First of all, I need to apologize to the makers of the Slanket/Snuggie. After two days of temperatures that haven’t gotten above 50, I would sell my Aunt Pearl to own a Snuggie.
(I don’t really have an Aunt Pearl.)
(I could actually go up to HEB and buy a Snuggie if I really wanted one. I’m just being dramatic.)
The point is that if someone tried to judge if I was alive by feeling my feet for any sign of warmth or life, they would bury me alive. Not even my Uggs can help me now.
Okay, so many of y’all asked about the green sundress Caroline was wearing in Tuesday’s post. I found it at TJ Maxx for $10.00. It’s a brand called Hype and it must run small because that dress is a size 8. I always check TJ Maxx for their kids’ clothes because they have some amazing deals and carry a lot of brand name stuff.
Kids have a total racket going with that whole “growing out of things” issue that they have going on. It’s all a pretty clever scheme to ensure a whole new wardrobe every season. Technically, I guess I could eat eighteen pans of brownies and grow out of my clothes too.
On a totally different note, last Friday I drove to Georgetown to talk to a MOPS group about fashion. They asked me to discuss spring trends and how to make the most of your wardrobe. So in lieu of answering questions today, I thought I’d share with you all the fashion advice I imparted in Georgetown, Texas last week.
1. Before you buy anything or go shopping, SHOP YOUR CLOSET.
I realize that sounds totally depressing and, trust me, it totally is. However, you may be surprised to find a few things that you’d forgotten you own. This happened to me in the form of a cute white tuxedo shirt I bought from Gap about six years ago and have now worn twice in the last two weeks.
The most entertaining way to do this is to invite a friend over whose opinion you trust, give the kids a bag of glass to keep them occupied, and try on EVERYTHING in your closet. Pants, jeans, dresses, shoes, and accessories.
EVERYTHING.
2. Make four piles: KEEP, DONATE, THROW IT OUT, ALTERATIONS
Here are some guidelines: If it’s stained, pilled, or faded then throw it out. Don’t look at me like that, THROW IT OUT.
If you haven’t worn it in two years, throw it out or donate it. The only exception is if it has the potential to be a quality vintage piece someday. I don’t care what anyone tells you, those faded pink capri pants from Old Navy will never be considered vintage.
Be honest about what you think needs to be altered. In fact, if you don’t take it to a tailor within two weeks of putting it in the Alterations pile, then you need to get rid of it because that garment is never going to become acquainted with a needle and thread.
3. Group what’s left by category and color.
Be prepared to mourn the lack of quantity in your closet, but console yourself with the fact that you never wore any of that other stuff anyway. It was all just a grown-up version of a security blanket, Linus.
Once you have a moment of silence for the dearly departed, put everything in categories according to whether it’s a shirt, jeans, dress, etc. Look at everything and put together some complete outfits, including shoes and jewelry.
If you’re really anal and organized, you can write potential outfits down on paper, or you can be like me and just remember them using Jedi mind tricks.
4. Now figure out what you need to fill in the missing space.
Do you need a new white t-shirt to wear under something? Some new tanks? Maybe a new statement necklace or a cuff bracelet to make an outfit pop a little bit?
You may not be able to go buy it all at once, but at least you know what you have and what you need. This will keep you from owning eight of the exact same black tanks from Old Navy.
Purely hypothetical scenario.
5. Every closet should have a few essential things, no matter the trends.
(Am I about to do an outline? Shut up. I thought that was a completely impractical skill set, like quadratic equations.)
(Is there really such a thing as quadratic equations?)
A. A great pair of jeans that are comfortable and fit well.
I am a believer in spending a little more for a great pair of jeans because, if you’re like me, you’ll wear them all the time. You can find great deals on designer jeans at TJ Maxx, Ebay, and even Sam’s.
What kind of marvelous world do we live in when you can purchase high-end jeans and bulk toilet paper all in one convenient location?
B. A decent pair of workout pants or yoga pants.
There will be days that you don’t want to dress up and if you have some decent looking athletic wear, you can just give the illusion that you’ve been working out, as opposed to giving up on life.
C. A comfortable, yet stylish pair of shoes.
Sneakers, flip-flops, cute sandals, mary janes, clogs, cowboy boots. Something you can wear every day and still look cute.
Of course, it’s also nice to have some shoes that aren’t as practical but fill up a little place in your heart and make you happy.
D. A well-fitting swimsuit and coverup.
(I also truly adore this one but we need to spend money on things like food) that allow you to chase your child around the pool while maintaining your dignity.
I hate to open this can of cellulite-fearing worms, but it’s true. If you have a child then it’s hard to avoid the swimsuit in the summer time, unless you hire an aquatic nanny.
E. A nice outfit for dinner out with the girls or a date with your husband and/or significant other.
Maybe a cute, short-sleeved linen jacketor fun top paired with jeans. Then there’s always the option of a casual dress, or maybe a little more tailored dress, or even a skirt.
Okay, that is a lot of information for one post. I was going to start in on trends for spring, but I’m going to save it for next week for two reasons. First of all, because I can. It’s like a cliffhanger or, rather, a clothes’ hanger. (I’m sorry, I couldn’t help myself even though I know it’s stupid.) And secondly, I need to get a good night’s sleep because y’all have inspired me to finish out our Spring Break with a day o’ crafts and mani/pedis tomorrow. It’s going to require all my energy.
I’m putting up Mr. Linky if you want to add any fashion information to this post. You may also want to check out a great fashion post that Kelly wrote this week. She had some great bargain finds.
Have a great Friday!
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I was at Target yesterday and they already have out all their swimwear. I was like, “Ohhhhh,” until I remembered it was 35 degrees outside and rainy in North Texas. That put a damper on the excitement.
I love that you mentioned snuggies in here! They make me laugh…as my friend said it best “anyone can have a snuggie, just put your bathrobe on backwards.”
You are such a gifted writer! I am new to your blog and love everything you post.
Thank you!
Katrina
FTAC ’03
Thank you.
Thank you for starting my Friday out laughing.
Thank you again, for being one the most “real” people in the blogging world.
and……..
Thank you for opening that can of cellulite-fearing worms and getting this jiggly butt motivated to dust off my treadmill and spray some WD-40 on the belt thing-a-ma-jig and fire that badboy up today. (It was making a great coatrack though)
I also hear about this clothing swap you could set up where you get a bunch of your friends together…..bring all the clothes you want to get rid of….then browse and swap. (this all depends, of course, that you are all in the same size range and are at least in the same decade in your wardrobe choices….I have one friend who is clearly stuck in the 80s, so I probably wouldn’t invite her)
Have a wonderful weekend!
*~Michelle~*
i go to my favorite store and try on clothes, figure out exactly what size and style i need, then buy at ebay or goodwill…great way to save
The body wearing the Nike Workout pants? I want that to be me so I am off to do some sort of exercise in the abodominal (sp?) region before the kids wake up.
Oh snap! You were in G’town giving a live Fashion Friday? That stinks… Darn those kids who are in school now…
great list! Makes me want to go shopping. In my closet of course!
Girl, I have never been so inspired to clean out my closet in all of my life……what kind of magic is in those crazy, crafty words of yours anyway?
Great tips and good ideas. Well, I’m off to find some motivation.
As always, a great post. You never disappoint. I love to read your blog. Your great sense of humor always shines through!!! Blessings.
I’m blaming you for clicking on your swimsuit link, then getting sidetracked and going to LL Bean, then Delia’s, then spending $57.00 to have the swimsuit of my dreams shipped to me. All before 6:30 a.m thank you very much! I’m starting to worry that the teenage girl wonderland of Delia’s asked me my high school graduation date and my GPA as I checked out. Here’s to hoping I fit in with all the other pre-k moms in my teenage tankini.
Thanks! On to the closet….
Hi there–I’m here from Lidna’s @ 2nd cup…one of my hints for those of us who are, shall we say, challenged in the area of letting go of something they REALLY should. Hang all the hangers in your closet (the ones with your clothing actually ON the hangers) backwards, so the open end of the hooks are facing forward. Every time you wear something, turn the hanger the right way…at the end of 6 months, you really won’t be able to lie to yourself about how often you really wear any one article. If the hanger is backward, more than likely, you can probably get rid of it…
Great fashion advice, particularly the suggestion that we shop our closets first. I noticed recently that I tend to buy a lot of clothes in the same (unflattering on me) color.
Lately, I have found that shopping at thrift and consignment stores is so worthwhile. Amongst the racks of mostly unwearable clothes, you can find some amazing almost new (or even new!) brand name bargain. It certainly is a treasure hunt. But, for the fantastic finds I’ve gotten, it’s definitely worth it.
I feel as if my sitting under your Fashion Friday tutelage has paid off – I have already followed every step of this post BEFORE I EVEN READ IT! Incredible! Amazing! In fact, I’m heading to get alterations today and then going to fill in the gaping holes that have been left. Truly, it’s nothing less than FF bliss.
Thank you, oh wise one. Thank you.
Great advice, Mel, especially “shop your closet.” The four piles you suggest are right on too.
Melanie — ten of the same tanktops? That’s never happened to me… right! I just did the closet clean out but still have the black tank dress that I haven’t worn since sometime in the 90s. It’s my inspiration dress. Maybe I need to rethink how it’s inspiring me. Apparently not inspiring enough to lose weight and wear her…..
off to consider my weight loss inspiration.
Ooohhh, I love the idea of a good pair of yoga or workout pants. I usually run around in sweatpants and look more like a bum then fresh from Yoga Class. I have the cute tennis shoes so I’m almost there!
Thank you once again, for making me laugh. I’m 6 months pregnant with a 4.5 year old, going-on-16, daughter. We are both sick for the billionth time this never-ending winter.
However your comments about needing the snuggie in nearly 50 degree weather made me laugh first. Here in northern Indiana, 50 is when we all go outside without coats and play at the park!
And then the “give your kids a bag of glass” comment nearly made me spit out my water.
Finally, I love the suggestion of the great workout attire so that you like you just actually exercised instead of giving up on life, a la George Costanza.
Great stuff! Enjoy your Spring Break!
Christina in Indiana
The first time I saw a Snuggie ad I was wearing my bathrobe backwards, so Katrina’s friend is right. Besides, you know the weather in Texas will just change in 48 hours or less anyway…
I have a question for you. Having just recently moved to the south (North Carolina), I have found numerous women walking around IN PUBLIC with stirrup stretch pants and high heels on. I keep telling myself that it has to be a bad dream and I am stuck in some 80s time warp. Please tell me that the stirrup is not making a comeback.
I would like to add that I just clicked on the “well-fitting swimsuit link” and the filter on my work computer said “provocative material.” Excuse me, company filter? Somehow I don’t think Big Mama’s listing any provocative swimsuits for chasing toddlers…
$118 for a bathing suit cover up? Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!
I use a $4 towel…
that was a great Fashion Friday! I want to join a Mops group and invite you to come speak!
Next week is our Spring Break, I think my five-year-old (son) will totally appreciate my fashion show… and give me his honest opinion on my wardrobe.
I am kidding, a little.
I had an Aunt Ruby. :>)
I love how the swimsuit model (via the link) is wearing a cute bracelet and shoes! Because don’t you totally accessorize when going to the pool?
I love the ideas! So fun!!
I still have clothes in my closet that I wore in high school. My 20th reunion is this summer…not to mention I have about 20 or more pounds on my high school self. I think you may have provided the motivation I need.
By the way, your scarf tutorial saved my winter wardrobe!
Thanks for including the closet cleaning out portion — oh how I need this! Why, oh why do I hang on to faded, stained clothes that I do not wear? Because someday I may want to paint something, I say — it is nuts!
can you tell me what some of your favorite brands of jeans are?
My mother is a very fashionable and elegantly dressed lady but sometimes she does not see the potential in all her clothes or does not want to take the time to figure out new outfits.
One day my sister and I took her old polariod camera and put togetether outfits (complete with shoes and jewlery (most with multiple options) – a la In Style what to wear section – and gave her a set of pictures that she often refernces when she is in a style rut. Between all the options in the pictures, there are probably around 50 outfits ready to go and acessorized.
She loves it and requests that we do new photos every time we go home!
Great fashion advice! Thanks.
-FringeGirl
LADY!!!
What in the world are you doing reccomending JUNIORS department clothing?!?!?! (see some of the links on section E)
Many women mistakenly buy juniors department clothing but it is cut and designed for teenagers, not women. Please….no juniors clothing unless you are not legally able to drink! If you don’t know if it is juniors or not, check the sizing. Odd number sizes (5,7,9) are juniors. Stay far,far away!!!
Ok, I have said my peace… thanks!
Cleaning the closet idea is great. As soon as I get the time I am going to do that.
Great post! I love how you include other blogs with fashion ideas.
My husband went through his closet and purged. Do you know how many shirts the man donated???? 47! He gets shirts from various family members every birthday and Christmas and never gets rid of them until now.
Looking forward to the Fashion Friday cliffhanger post of spring trends!
I have no doubt Tim Gunn would approve of this post.
Thank you! I needed to read the part about going through my closet.
It’s scary in there.
I would just like to commend you for including the link to the swimwear distributors who advertise themselves as the home of the “Award Winning Maternity Suit.” Let’s be honest, how many contenders were there for this award?Really? How flattering can they make the thing? You’re eight months pregnant but you’ll only appear 5? Nice.
I don’t suppose you’d drive to middle-of-nowhere-vill-Kansas to talk to my MOPS group?
This is some good stuff, girl! Isaac Mizarahi has nothing on you.
I’m supposed to speak at our MOPS meeting on this exact same topic, and since your brain cells seem to be more organized than mine these days, would you mind if I borrowed some of this info to share with fellow MOPS? My least favorite part about doing fashion pots is finding links/pictures with examples of what I’m talking about. I see it in my head, but it takes forever to find that exact same thing online. Anywho, THANKS!
These are awesome tips! I am cleaning out my closet tonight.. I am so excited, lol!
I could NOT AGREE MORE with the yoga pants thing!! I got the cutest pair of yoga pants at Ross for $7 a while back, and it’s the best investment I ever made. They’re cute, comfy, and it doesn’t look like I let myself go. I don’t feel frumpy like when I wear sweats (which, by the way, I believe are of the devil), and I can go out in public in them still looking cute.
And I’m in a stage in my pregnancy where I’m not ready to pull out my maternity clothes, but my regular clothes don’t fit….but my yoga pants save the day every other day!
the two best infomercial products ever have to the Snuggie and the Shamwow… i wonder if it’s possible to combine the two, and make a single, super-absorbent robe?
I love your blog! This is my first time commenting… What is with the Snuggie craze? Its the most ridiculous thing ever yet we are all so taken by it! I have written a couple posts about the Snuggie, and my husband’s aunt read them, and recently bought me one!!! I’ll gladly send you mine!
Oh stink wish I could’ve went! You were in my backyard!:( Love the tips!
I have one of those husbands that has more clothes than myself… He has piles of t-shirts, a full line up of dress shirts, and a bigger dresser than I do!! How can we go through his stuff and find out what the essentials are for a man? I’ve only ever seen posts about cleaning out a women’s closet. Goodness knows most women need to, but do you have any suggestions for a man? Thanks!!
Great tips! I went through my closet several months ago and keep thinking I ought to go through it again. There were clothes that I kept that I’d not worn in years, but but but…
And I’m pretty well convinced that I will never wear them again, so I’d best get rid of it now before my placenta takes over and makes me gushy again lol.
One of my Lenten promises has been to let people know if I think they’re wonderful and awesome, because I’m a firm believer in honesty and truthful compliments…making people feel good about themselves costs nothing and makes me happy sooooo…I just wanted to tell you that you have evolved into a FANTASTIC writer, and I look forward to reading your work for years to come. Your writing is natural and fun without being flippant: it holds real substance. So bravo and stuff! Not like I’m some sort of benevolent literary critic that is sprinkling praise like gold or something, I just think there is so much that isn’t honest and true in this weird blogging world, and your writing stands aside from the vanilla.
“I guess I could eat eighteen pans of brownies and grow out of my clothes too.” — Hahahaha
Hey that’s what I did, and now I am too depressed to get dressed.
Take it from an algebra teacher, quadratic equations are real & they are totally practical. But *shh* don’t tell anyone.
BTW, tomorrow (3/14) is Pi day. I know you were just dying to know that! http://www.piday.org/
Excellent! I’m inspired! Hope your day of crafts and mani/pedi’s went well!
Last night Jimmy Fallon and his entire audience plus his first guest, Tracy Morgan, wore blue snuggies. Hilarious!
I’m fairly new to your blog, but I’m really enjoying it!
Sigh. This was a good post, and I’m inspired, but I REALLY don’t want to clean out my closet. It needs to happen, I know it, and I’ll be glad once it’s done. It’s just the starting. Thanks..I think.
I’m looking forward to the Spring Trends post!
Thanks for the tips. I never thought to shop my own closet. I thought of going in there and crying while looking at my “skinny” section.
Jamie
LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!
i just went through my closet last weekend and was amazed at what gets lost in there!!!
Thanks for the great tips. Would sell my firstborn for a great pair of jeans at this point. Wow, harsh!
Ok, are you sure that you would wear a snuggie…no, please tell me no!
I will buy you a plane ticket to my house to keep you from that aweful fate!!!
A friend of mine actually hired a consultant to come look and assess her wardrobe. She had a job with a Congressman, was fresh out of university and wanted to make sure she was “conservative but smart” in her attire.
The lady did what you mentioned first – went through the entire wardrobe. Then with what was left, outfits were put together with jewelry, shoes and handbags. Then she took PHOTOS of the outfits and put them on a binder so she could consult them at 5:00 am before she dressed to trek all the way across Houston at 6:30am to Humble.
Then she made a list of the (very few, I might add – her parents had done her proud throughout the years evidently) missing pieces – some scarves, a couple skirts, that sort of thing.
I was pretty impressed! And the fee was like $400-500 for a few hours. So you should think about free-lancing THAT way, Mel! If you did, you could have that backhouse painted by someone else next time while you color coded your scarves while comparing notes with Caroline….
I PROMISE you that I had the exact same thoughts about the Snuggie this week! We have had 4 days of rain and COLD~ I think of how many times I have laughed at that commercial, as I sit here with a cold nose. lol~ Also, I used my jedi mind tricks all the time, everyday, without fail…thanks for the chuckle.
Oh, and this is my first (or second) comments….love your blog! 
Heather in NC
WHOA BIG MAMA!! I think PW is crashing your server!!
When I was in 8th grade algebra, our teacher made these little business like cards with the quadratic equation on it if we learned it- official members of the Quad Squad. I know- I was so cool. I wonder if I still have that somewhere?
unfortunately (fortunately?) I followed your links…I think I’m gonna be purchasing that lovely Fire blouse from Nord’s! yay!
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