I Don't love You Anymore.

I don’t love you anymore.

It’s not you, it’s me.
It’s not that you haven’t been great, you just don’t fit into my life.

Sitting among the strewn wreckage of an excavated closet, I am thinking of ways to rationalize these cruel breakups, yet it’s time to move on and I know it.

Jeans, saggy butt. Out. Sweater, pilling. Out. Top, trendy, circa 2005. Out. Cute things I don’t wear, consignment- which means NEW things!

One of my New Years “resolutions” is to follow my own advice, fashion-wise, so here goes.

This excavation was brought on by some new lovelies. I had to introduce them to The Closet, but it was in chaos. It was no place for a pair of fabulous leopard print pumps. Certainly no place for the knee-high towering platform buckle scrunch boots that my handsome hubby got me for Christmas. No, this closet needs a renovation.

The box of cast-offs grows to 3.5 boxes. How can I live with only 15 sweaters? Oh, wait, is that too many? Now I’m getting into it, anticipating the money in my pocket from the consignment store and relishing the new space.


I love cleaning out my closet, as stressful as it may be. The clean lines, hanging clothes colorized, (a term and skill I learned back in the day working at Nordstrom). Not everyone feels this way. The hardest part is beginning. Preparing yourself to cavalierly toss out things you are used to, um, looking at every day, but never wearing. Things that take up space that could be used for items you love and make you look amazing. There. Ready?
Here are step my step instructions the CSF way:

Get yourself in the correct state of mind first. You must be Ruthless. Listen to old-school “Mama Said Knock You Out” by LL Cool J for inspiration.

Check you out. Get a big ole’ mirror and be honest. Take everything out of the closet (or drawers). I am not kidding.

You need four bins or boxes:

To Charity
Consignment
Try it on/ think about it
Favorites

Now, start throwing that $%^%$ into those bins! Fast! Don’t even think- just throw things into bins. Start with accessories, then clothes, then shoes. Be mean if you have to (“You suck, white capri pants! You’re so transparent! I hate you!”).

Now that your closet is empty and your bedroom looks like the aftermath of a grenade explosion/ murderous struggle, you can start putting it back. Think about where things make sense- don’t just put things back in the same place. I opted for a different dresser in the closet and moved my shoe rack. Put in your favorites first, and that should be all you need. Put in seasonal items and items you need but rarely use somewhere that you can get to but won’t be in the way. Spacebags are tremendous, I LOVE them. I put seasonal items in these and stack them in boxes with lids.

Now colorize, reorganize again. Take the charity/ consignment boxes to your car and take them TODAY (or tomorrow, but no later). Make a list of needed items.

Take a breath and look at the bliss you have created. How easy will it be to get dressed tomorrow?

Holiday Gift Guide 2009

Here it is: The Gift Guide 2009. These are some of the best and most interesting shopping sites out there. Please add your own favorites in your comments, they will be filed!

For Anyone on your list:

Fishs Eddy

Artsy glassware, dishes, mugs and gifts at low prices. I like the Brooklyn line of dinnerware.

Fred Flare

This site has it ALL, from bacon bandages for $9 to foxy faux fur and talking Japanese watches for $15. You can even find your Edward-crazy niece Bella’s jacket from Twilight.

Retro block Ipod Speaker

Target Red Hot Shop is always fun to browse. Target.com has everything, and has a free shipping deal going on right with a minimum purchase of $50!

For the creative people on your list:

Curiosity Shoppe Online All manner of gorgeousness here. Every item is thoughtfully curated and very cool! I love these lace earrings for $30. Art, office and entertaining items that are to die for.

Lace Earrings from Curiosity Shoppe

I Love Uma

For creative urbanite, this cool site has things you didn’t know you needed! I love this:

Urban Cuckoo Clock

Etsy

Amazing handmade items! This is not your granny’s craft show! Children’s items and jewelry are especially great finds. Easy to search.

Check out this adorable bath towel from SDK Designs:

For the fashionistas:

Newport News

A surprising array of on trend accessories and shoes. Newport News is having a great boot sale right now!

These booties are $44!

Baghaus

A super easy site to shop, (choose by color, size, trend and more) Baghaus constantly has amazing sales. Many faux leather bags are trendy and cheap, but well-made.

Anthropologie

If I had my way, I would outfit my home and person with everything from Anthropologie. Plenty of inspiration and some affordable gift ideas.

Forever21

One of my favorite sites for high fashion at low prices. I love the store, but the site is much more relaxing to shop. Great accessories!

This necklace looks so much more expensive than it actually is at $9!

More ideas for girly girls:

Statement necklaces

Chain handle bag

multi colored scarf and beret

Next up: Holiday Party Dressing. Email your questions, situations and parties, we'll help you get dressed!

Mad Gifting Skillz

Winter holidays are coming fast. In this craptastic economy, holidays are not just about the gifts. Holidays are about appreciating loved ones, and the great things we already have. That said, you still need to get a little something for those loved ones…

I recently read a study that found people are happier with purchases they make themselves compared with gifts they receive from others. People aren’t loving gifts they receive because the giver has no idea what to buy. Time to do some digging, shoppers. Get to know your “giftee” a little better. That is what the holidays are all about anyway, right?

(Stop reading here Linea and Emma, if you don’t want a holiday spoiler)

I just found out my sister loves Lucien Freud and Francis Bacon. I am someone with an art degree, so I am searching for a fabulous art book to inspire her. Another sister is moving into a new apartment, so an adorable wine rack it is (who can live without a wine rack?).

Here are things to think about when shopping for gifts:

No knick knacks or gag gifts. What happens to these things? We laugh, then stick it in a closet. Eventually it goes to charity or a landfill and is accompanied by the guilty feelings of the person getting rid of the gift.

Small and tasteful is better than large and cheap. Ostentatious, enough said. There are amazing and tasteful gifts to be found at Target, TJMaxx and more. Antique and flea markets are also a fun place to find something unique.

I know it is too late for this now, but shop all year. When you see something that jumps out at you, you will have it instead of doing a frantic stressful search the week before the gift is needed.

Think of getting something the giftee might not splurge on themselves; a pair of nice leather gloves, cute jeweled ipod headphones, an antique pitcher or vase…the list goes on.

Purchase clothing for people you know very well, with a gift receipt and clear knowledge of sizing. Jewelry and handbags are also very personal, but sometimes you have to take a chance.

Next up: A gift list, shoppable online!

Common Sense Fashion Tutorial, Class #1:

As I was recently perusing the racks at a high-thinking, low-end fashion mecca (Target), I spotted a fabulously faux-furry boho-inspired vest that called to me from across the industrially carpeted floors.

Shaggy vests are in for fall. A staple in stylist Rachel Zoe’s wardrobe for years, these kinds of trends take awhile to trickle down to the masses. Anyway, enough history. I picked up the vest and held it up to myself in the mirror. Cute?

Ok, my first instinct was, yeah, and cheap! Then I put on my Common Sense Fashion Chapeau, and realized this was a mistake.

An abdominable-snowman, crazy-sherpa, dead wet roadkill looking mistake.

Cheap, yes. Cute, um seriously, this got me thinking:

1. One must try to stay in style… but how to follow trends without succumbing to fashion-victim status while remaining true to oneself (and one’s figure and, I hate to say it, age)?

When I put on my figurative (invisible) chapeau, I am forced to slow down, back AWAY from the furry vest and think.

What does this look like? A dead animal. A fashionable dead animal, but I digress.

Another issue is the amount of clothing one wears vs. the clothing one HAS. People wear 20% of the items in their closets regularly. Wouldn’t it be great to have and organized closet, where you wear 90% of the items regularly? (the rest is formal-wear, your old dominatrix gear, etc..)

For the next few CSF entries, we’ll be working on better buying, organizing and using what we have while examining trends that are worth the money.

Look critically at the item in question, and ask yourself these 5 questions:

Would I wear this is if were not “in fashion”?

Would I still want this if its price were $100 more?

How does this REALLY look on my figure/face/hair? (Be honest)

What are three things in my closet that would go with this item?

Do I love it? (sometimes the last question cancels out the first two, but never the third)

Next up, some inspiration. Come back soon!

The vest above can be found at Urban Outfitters. I will add some examples of CUTE faux fur in the next post.

Chloe Sevigny in a Proenza Schouler leather jumpsuit.

Is this:

a. a crime against an innocent crotch.

b. boob jail, with one trying to escape.

c. hot! I would wear this.

d. all of the above.

Please post your answer in the comments.

Disco pants.

Rawr!
Meet Shermine. She LOVES disco. And these pants. And why not? Who isn't dying to get into a disco diva's pants?
Um, ok, these are unflattering to say the least. What is with the classic mom high waist/ super tight, "1982's mistake" cut? And a cropped top with pumps. They had to go all the way. Well, I guess all the way is the only way to go, Disco Diva.
We here at the Common Sense Fashion Committee get the no sweatshop, made in the USA coolness of American Apparel, but we do not get this. These also come in shorts, and I mean SHORTS.

Found! Coveralls?

Coveralls and jumpsuits are different, seriously. Who doesn't covet the ease and style of your neighborhood mechanic's everyday go to item? We, of the Common Sense Fashion Committee declare these coveralls good. Hear us out... Yes, we know they aren't for everyone. But they are COMFORTABLE and different, which is always good. There is something vaguely art-school cool about these. You can find them for $118 at Free People.