Galway Advertiser 2002/2002_06_20/GA_20062002_E1_018.pdf 

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T H E R E IS nothing like revamping your look t o b r i g h t e n u p y o u r a p p e a r a n c e . T h e r e is something therapeutic about reinventing yourself fashion-wise a n d p r e s e n t i n g a new face to the world. So where should you begin? Check out your wardrobe first and see what you've got and what can be given a new lease of life. Style experts say most of us use only a quarter of the contents of our wardrobes on a regular basis. The rest of the outfits just hang there - the won't and can't wears, the glaring fashion mis takes or outfits that we can no longer fit into, even after taking several deep breaths. The key to an organised wardrobe is to reduce the quantity and be selective about what you retain. It's wise also to be sensible when buying additional items to ensure you do not compound your existing fashion blunders. Go through your wardrobe with a fine toothcomb and examine every garment in detail. Do not be tempted to fling out everything that has not been worn recently. Some jaded items can be revitalised by the skilful use of accessories. However, do not shirk away from removing some space invaders which have not been worn for years and may be older than your children. This really is a cardinal error, time has marched on and so have fashion trends. S t a n pruning your press by clearing some floor space or your bed and aim to be ruthless but realistic. Sort your clothes into three piles - the clothes you wear a lot. the stuff you haven't worn recently but can be revamped and the garments you know you are not going to wear again. The first pile should be in fairly good condi tion and will require little work except maybe for sponging and pressing or dry-cleaning. Equally, the last pile just require you to pop them into a bag and drop them off at your nearest charity shop. The ready-for-revamp pile require more effort
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pensive accessories to boost your new-found favourites' appeal. A new jumper, scarf, shirt or hat can instantly update an outfit. When shopping for accessories, think primary and accent. Primary accessories include blouses, shirts, tops, j u m p e r s , t-shirts and cardigans. Accent accessories include shoes, tights, belts, scarves, bags, hats and jewellery. You should own one pair of classic court shoes with a medium heel, preferably in black, a pair of shoes to wear with trousers, leather boots and a pair of evening sandals or shoes. Style gurus say w o m e n should have three leather belts in basic colours. Brown, black and beige are good colours. Once you have started a collection, you can chose different colours and textures, such as cord and suede. A black handbag will take you anywhere in style. Hats can look great so if you have some tucked away, dust them down and see if they can be restyled or look fine as they are. The right kind of jewellery can make or break an outfit too. A few simple gold or silver chains, a string of pearls and some gold or button pearl earrings will add dash to any ensemble.

clips for trousers * Buy accessories to revitalise jaded outfits or give expensive ones more versatility * Don't be tempted to buy novel items abroad. T h e y may not work well with your current wardrobe * Hang suits together. That way, you'll see them as one outfit * Garments which you have not worn for six to 12 months should be removed from your wardrobe and stored somewhere else. This will reduce clutter

L O O K I N G T H E PART
* Spend the most money on the clothes you wear the most * Be aware of the clothing industry's colour cycles and be open-minded about which colour you want to buy * Don't wear navy and black together * If either your jacket or trousers have a check or pinstripe, ensure everything else you wear is plain * Never spray yourself with perfume once you are dressed. It can discolour clothes * When cleaned, remove the cleaner's plastic cover from anything light, especially whites. It can yellow or dull fabrics * Mend any tears, loose hems, or buttons before cleaning * At the end of each season, pack away the previous season's clothes ready for the right weather. Always dry-clean first * Be ruthless! Don't hang on to anything that * Look at colour. Does the garment suit you and does it complement your existing wardrobe? * Splash out on quality hangers to keep clothes you like looking good. Choose padded ones for knitwear, wide wooden or plastic ones for jackets and shirts, hangers with hooks for skirts, and

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kiss-of-life could become the backbone of your new wardrobe. And think of all the money you Try to look at each garment with a fresh eye. Examine it from various angles and add up its

without costing the earth? Has it got tatty without save decided, vow to act straight e tempted to put them in a bag and a> under the stairs. If buttons need i hem is beginning to come down.

I Splash out on quality hangers to keep clothes you [like looking good. Kong sleeved hooded sweat at 48 euro and retro bellbottom jeans at 55 euro. All from WranRler. get out a needle and do it now. Could the skirt be shortened, the waistband on a pair of trousers loosened or the buttons changed on your chainstore jacket to give it a designer edge? If you are handy with a needle and thread or know someone who is. you could consider giving blouses and shirts a new lease of life by renew ing the collars, perhaps with a contrasting materi al. If anything needs to be dry-cleaned, take it to your local centre today. Sometimes, all you may need are some inex

Buy accessories to give clothes more versatilityFashions from Wrangler. White raglan long sleeved top at 25 euro and 15-year used slim low waist flare at 63 euro