Success

.....the 30 day challenge has ended successfully!!


I completed 30 days of no shopping, and to be honest, it really wasn't all that bad!
I think that the fact that I did this during the months of June/July made a difference, as there is less product brought into stores during these mid-summer months, and I'm not as much a lover of summer fashion as I am so much more a fall fashion girl: loving denim, boots, and sweaters. So all those tank tops and denim shorts didn't tempt me as much as perhaps new dark denim & boots might do to me in September or October. 
Maybe I'll just have to give that a try?!!





So....what did I learn over these 30 days??
I definitely feel that I'm more satisfied with my wardrobe, jewelry included!  


I did a complete jewelry "clean-out" last week and feel so much better about the pieces I own. It was time to get rid of those cheaper, but fun, pieces that I just don't wear anymore.  Just like with my clothes, I really believe in having a jewelry collection that represents my style and is of high quality. Meaning, the rings and earrings that turn your fingers green and start to hurt your ears after an hour of wearing had to go!  ....and those pieces that were a random buy that I've only worn once or twice (the feather earrings), they are gone too!  But I'm left with all of my favorite pieces that I know I wear and will want to keep for years to come, as perhaps they will eventually become vintage pieces coveted by someone else!!


I did a quick clean-out of my closet and have an appointment at a consignment boutique in August, as the majority of my pieces are fall/winter styles. I did get rid of 6 pairs of jeans, 4 of which I'll be bringing to the consignment shop and 2 that I will donate!  So I'm down to about 24 pairs....but again, that includes crops and prints and colors--all which I wear year round, daily!


Do I currently have my eye on any pieces to purchase?  
Confession: yes!  
But, I am more patient with my shopping now, giving myself time to think about how I'd wear the new pieces and if I can't stop thinking about them after 3-5 days, then perhaps I'll consider a purchase.
I would love to add a new pair of black skinny jeans to my wardrobe, as I know next summer in Europe I will wear them often, as most Europeans don't wear our traditional denim as we do here in the US.  There is also a gorgeous emerald green sweater I have my eye on that would look amazing with the black denim and with the one new purchase I did make thus far,  rust/camel colored skinnies!  But again....I'll hold off for now, and see if anything else I love even more comes along!


I know I still have a few pieces in my wardrobe that I'm perhaps not completely in love with, but I'll continue to weed those out as the summer moves on into fall...I've got lots of time to truly get my wardrobe where I want it to be, there's no rush!!

The quickest way to know a woman 

is to go shopping with her.  

~Marcelene Cox

So again, this has been an exciting, challenging, yet successful 30 days, and I'm glad I did it! I now, more than ever, truly believe that investing in a few QUALITY pieces at a time is a much better way to add to my wardrobe than constantly adding several lower quality pieces that I become tired of after a couple wearings. This "challenge" has not only helped me get my spending under control, but has also gotten me on the road to truly loving my wardrobe-a wardrobe that represents me and who I am style-wise. 

Need a FRESH START?

Time to clean out that closet…

get rid of the old and make room for the new!

First, think: “what is my brand" - how do I describe myself and how I dress?

• Elegant & Refined
• Trendy yet Timeless
• Classic & Conservative
• Hip & Eclectic

When you examine each piece in your closet, ask if it fits your brand. Also, ask yourself these important questions:

“Have I worn this in the last year?”
If the answer is NO—then it needs to go.

“Does it still have the tag on it for a reason?”
Is this something you bought just because it was on sale or such a great deal you couldn’t pass it up but yet still haven’t worn---if so, you won’t ever wear it, so take it out!

“Am I only holding onto this for sentimental reasons?”
Some clothes just have those ties to a certain event, or year, or person in your life, but that doesn’t mean you need to hold onto it—that’s what pictures and scrapbooks are for, not your closet!! Say good-bye!

Then take some time to review the discarded items - can you take any of it to a consignment store to be sold and loved by someone else?

There are 2 main types of consignment stores out there: one will give you money when your clothing sells, the other gives you money for your clothing up front. The advantage of the first type is that they usually price their items higher & you get a higher % per item. The advantage of the second type is of course - $$ in your pocket when you walk out the door, but usually a lower % per item.

Here are a few GREAT consignment stores in the Twin Cities area:

MONEY WHEN ITEM SELLS
Elite Repeat, St. Paul -- personal favorite!!
http://eliterepeatstpaul.com/
*accepts up-to-date clothing in good condition, not more than 3 years old

My Sister’s Closet, St. Paul
http://www.mysistersclosetmn.com/
*accepts both current & vintage clothing in good condition

Nu Look Consignment, Minneapolis
http://nulookconsignment.com/index.html
*FAMILY consignment store—takes women’s, men’s, children’s and maternity clothing in good condition

MONEY UP FRONT
Everyday People, Dinkytown, Uptown, & St. Paul
http://www.everydaypeopleclothing.com/
*accepts both current and vintage clothing in good condition

Buffalo Exchange, Minneapolis (Uptown)
http://www.buffaloexchange.com/
*prices are lower here, so you won’t get at much for your items, but any $$ is worth it sometimes

Of course, there are also Plato’s closets and Turn-Style stores in many locations around the Twin Cities—they also pay you on the spot, but again, prices on clothes are lower than at the more upscale stores like Elite Repeat & My Sister’s Closet, so your cash back will be less.

If you can't SELL all of your clothes...consider having a clothing swap/exchange with a few girlfriends. Make invitations, have appetizers and cocktails, and meet at someone's house with a lot of space. Create some "dressing rooms" for the ladies to try things on, and exchange what you don't wear anymore for something "new" from a friend!

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