Ready, set – dress! The Wardrobe Code

Last Thanksgiving weekend, we shipped the kids off to stay with their grandparents for two nights and my husband and I did a major garage clean out and I worked on cleaning up my office. I filled 8 trash bags with JUNK that was cluttering up my office, and since that project I have been in a major “purge and organize” mode.

One of my 2012 goals was to tackle my closet. For some reason, this is the hardest project for me as I tend to hold on to things for “maybe someday I will wear it” reasons. I don’t know about you, but in the last 6 years and 2 pregnancies, my wardrobe has been through the wringer as I have been about a gazillion different sizes, which makes it so hard!!

So when I met Nicole Longstreath of www.TheWardrobeCode.com and learned more about her services, I thought it would be an awesome blog feature as I am sure I am not the only mom needing help in this arena!

Ready, set ~ dress!

The goal behind Nicole’s “Ready, set ~ dress!” service is simple (and brilliant.) Her aim is to help her clients create an outfit for any occasion that makes them feel confident and stylish from items already in your closet!

So Nicole paid me a visit last week and we went through the entire process. For me, it was very much an insightful and eye-opening (and somewhat) psychological experience. More about this later, but I truly have  a newfound clarity when looking at my wardrobe because it is pared down to the pieces that…

a…I really like.
b…are flattering.
c…are items I will actually wear.

Imagine that!?!

But first, let me tell you a little on how it works.

Nicole started by giving me a brief presentation on her iPad on the essentials of a well-rounded wardrobe. From there, she asked me to get out my calendar and tell her what was coming up in the weeks ahead so we could plan out my outfits. You guys, how FUN is that??

Then we hit my closet.

I feel like I should mention that Nicole is VERY kind.

The thought of someone going through your clothes and possibly “criticizing” your wardrobe choices can be a tad intimidating.

But I never felt judged or uncomfortable.

If there was an item that was something questionable, she would always start out with, “Do you wear this often?”

And my answer was usually “no!” because in my gut I already knew it was old, frumpy, out of style or didn’t fit! She just helped me realize what I likely already knew. And from there, it made it easy to just get rid of it!

The best part was that I could try things on for her, and get an honest opinion from an outside point of view. This is incredibly valuable!

Here is a video and a brief example of the streamlining portion (aka “The Edit!!)

After we were done, I was left with a pile of clothes to donate. It was so liberating to feel so free of clothes I didn’t like!

And here is where the psychology part comes in.

Through the conversations I had with her on the different pieces in my closet, and after looking at my pile of donations, it was very clear to me that I had a definite pattern when buying clothes. It seems that I buy a lot of dark, solid, muddy, neutral colors.

Being a practical person and trying to watch the budget, I think I was buying those colors because I deemed them to be more versatile and thought I would get more use out of them. But what it left me with is a wardrobe that has been somewhat uninspiring.

When we started talking about new pieces to buy, she told me to go towards the pieces that my eye is attracted to, because those pieces are like a little insight into your personality.

What I realized is that I have been buying clothes that do not truly reflect who I am. It was a big A-HA! moment.

After the closet was cleaned out, Nicole then went through and organized my clothes by type. My closet now makes sense. It’s awesome.

When the clothes were organized, it was VERY easy to see where I had gaps and needed to fill in with a few pieces, and where I had been over-buying the same sorts of things.

Now when I go shopping, I feel like I have a PLAN and DIRECTION. She also gave me suggestions on the types of pieces, colors, fabric types to buy when I am out shopping. SO helpful.

From there, she then put together 14 different outfits for the things I have coming up so I actually have a wardrobe plan! I can’t tell you how much fun it is to have some new combinations, and rediscover pieces I haven’t been wearing.

This is all without spending $1 shopping.

Are you sold? I bet you want to know how much this session costs – right?!

For this 3 hour consultation, Nicole charges $249. Yep, that’s it. Just think how much money you will save from finding a new wardrobe from within your wardrobe!

But, the price is going up on March 1st to $299, however she is extending a special offer for Tiny Oranges readers: if you book your consultation with her before March 1st, she will extend the old price of $249 to you if the session takes place before 03/31/12. And to make it more fun, Nicole will also include a personalized wardrobe building pin board  like this on Pinterest!

She has also offered to include a free copy of her e-book, Reclaiming Your Wardrobe, for any Tiny Oranges reader that books a service with her.

The book will guide you through organizing and editing your wardrobe and will help give you a plan for shopping strategically for your unique style.

I have a copy of the book and LOVE it!  It is a fun read – girlfriend to girlfriend style – and so helpful.

I think this is a highly valuable service and you will leave it feeling lighter, clearer, inspired and better about yourself!

To book an appointment with Nicole, you can click here and easily book online.

Visit www.TheWardrobeCode.com for more information or click here to send an email.

Tweet with @TheWardrobeCode on Twitter and follow the latest fashion happenings with her over at Facebook.com/TheWardrobeCode.

[Disclosure: I received a complimentary service to facilitate this review. All my opinions are 100% genuine, of course, and I would have gladly paid for this service knowing how beneficial it is!]