly consider ordering the above book "40 over 40 - 40 things Every Woman Over 40 Needs to Know About Getting Dressed" which has been conveniently linked to my site.