But...Do I Need It? How to Decide What to Buy

Whether you have a closet full of clothes you love or you're rebuilding your wardrobe from scratch, deciding what to buy can be a daunting task. And while I love an impulse buy, I have too often gone on a little spree and a week later looked at my closet with that dreaded "I have nothing to wear" feeling.

With the LGD Method, there are three factors to consider when making a purchase- and it is crucial that ALL three can be met. When one of these factors is left out, you end up with a piece that goes untouched after its first wear, gets tossed in a donate/consign pile three months after it landed in your closet, or sits there for years with it's tags still on. This isn't necessarily the worst thing- many clients use a seasonal dressing strategy that involves rotation, and plenty of us have items that are so specific they are rarely worn. BUT: when your closet contains too many "meh" purchases you won't wear again, you undercut your ability to quickly and confidently style yourself because you're frequently sifting through and re-considering pieces that ultimately just don't work. Ensuring that each of the boxes below can be checked makes sure that the pieces you give your time, money, and closet space to will return those investments to you.

1. YOUR LIFESTYLE:

• Where will you wear this?

• How often do you conduct the activity you can wear this too?

• Does this item have cross-event potential?

• Can you wear this with three pieces you already have? Example: does this top work with three bottoms you already own?

2. YOUR PERSONAL STYLE:

• Color: does this brighten you up, or wash you out? We need to look alive, people!

• Print: print size is a matter of personal taste and occasionally your shape goals. Certain size prints in tops, for instance, have the effect of broadening mid-sections or shoulders...or slimming those same spots. Depending on your shape- and how YOU prefer to dress your shape, we don't just blindly follow "no large prints for large busts" rules- you may weigh certain prints more or less favorably.

• Detailing

• Does this feel like "you"?

3. YOUR SHAPE:

I know what you are thinking...shape should be the #1 consideration, right? Whether or not an item is flattering to your shape will ALWAYS matter. But in my styling journey I've often found that many women have outdated or mis-understood ideas about what "should" and "shouldn't" look good on their body type, and it keeps them from trying something they would end up loving. Time and time again, however, I have helped an "apple" shape pair a paperbag-waisted pant they were sure would never flatter their figure with a fitted blouse and great shoes, and they end up feeling like a million bucks...even though traditional style conventions would dictate that any eye-catching details on a wider waistline will be unflattering. The questions to ask when assessing items to see if they "fit" your shape:

• Does it highlight your favorite features? If it does...no-brainer, we take it home.

• Does it highlight your least favorite features? If it does...we might have to pass. See below!

• If this item is the correct size, could a basic tailoring edit fix the fit? TOO OFTEN we pass up items that are otherwise great because the hem is 1" too long- taken to a tailor, for $10 you have a great-fitting pant. While that does tick up the cost a bit, you wind up with a custom-fit item that you feel confident returning to often. Especially when building your core wardrobe (where we are often comfortable investing a bit more), tailoring can be a great option if you otherwise love the fabric of a pair of pants/the cut of a dress/the print of a blouse but just need a basic tweak to make it work.

I wouldn't be a style professional if I didn't repeat: these three factors are essential, and must be met to build a functional wardrobe that celebrates your style and enhances your confidence. Meeting these criteria ensure that what enters your closet doesn't create one new look you like, but actually adds versatility to the rest of your wardrobe and multiplies your outfitting options- duly returning your investments of time, money, and effort. If we have found a piece that fills a LIFESTYLE need for you, evokes your own PERSONAL STYLE, and fits your individual SHAPE, well...let's get it, and Let's Get Dressed!