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 24, 2013 by Debbie Roes

Sending Warm Holiday Wishes and Links to Enjoy

Happy Holidays

As holiday festivities get under way for many people around the world, I’d like to take a few moments to send warm wishes to all of my readers. I just returned from five days in the Lake Tahoe area with part of my family and will be spending tonight and tomorrow with my husband’s family here in San Diego. I thought I’d have time to write more today, but as is often the case around the holidays, the days and hours speed by and we wonder where the time went!

Christmas Wishes and Gratitude

I’ll be back later in the week with a standard post, but for now I’d like to wish a Merry Christmas to all those who celebrate. Thank you all for reading my blog and being a part of my life during 2013. It’s been a blessing for me to have my words read by so many wonderful people around the world and I am truly grateful for each and every one of you. Continue reading →

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.

Alterations – a great tool, but watch out for the “dark side”!

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December 12, 2013 by Debbie Roes

A Winter Wardrobe “Benchwarmer” Update

In my last post, I shared my November Accountability Update, including what came into my closet, what left, what I wore, and my clothing budget status. I had intended to include an update on my “wardrobe benchwarmer” project as well, but the post was already more than long enough! Instead, I opted to do my benchwarmer update separately, so that’s the topic of today’s post. This way I can also go into the level of detail and statistics that my “inner nerd” enjoys and which many of you appreciate. Win, win, I say!