As we head into spring and we start thinking about what's in our closet, what we are wearing, and how can we maximize what we're putting on to make us feel like the best version of us?

Today, I’m collaborating with Laura P Barker. Laura is a closet curator and personal stylist for women over forty embracing transformation inside and out. With a thoughtful and personal approach, she helps you curate a wardrobe that you love to wear. Her mission is to help you uncover what works for you so you can feel beautiful, confident and celebrate who you are today and who you are becoming.

Quality over quantity in your closet

We're not trying to fill our closets with the latest fashion because it's the latest fashion and then move on to the next. 

What Laura brings to the table is really that message of curation and quality over quantity. 

It can be so tempting to buy something that we’re seeing on Amazon and get it quickly and give it a go and then it is out the door again.

Is there a time for fast fashion or value in leaning into quality over quantity when it comes to our wardrobes?

According to Laura there is absolutely a benefit of quality over quantity. 

First, it’s about feeling good in your clothes. 

As women, we can struggle to find pieces that we love, that feel good on us and make us feel like us, which is part of this inherent styling part of the side of the business which is so important. 

Having one pair of pants that actually fit you beautifully and you can comfortably wear and you're like, wow! 

They feel good. You look at the beautiful detailing and the craftsmanship and you're just in awe of them. 

Or, you can put on a pair from  Zara or Gap and they don't fit right and they don't lay right. 

It's completely a no brainer, once you experience that perfect fit and you can learn to appreciate that quality vs buying several pairs of pants that you don’t feel good in.

How to move forward and feel good about what you are putting on your body

For women, as our bodies continue to change, we can get stuck on what we once were, and then we're assuming that same style and same brand is going to fit us and lay on our bodies the same way.

And it’s a rude awakening when things start to shift. 

When you put on something that is crafted and well made and lays on your body smoothly, it really brings you up a notch and feels good. 

So, what's usually that tipping point that someone is saying, I need help, and I need Laura, and let's get this situated so I can move forward and feel good about what I'm putting on my body.

I think a lot of my clients, a lot of women, who come to me are probably very similar to your clients which is sometimes they kind of lose sight, they don't have clarity and they open their closet and don't know where to go. It feels overwhelming. 

Even if it's not a huge closet, it just feels overwhelming because they’re not sure what looks good anymore. What should they be wearing? They have so many things that it’s hard to make decisions on what to keep and what to let go of. 

It feels like chaos which could be because they’re in a big life transformation or it could be because their body has changed. 

So much of why I love the word curation and what I do is it's in a journey and that's even more reason to buy less because each season. 

Because our bodies change and our style changes and most of us are ever evolving in so many ways. What our style is, how we want to portray ourselves, what feels good, what we want to wear, where our lives are taking us, that to always be curating and paying attention to it is important. 

What to keep and what to purge in your closet

It can be so hard for a lot of people to make change slowly. But when you do take the time and you're intentional with why certain things are leaving the closet and why certain things are coming back into the closet, you are able to embrace that change. 

When you take your time, that change is going to stick longer. 

It's slow, intentional, and then that's much more sustainable than the quick fix. 

So if you are tempted to start to refine your wardrobe, start to minimize what's in your closet so that you are looking at things that make you feel good, where is a good place to start? 

Laura notes there's 2 places where she always starts. 

The first is starting with the current season. What are you putting on your body right now? So, start with what you need to get dressed today. What is the weather right now? What is the season for where you live and your life?.

Laura does this every single season for herself. She tries on all the jeans, all the blouses, her regular uniforms and just sees what's really fitting. 

Are these old jeans too low rise or are they too narrow otherwise known as the skinny jean. Is the shirt too low cut?

If she doesn’t love them anymore or they don’t feel good she’s letting them go.

The hardest pieces for people to let go of are the expensive pieces. 

The pieces that you invested a lot of money into but didn't wear. 

Often if it’s expensive but you wore it, you feel better because you got your money's worth because you wore it all the time. You loved it  but it's just not right for me anymore.

But if you invested in something and you bought something and it was the wrong thing for you, and it was a wasted expense, that's one of, by far, the hardest piece to let go.

Body Positivity and your clothes

We're not just letting go of physical items. 

Especially when it comes to our body image, I know how hung up we can get on that mental image of ourselves and what size we think we should be, especially as we are bombarded with images from social media, from print ads, etc. 

Laura, what is one thing you could say when someone is really starting to feel poorly about where they are now. 

Because I know you are doing more than just helping with an outfit. I know it's deeper than that.

Laura notes, so much of this the work we do is mindset. 

My advice always goes back to the close and it’s to remind everyone that you are we are always evolving and we're always changing and we're getting older. 

And talk to yourself as if you were talking to your best friend, to your mom, to your daughter, to think about how you would react when your friend comes over and feels really badly, and they've gained weight, and they are not feeling great.

Try not to be so harsh on yourself and look for the positive. 

Upcoming trends

For trends, Laura notes that there are so many timeless pieces coming back 

You'll have a lot of linens, a lot of neutrals, a lot of blazers, a lot of classic cuts, fit and flare dresses, ladylike things and all these pieces that can really work for a lot of different body types.

You find a lot more elastic. YOu will see a zip and button in the front, you might have a tiny bit of elastic in the back or even a dress elastic, smocked in the back and it just gives comfort, but still put together. 

And what trends would Laura like to see go?

Laura notes over worn pieces, things that are just tired and overworn. 

You got tons of use out of them but it’s time to let them go. 

That'll just bring down any look. 

You can learn more from Laura @ https://www.laurapbarker.com/

Listen to the full podcast episode @ https://www.lesscluttermoreyou.com

If you have enjoyed this topic and all things embracing a life of less clutter and more YOU!

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 Hello, I'm Maggie! I am the author of this blog and the owner of Chesterfield Organizing Co. I help people just like you declutter and organize their physical space so they can create the space for what matters most in all areas of their life.

As a professional organizer, it's my job to use patience and compassion, above all things, to guide you through the process of clearing the clutter, creating systems of sustainable organization, and/or helping you move with more ease. Whether you want an in-person service, organizing membership, or online service, Chesterfield Organizing Co. is here to help!