Planning Your Spring Wardrobe

March is here and time to think about Spring clothes. I know, I know, whoever plans like that, but honestly, I do. You may call it what you want, but the reason I do so is to save money. I am not an impulse buyer, in fact, I am the opposite. I like really good quality....okay, VERY good quality, but I don't want to spend alot. So that takes planning.

The first thing you do is decide what colors to build your wardrobe around. I am a bit tired of brown as it is my "black" and sometimes I overload on it. So I decided that my neutral this spring would be gray. When planning, choose one neutral color and two pop/accent colors. So I pull out my swatches (yes, I really do that) and lay them on the stool in front of my husband (who helps me plan and shop) and discover there is no gray in my Warm swatches. Isn't that funny? Funny because I teach on color every single week and really, I should know my colors. But because I typically build around brown so I never gave it a thought as to whether or not I could wear gray! And I can't. So I won't. Never a rule breaker when it comes to color...as it will either make or break YOU.

So, back to brown as my neutral. If I can find a few basic pieces in deep taupe I will do that but I don't have high hopes for it. Now for the 2 pop/accent colors. These are the colors that will bring life to your wardrobe. You can get these colors in pretty blouses, accessories, shoes and even a beautiful dress or jacket. I decide on an orange/peach color (if you are warm, it is the #2 and #3 color on the Orange/Red strip on the swatches) and also I am choosing a green...probably the last swatch on the Green strip. I will look for big and bold accessories to coordinate (since I am a Rock Star!) and 2 pair of awesome shoes. I will add a great spring bag to the mix.

I am going to shop for 8 new pieces. I will be looking for clothes that I can wear when I am speaking and traveling. I will add my basic pieces from last spring to make it complete. You probably don't need 8 new pieces, but if you are new at "building" a wardrobe, then you might. You have to take a serious look at your lifestyle. What do you need clothes for this spring? Do you have a wedding coming up? A class reunion? Where do you spend most of your time? At home? At a job? At your kids' school? Then make sure the clothes you buy will fit your lifestyle where you spend at least 70% of your time. Don't spend big dollars on something for a wedding. Go to a consignment store and dig around there. Or borrow something from a friend who has good taste and is your size. Most women run out and spend way too much for a one time event than is necessary. You should have a good basic dress in your wardrobe ready for occasions like this. So here's what I'm going to do...I hope this helps you, that's why I'm blogging it.

3 neutral pieces in brown or deep taupe. These will most likely be a pair of slacks, a jacket and a pair of walking shorts or cropped pants.

3 pieces in the pretty green....most likely a beautiful blouse, jacket and some sort of bottom, maybe a skirt or wide leg pants.

3 pieces in orange/peach...2 pretty blouses or sweaters (pullover) and dress in a print. I'd love to find a peach pair of good fitting jeans.

2 other pieces...probably in leopard print with brown back ground that can be worn with all the pieces. This will probably be in a blouse and a jacket.

I will add large gold hoops and tortoise shell type jewelry to this wardrobe. I will get a big, fun gold metallic or straw bag for my purse. I will search for the right shoes (I wear size 11 shoe so I know I will have to spend full price on these and they must be comfortable as I am on my feet for hours at a time.) I will buy a flat and a heel. I will most likely look for a wedge and peep toe shoe for the heel.

This may seem like hard work to you to plan in advance. But honestly, I don't buy all these things at once...I keep my eye out. I have wonderful pieces from last spring that I can add in...a pair of Ralph Lauren off-white linen wide leg pants, a brown crinkle wide leg pant, brown, beige and off white camisoles. I also recently purchased a pair of skinny jeans from Calvin Klein that I love and practically wear every day. Find a pair of cute tennis shoe that look like ballet flats (I recently got a pair from Coach brand on sale for $42....originally $100 AND my size!) Love them....and they get me thru airports in the most comfy way! But they look super with my skinny jeans.

You may need to add a few more shorts and cute tops to your wardrobe than I do, but whatever it is.....don't be impulsive about it. Make a list and stick to it. Pull out your swatches (if you don't have them I'll run the special again for the next week! $20) and decide what colors make you happy! Then start looking for those sales. Visit the upper end consignment shops and start dressing on purpose! Beautiful blessings to YOU, Shari