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Closet Clutter: Eliminate It and Save Big

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What are the three main wardrobe mistakes that cost you money? Instead, I should say, waste your money! Read on for my tips to change the behaviors that bust your budget.

Your closet is an unorganized mess where your clothes go to die 
If any place in your life is unorganized, it is nearly impossible to find what you need. Your closet is no different. Imagine this: you need a black blouse. You know you have one except your closet is a jumbled mess and you can’t find it. You start to think, do I actually have a black blouse? After searching for what seems like hours, you convince yourself that in fact you do not have that black blouse. So, you go out and buy one. The next week, while trying to find something else, what do you find? Your black blouse! If only it had a home in your closet so that you could have found it. Then you would not have spent unnecessary money to replace something that was never gone in the first place. Get my drift? Your closet should be maintained in a categorized fashion. All tops should be organized by sleeve length and then by color within sleeve length. The more categories you can have, the easier it will be to find your clothes. 

You buy in multiples
I get it, everyone is short on time these days. If you find something you love, why not buy it in every color under the sun? Here’s why. The items in your closet should be unique to one another. If everything is the same, you will feel that you are wearing the same thing every day and before you know it, you are in a style rut. Also, just because you like a top in black doesn’t mean you are going to love it in yellow just as much. Nine times out of ten, when I see multiples in people’s closets, they tell me, “I loved this shirt so I bought it in multiple colors, but I don’t actually wear the other ones.” Their hard-earned money is literally hanging in their closet. I wince and then explain the above. If this sounds like you, it’s time to quit buying in multiples cold turkey. Instead, invest in special items that you love! One note, though; if you are a hard fit in bottoms and find a pair of jeans that fit great, you have my permission to buy two pairs. 

You shop only the sale and clearance racks for your entire wardrobe
Have you ever noticed how some women love to tell you that they got their items “on sale”? It’s like sharing a victory with the world. I used to be this person. If someone complimented my top, my immediate response would be, “Well, I got a huge discount on it.” Why did I feel the need to tell everyone this? Mostly because I wanted validation on it. But I don’t anymore because I no longer shop only the sale rack. How many times have you bought an item on sale only to go home, hang it up and never take the tags off? I see this all the time. Sale shopping is really just impulse buying. It is a different mindset. Instead of focusing on the fit and how it will function for you in your existing wardrobe, your brain is clouded by the fact that it is a good deal. But, spending less money on more items that you never wear is actually worse than investing in pieces you wear all the time. The next time you find yourself sale shopping, ask yourself the following questions. Do I love this? Do I love the way it fits? Do I have anything at home to pair this with? How many times will I wear it? Make sure to remain thoughtful when shopping at all times to maintain a wardrobe you truly love.

By: Abby Wood

Abby Wood is a wardrobe stylist and style blogger in Kansas City, and her education in design plus retail experience make her an expert in fit, fabric, style and trends. Her professional experience in fashion began with an apprenticeship with a bridal designer, shifted to creating and showing her  own line, moving up to management and training at a retail level and now professional styling as an independent consultant. Abby loves to help individuals develop and evolve their own sense of style.
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