YOU MIGHT HAVE ALREADY BOUGHT A NEW WARDROBE.
Clothing conservation
By Paula Rath
Advertiser Staff Writer
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We all want to live more lightly on this planet. Concerns about overconsumption have been making headlines — and then there's that little matter of conserving not only resources, but our savings. For many of us, insecurity about the economy simply doesn't allow for unnecessary spending.
At the same time, it's a human impulse to care about our appearance, and our style of dress is a kind of currency, at work and on the social scene. How to reconcile the need to dress to impress with the desire to reduce, reuse, recycle?
How about revisiting the possessions you already have, right there in your closet?
Here are some strategies.
Begin by digging everything out from your closet, dresser and laundry basket. Lay out every pair of shoes and all your accessories, from belts and scarves to earrings and handbags.
Take a hard look at all the garments you haven't worn in the past year.
Sometimes all it takes to make a garment work in your wardrobe is a simple alteration such as lifting the hem or removing a shoulder pad. Or maybe all it needs is a little tweaking to bring it back into fashion.
We called on Becca Bowen, a former Honolulu resident and well-known "Clothes Coach" in Dallas, for advice. Bowen recommends inviting a trusted friend to help you.
"Most of the time, when I am creating a new wardrobe in clients' closets from the items they already own, I hear, 'I would never have thought to put that together,' " Bowen said. "Try everything with everything. You might be really surprised with the new outfits you create.
"It's easy: take jewelry, scarves, cute bags and throw them on pieces which may be a bit of a contrast. Many times, both items come to life."
Bowen described what she calls the "echo factor" — mixing pieces, such as a necklace and blouse, in the same color family: "Now, watch out! This is not license to go too matchy-matchy," she cautioned. "The effect you're seeking is 'coordinated.' "
If two pieces don't quite work together, try adding another color element, Bowen suggests, "so that the new piece fools the eye and creates a great pulled-together look."
Bowen recommends dividing your wardrobe into basic categories: blouses, T-shirts, pants, skirts, dresses. Further divide these into casual, work and evening.
"Do a mental checklist of the events you will be attending this season: weddings, parties, holiday gatherings, lu'aus. Remember to think about any long-distance events in a climate different from Hawai'i. Try all the items of that category on," and do what needs to be done to make them wearable, whether it's cleaning, mending or adding pizzazz with a different accessory.
Closet organizers can help remind you of the new outfits you put together, and help you find them again in your closet. Bowen recommends www.ContainerStore.com. We found some helpful closet organizers at City Mill.
Who knows what treasures may lurk in the depths of your closet, just waiting to be (re)discovered? The approach is environmentally sensitive. And it's absolutely free.
Reach Paula Rath at paularath@aol.com.
