From An Image Consultant Point of View
Hello, readers! With our extreme winter weather, if you’re like me, you are either making some hearty winter dishes such as chicken pot pie or chili, or you are in an organizing and straightening mood. Of course, you would expect that from your Indianapolis Personal Stylist and Image Consultant who cleans out closets for a living!! Do you need help? I would love to do it!
I was struck by both. The chili recipe I use is on the Brooks Mild Chili Beans can. It is always seasoned perfectly. Tip: Add a little nutmeg and sugar for a more Cincinnati version. You won’t regret it.
Anyway, as a personal stylist and a certified Image Consultant or men and women, I, of course, am fascinated by organizing closets. Now I do it based on whether your clothing is the right color and shape. This is totally different than what a professional organizer would do.
From time to time I get hooked on certain popular methods out there about organizing your life or your closet—or even your home. I was on Facebook recently and came across a minimalist challenge. I love a good challenge. So I pledged to try. It looks like this: for a month, that day is the number of things you discard…from one to 31. It was working well, but I am stuck on day 20. I am getting back to it. (Source: PEOPLE January 28, 2019, by Mackenzie Schmidt.)
The other guru, of course, is Marie Kondo, author of Tidying Up, published in 2014. I read it immediately, and thought her reasoning was sound. The first-grade version is this, you evaluate your items, one by one. In doing so, you hold it in your palm and if the item and image doesn’t bring you joy, it’s time to part ways with it. She even goes so to say that you should thank it for the joy it’s brought. You don’t feel guilty when you donate it or whatever you want to do with it.
In case you are not that familiar with the book, or the new Netflix series everyone seems to be watching, are some of her tips for you…
Clean By Category
You don’t clean room by room; instead, you clean according to categories such as clothes, books, paper, kimono (kitchen, bath, garage and miscellaneous), and finally sentimental items.
Thank Your House
Yes, Marie really does this in the book and in the TV series and as your consultant, I practice what I preach.
Does It Spark Joy?
No? Then it’s time to let it go.
Say Goodbye to Your Stuff
Take your time. This is a hard one for me since I want to do it quickly.
Be a Little Sentimental
Just find a place to store it that makes sense, and maybe you don’t need to keep every item. For instance, in one of the TV shows, a husband kept 10 really special baseball cards out of his collection of 200!
Master the Fold
With Marie’s method, you learn to fold clothes so they stand up vertically and then you stack them in the drawer so you can see everything you have. As a style consultant, this is one of the best tips because you can see at a glance what you have and reach for it. You get more use out of all of your clothes and have more of an idea of your own personal image. How many of us buy items we already have such as cream tank top—only to find we already have one or two!
Start Small
Give yourself permission to do a little each day. Don’t try to finish it all in a weekend. Remember, how long did it take to accumulate these items? Again, as your style consultant, I offer services that can help you do this if you are already feeling overwhelmed.
Final Tip
As your Indianapolis personal stylist and certified Image Consultant for men and women, I have to discuss Marie’s style and image. She is indeed a petite lady and very tiny and small boned! When I watch her TV show, I would say 90 percent of the time she nails her style. She wears snug, short cardigan sweaters and an A-line skirt that usually hits well above the knee. It showcases her sweet, tiny features. When she wears the skirt or outfit that is a couple of inches below her knees, this look is not flattering. Nearly always, petite women should wear skirts above the knee! Remember this when you begin changing out your wardrobe. Need help? Contact me and I would be more than happy to be a part of your style journey!
Keep it sassy, Indy!
Beth Divine
Certified Image Consultant and Personal Stylist
