Sometimes I stand in front of my closet for 20 minutes or more, deciding what to wear.
Actually, back up. I curse my inability to come up with a fresh look. I curse my many cardigans, my 12 pencil skirts. Why do I keep buying the same thing over and over? Please tell me you do this, too.
Every time I set out shopping, I tell myself, “You are not allowed to buy a skirt. You must buy tops.” Then I come home with a skirt.
It might invite the question—if I can’t dress myself, how am I a style editor? Well, I can dress myself—so can you. But I’m good at dressing other people precisely because it’s not my own clothes or body. I see your wardrobe and your body without all the invisible baggage you pack with it. A wardrobe consultant can do this for you, too.
As I transitioned my closet from winter to warmer, I realized I had to stop the madness. I called Christina Holm-Sandok and Faith Brue at Style-Architects and we made a date. I edited down my favorite skirts, and they pulled ideas from Bluebird Boutique, Parc Boutique, and J. Crew.
Just getting into a new piece or two can change your perspective. Faith pulled melty-blue-Popsicle skinny jeans for me, and blousy tops I’ve previously shied away from. She also picked a to-die-for lavender leather perfecto and suggested two sky-high pairs of heels. I wouldn’t necessarily choose these things were I shopping for myself, yet I loved them; she’s inspired me to find one pair of sky-highs that make me feel like a million bucks.
My plus, she said, was that I didn’t shy away from color or pattern. But the subtext of that to me was that I don’t even own a perfect T-shirt to dress up or down. I need some basics to mix with special pieces. It’s what all the fashion bloggers (and J. Crew catalogs) are doing: mixing ripped jeans with a silk blouse and pumps, for example. A high-low, dressy-casual mix feels fresh and modern.
A few lessons from fresh eyes will allow you to love your wardrobe. It should wear like a uniform: not overthought, but fresh and new—and you.
