January 20, 2014 by Debbie Roes

By the Numbers: January 2014 Closet Inventory

I started this blog in January 2013 with several clear goals. I wanted to stop shopping too much and to stop using shopping as my default activity for dealing with difficult situations and emotions. I also wanted to pare down what had become an overly large and extremely overwhelming wardrobe. A year ago, looking into my closet provoked a sense of deep anxiety within me. I set a goal of cultivating a more manageable and minimalist wardrobe filled only with items I love and wear.

One of my first posts presented the cold, hard facts of what I had in my closet. I did a full closet inventory and laid out the numbers clearly and plainly for all to see. At that time, I had a total of 272 garments, 55 pairs of shoes, 15 purses, and 44 scarves! My grand total of all of these items combined was 386! My goal for the first year of my recovering shopaholic project was to bring this total down to fewer than 250 pieces. Continue reading →

January 2, 2014 by Debbie Roes

Closing Out 2013: Reflections on Wardrobe, Shopping, and Style

Happy New Year, everyone! I hope you all had an enjoyable holiday season and that 2014 is off to a good start for you. As I mentioned in my last post, I’m going to be doing a series of 2013 “wrap-up” posts in order to close out the year and powerfully start on the next leg of my recovering shopaholic journey.

In today’s post, I’ll be sharing my reflections on the past year in regards to my wardrobe, shopping habits, and personal style. I will recount the ways in which I’ve grown and changed and open up about the challenges I still face. In an upcoming post, I will write about my goals for 2014, many of which will be similar to those I stated upon starting this blog in January 2013.

Let’s Pause a Moment to Reflect on 2013…

Continue reading →

December 27, 2013 by Debbie Roes

On Packing, Travel, and Wardrobe Gaps

As I mentioned in my last post, I recently took a trip to the Lake Tahoe area for a pre-Christmas visit with part of my family. With the exception of one overnight trip my husband and I took in early July, I hadn’t traveled in well over a year.

Like many people, I enjoy visiting other locales, but I find travel to be a stressful experience in many respects, not the least of which is the packing. In today’s post, I share my experience of packing for my latest vacation and what I learned about my wardrobe and how it still isn’t working as well as it could for my life.

Do you find it stressful to pack for travel?

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December 19, 2013 by Debbie Roes

Do Your Clothes Make You Smile?

I recently received an email from a reader, who commented that many of the clothes she’s seen in my accountability posts seem very “practical.” She wondered if I had any garments that I feel are “pretty” or which make me smile when I look at myself in the mirror. Although I responded to this reader privately, I decided this would also be a good topic for a post. I often get some of my best post ideas from the comments and emails I receive from readers. Your feedback can bring forth insights I would not have otherwise had, and I love the synergy created through our collective pondering.

Do your clothes bring a smile to your face?

Today’s post explores the “happy factor” relating to our clothes, as well as the issue of balance in our wardrobes between practical items and pieces that warm our hearts and bring smiles to our faces. I know I’ve struggled a lot in achieving such balance and I suspect that many of you have as well. It’s my hope that the insights and questions I share in this post will help bring enhanced clarity for both you and me. As always, I welcome your thoughts on this topic. Who knows, another post may arise from what you share! Continue reading →

December 16, 2013 by Debbie Roes

The Dark Side of Alterations

I have long been a strong advocate of alterations. I’ve had my own clothing tailored for years, and back when I worked as a wardrobe consultant, I always suggested alterations to help take my clients’ garments from good to fabulous. It’s difficult for many of us to achieve a perfect fit “off the rack,” so tailoring can help fill in the gaps so our garments fit us like a glove.

When I first started having my clothes tailored, I pretty much stuck to standard types of alterations, things like pants hems and minor nips and tucks. However, at some point, I lost my way and started using alterations as a means of completely overhauling my clothes. I slipped into what I now term the “dark side” of alterations.