Love the ones you’re with

I recently attended Recycle your Wardrobe, an hour-long seminar about maximizing your closet’s potential without maxing out your credit cards. The event was hosted by Milwaukee fashion and retail maven Faye Wetzel, owner of Faye’s 1 in Mequon and Faye@Play, her second location in Brookfield.

This is a woman who knows clothes. And she should — she has been in the business for nearly 20 years, first opening her  women’s fashion boutique in 1991.  Wetzel’s style mantras? “You don’t need a lot of clothes, you just need the right clothes,” and “you should never wear something you don’t love.”

Between seasonal climate shifts and trend variations, building one’s wardrobe can be a daunting and expensive task. Most of us end up with a closet literally busting at the seams, but “nothing” to wear. To save your pennies (and look good doing it), Wetzel suggests taking stock of your current wardrobe, then evolving it with a few creative and cost-effective tweaks. Follow these basic guidelines and love your wardrobe again!

Edit your closet. Get familiar with what you own and then create categories: what to keep, toss, donate and take to a resale shop. Begin by setting aside the items you love, have worn recently or know you can’t live without and then try on whatever remains. Send packing anything ill fitting, in poor condition or of style lapse. If you struggle deciding what goes and what stays, let a friend be the judge.

Organize. Arrange your garments in a neat and systematic manner. Hang like silhouettes together: jackets, blazers, cardigans, blouses, etc. Then group by color and style. When you know exactly what you own and where to find it, it becomes easier to create everyday chic combinations.

Experiment. Play fashion editor with your closet. Look to fashion magazines and local boutiques for pointers. You may discover you already own the perfect items for composing an artful look without having to spend a dime.

Shop consciously. When purchasing new items, shop for garments that round out your wardrobe and beware of the impulse purchase – nabbing that first item to catch your eye and forking over the dough like it’s going out of style (and chances are that it will be in a month or two) is not the most responsible course of action. Ask yourself: “Is it worth the price?” “Is it well-made?” “Will it hold up after repeated washings or dry-cleaning?” While it’s fashion-forward to embrace the hi/lo concept of buying an inexpensive piece and pairing it with something more luxe and less ephemeral, it’s also important to justify your purchase with careful thought: “do I need this?”

Quality is key.  Think less about disposable trends and more about investing in signature pieces that will carry you from year to year. A distinctive leather jacket, elegant blazer or featherweight cashmere sweater may seem expensive at face value, but if you calculate the cost-per-wear you get out of a hardworking, quality separate, you’ll soon see its real value. If it’s made well it should wear well. In the end, a pricey piece may be the bargain of a lifetime.

Good things come in threes. A pair of jeans and a tee does not a statement make. Every ensemble needs a “completer piece” —  like a scarf, cardigan or jacket to really set an outfit off and add instant sophistication. Discover your favorite go-to completer piece, invest in a few different versions and prepare for a perpetually polished presentation.

Discover accessories. The right accessories can instantly update or transform anything in your closet. Current investment nods include bulky strand pearl necklaces —“a great buy these days, and you can get one for close to nothing” says Wetzel; an “armful worth of bangles,” and hoop earrings, “The key with hoops: make sure you go big enough!”

Plan for the future. Always keep the next fashion season in mind when shopping. Buy fitted trouser shorts or a denim mini for spring with the plan of pairing either with tights for fall. By forecasting for the months ahead, you’ll optimize the wear of a trendy piece.

Don’t forget the TLC. Hang clothes after taking them off and let them air out overnight before returning to your closet. As for cleaning, when in doubt send an item to the dry cleaners, but only if it’s dirty. Repeated cleanings add wear to the garment, but with the right dose of tender loving care your clothes will last for years.

Faye’s
1505 W Mequon Rd, Mequon, WI 53092
262-241-8386