Should It Stay or Should It Go?

I've been busy organizing plenty of closets lately, and I've gotten the same questions over and over again. "When should I throw this out?"

I can't help but hearing the song lyrics to the classic song by The Clash, "Should I Stay or Should I Go."

My answer is always GO. Let it go. My general rule of thumb is that if you have not worn something in over a year, GET RID OF IT. There are usually 4 reasons why we hold onto something instead of getting rid of it...

First, it's too tight. And, deep down inside we dream of fitting back into the size 4 dress. But, lets face it. If it's been over a year, are we really going to? And, if we do lose some weight, don't you think we'll want new clothes to show off our new figures? So, unless it's a premium designer that you've invested a good bit of money on, get rid of it. That way when you do lose the weight, you can treat yourself to a few new pieces of clothing.

Second, it's too big. Boy, that's a problem we all wish we had. Bottom line - get rid of it. Someone out there could be using it.

Third, we bought a piece of clothing on sale, get it home, and hate the way it looks on us. But, we keep putting in on over and over again in a different way in hopes that it will look good one day. Sorry, but it probably won't. So, why waste the space on it. Get rid of it.

Fourth, it's a really trendy piece. Don't get me wrong - trends circulate all the time. But, is your trendy piece really worth holding onto for five to ten more years to wear again? Probably not. Again, unless it's a premium designer that you've invested in, get rid of it and make way for new trends.

I'm a big believer that if your closet is in order, your day-to-day life will be in better order. So, take the step today, sing The Clash while doing it, and get rid of the things you aren't wearing!

If you need help, call Laura at Redress to set your closet straight. Check out the website at www.redressbylaura.com for more details.

Bangle It

The quickest way to make a drab outfit fab is by wearing bangles - lots and lots of bangles. Stacking bangles has been all the rage for a while and isn't going anywhere. Celebrities are always seen on the red carpets with stacks of bangles on their arms.

Remember, you don't have to wear all the same type of bangle. Mix it up with wooden and metal stacked together. Or, throw in some colored bangles with some neutrals. And, since bangles can be found just about anywhere, this is great, inexpensive way to update your look. Don't be shy - Bangle it!

Trend Alert: Nautical Stripes

It's hard to use the words classic and trendy in the same sentence. But, this trend is just that - classic. The classic navy and white nautical striped t-shirt is popping up everywhere - being seen on celebrities in Hollywood and all the way to the racks of your local mall. This is a sure trend that will carry over from Spring to Summer.

However, some of us are really scared of horizontal stripes - with good reason. Sometimes a horizontal stripe can give the illusion of looking wider. So, if you want to wear a horizontal striped shirt, be sure the stripes are not too thick and wide. This will help minimize broadness. Also, be sure the top isn't too long - you certainly don't want to put horizontal stripes across your hips and butt.

So for those of you that don't like getting too trendy, here's a great way to embrace a trend but stick to your classic style.