A Is for Assess: Your Closet Is Trying to Tell You Something
🍸 TIPSY TUESDAY
A Is for Assess: Your Closet Is Trying to Tell You Something
Before you shop again, listen to what your wardrobe is already saying.
Be honest.
Have you ever cleaned out your closet, donated three bags of clothes...and six months later somehow ended up right back where you started?
More clothes.
More hangers.
More confusion.
And still...
“I have nothing to wear.”
Ladies, the problem may not be your closet.
The problem may be that you cleaned it without ever assessing it.
And there's a difference.
Welcome to Step One of my A.L.A.D.Y. Method.
🍸 THE SIP: Cleaning and Assessing Are NOT the Same Thing
Cleaning asks:
“What should I get rid of?”
Assessing asks:
“Why isn't my wardrobe working for me?”
That's a completely different conversation.
As a stylist, I'm not interested in creating a perfectly color-coded closet full of clothes you still don't know how to wear.
I want to know:
What fits?
What gets worn?
What makes you feel incredible?
What keeps getting passed over?
What are you buying repeatedly?
And here's the big one:
Does your closet represent the woman you are TODAY?
Not who you were five years ago.
Not the size you used to wear.
Not the career you used to have.
Not the lifestyle you wish you had.
You. Right now.
👗 Try the 5-Pile Closet Assessment
Don't empty your entire closet onto the bed and immediately regret starting. 😂
Choose 20 pieces and put each one into one of five categories:
1. WEAR
It fits. You love it. You actually wear it.
2. STYLE
You like it, but you're not sure how to wear it. Don't throw it away yet—you may simply need styling.
3. ALTER
Great piece. Wrong fit. Ask whether tailoring could give it another life.
4. RELEASE
It no longer fits your body, lifestyle, personal style or goals.
Thank it for its service. 😂 It's time.
5. WHY DID I BUY THIS?!
Yes, this deserves its own pile.
Because this pile teaches you something.
Was it on sale?
Was it trendy?
Did an influencer wear it?
Were you shopping emotionally?
Did you buy it for an imaginary occasion?
That pile is where your shopping habits start talking.
💡 STYLIST'S NOTE: Don't Confuse Size With Style
I saw something in the comments recently that deserves a conversation.
A woman mentioned that her size keeps changing.
I know she's not alone.
Our bodies change. Our careers change. Our lifestyles change. That doesn't mean we stop deserving clothes that make us feel good right now.
Stop punishing your present body with a closet built entirely around your past one.
Keep a few meaningful or goal pieces if you choose.
But your everyday wardrobe needs to serve the body that's getting dressed today.
That's not giving up.
That's dressing with intention.
🖤 And This Is Where Fashion Gets Bigger Than Clothes
This is one reason I love fashion.
Fashion documents where we are culturally, professionally and personally.
What we wear communicates something before we ever introduce ourselves.
That's true for the woman walking into a boardroom.
It's true for the designer presenting a collection.
It's true on a red carpet.
And it's true on a runway.
A strong image doesn't happen accidentally.
There is intention behind it.
That's why I don't believe personal style means chasing every trend that comes down a runway.
The better question is:
What does this trend, silhouette, color or idea mean for MY life and MY image?
That's the conversation I want women to start having with fashion.
✨ THE A.L.A.D.Y. METHOD™
If you're new here, I'm introducing the wardrobe framework behind my approach to intentional style:
A — ASSESS your wardrobe ← We're here.
L — LEARN your lifestyle
A — ALIGN your wardrobe with your goals
D — DEFINE your signature style
Y — YIELD confidence every day
And notice something...
We haven't gone shopping yet.
That's intentional.
Before I tell you what to buy, we need to understand you.
🍸 YOUR TIPSY TUESDAY CHALLENGE
Tonight, pull 10 pieces from your closet that you rarely wear.
Don't donate anything yet.
Look at them.
Then ask:
“Why don't I wear this?”
Write down the answers.
You might discover that your biggest wardrobe problem has very little to do with fashion.
💬 NOW I WANT THE TRUTH
Last week's conversation was GOOD, so we're going deeper.
Complete this sentence in the comments:
“I keep __________ in my closet even though I know I don't wear it because __________.”
👀 That's it.
No judgment.
I'll even respond to some of your answers with my stylist recommendation: STYLE IT, ALTER IT or RELEASE IT.
Your answer might also inspire an upcoming Tipsy Tuesday.
🥂 READY FOR PROFESSIONAL EYES ON YOUR WARDROBE?
Sometimes you can't see what's wrong because you've been looking at the same closet for years.
That's where I come in.
Through my Personal Styling, Wardrobe Consulting and Image Consulting services, we'll look beyond individual outfits and develop an image strategy that makes sense for your lifestyle, career and goals.
And for aspiring fashion professionals and stylists, my training and education services take these conversations even further.
Your wardrobe shouldn't simply contain clothes.
It should communicate who you are.
Visit alwayzalady.com to explore services and consultations
Patricia Alwayz A Lady
Dress with Intention. Live with Confidence.
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