How to Edit Your Closet, from Jesse Garza of Visual Therapy
Happy Friday, chicsters! Today I’m excited to bring with you a Q&A I hope you’ll find uber-informative. It’s chock full of info on how to edit your closet and what to toss and keep! Celeb stylists and owners of Visual Therapy, Joe Lupo and Jesse Garza certainly know a thing or two about it. They’ve worked with countless starlets (including Oprah, hello) and appreciate a good shoe when they see it. So, without further ado, here’s what Jesse had to say about it all!
I Heart Heels: Right now, I must admit I have too many things in my closet. What’s the best way to “edit” my closet for fall?
Jesse Garza: We always edit our clients’ wardrobes at the beginning of each season. When done correctly, it eliminates the “I’ve got nothing to wear” moments and creates a Zen closet that will help you look your best every day.
Ask yourself the three golden questions that we wrote about in our book “Nothing to wear: A 5-step Cure for the Common Closet”.
1. Do I love it?
2. Is it flattering?
3. Does it represent me, and is this the image I want to portray?
*Bonus Question: Will this outfit get me a date!?
Start at one end of your closet and move toward the other. As you try on each piece of clothing ask yourself these questions. If you answer “yes” to all three questions, this item is a “keeper.” If you answer “no” to any of the three questions, this item has to go. If you’re not sure, that’s ok! Make a “maybe” pile and revisit it at the end of the process when you have a better idea of what you‘re keeping.
Depending on the nature of the “no”, there are three options for letting go: Leave it (give to friends/family/charity), Archive it (store these sentimental items somewhere that’s not your main closet), or Demote it (not–so–new items can be designated to running errands or doing chores).
IHH: Do you think a girl can ever have too many shoes in her closet? I must admit I own a lot.
JG: It’s a woman’s prerogative to have a selection of shoes, just like men collect ties or sports-related stuff. It’s definitely a girl thing, but make sure that you keep your shoes organized. Keep the “real” shoes – meaning that they’re comfortable, fit you and are maintained – lined up in your active closet. Isabel Toledo once said that a great pair of shoes is a woman’s pedestal: they really are the foundation of every woman’s look.
IHH: Which celebrity does a great job at always dressing to look her best?
JG: I have to say it’s Victoria Beckham! Besides being a great designer that our clients love, as cold as she may come across, she’s impeccable in every way (and super lovely in person!). Consistent in her style, Mrs. Beckham always looks polished and appropriate. Even when she was very pregnant at Kate Middleton and Prince William’s wedding, she looked absolutely amazing.
IHH: If I’m going to splurge on an item, what do you suggest? What can I get by with buying inexpensively?
JG: If you want to splurge, go for a great pair of shoes, bag or an accessory. Even when I’m wearing an American Apparel t-shirt and my favorite Levi’s, I always have on a great shoe or watch.
A strong trend this season that you can get by with buying inexpensively is anything velvet. Now is the time to get black velvet leggings, skinny jeans or velvet shoes. The great thing is that it’s available at any price point – from brands like our QVC line VT Luxe to Gucci and Etro.
Remember that value shopping is essential no matter how much you’re going to spend. Ultimately, wearability is more important than price. According to Joe’s value equation formula, a good rule of thumb is to consider the cost and number of wearings. For instance, if you buy a dress that’s $500 for an event where all your friends will see you and you’ll be photographed, maybe you‘ll end up wearing it twice. This way, it ends up being $250 a wearing. But if you find an incredible $500 handbag that you think you‘ll wear all the time for a couple of years, then it’s worth it ($500/200 wearings=$2.50 per wearing). This is how we look at value dressing.
IHH: What’s the key to dressing like you’ve spent hours getting ready but only a few minutes. I must know this!
JG: The key to always looking ‘put together’ is being really organized! Your closet should be a Zen space where everything is accessible and lined up properly. Then you can see everything you own and you‘re able to put looks together quickly and easily. Approach it as a place for everything where everything has a place. That’s the basis of our philosophy at Visual Therapy.
P.S. Connect with Visual Therapy: Visual Therapy Blog, Facebook and Twitter and ask your own style questions!
[Photo Courtesy Visual Therapy]
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October 20, 2012 @ 1:50 am
Great tips! This Q & A comes at a great time since I have been contemplating closet reorganization for a week now.
Thanks!
October 23, 2012 @ 7:43 pm
i just want to own clothes id want to keep around for a long time. i always end up getting rid of my clothes. need to make some room in your closet, send them this way!! yes, seriously. send them if your going through your closet.
own1zebra@hotmail.com
Teri C. <3