I might be a personal stylist, but I’m a woman, too! Before stepping out as a stylist, I’d spent years working through my own wardrobe demons: Body Image, Budgeting, Lifestyle changes, etc. However, my #1 demon was always the same: “I havenothing to wear!!!!”

It was working through my own demons that led me to this purpose and path – empowering women to live a life in Style and Balance.

I wonder, does this scenario sound familiar to you?

Getting ready for the day and everything is running smoothly. You’re on schedule and you’ve had your coffee and a healthy breakfast. Then the morning throws its curveball (though you should have seen it coming – it always does!). What to wear?! Now, your bed has a pile of clothes you don’t have time to put away because you’ve spent 25 minutes pulling clothes on and off and now you’re late. You finally settle on your slacks and a sweater because it’s good enough and now you just have to get out the door. Accessories? If you’re lucky!

Yes, that used to be me, too. Until I put my own personal process in place and started helping women with theirs.

U*styled’s 5 step Guide to Always Having Something to Wear:

1. Cleanse and Edit your Wardrobe: You shouldn’t waste energy in your closet with clothes that you don’t wear because they’re not quite right. If you put it on and you’re not comfortable with the fit or color, then it’s not for you. Something you’re not sure how to wear might be a different story and this is where an expert can help you see the possibilities.
2. Make sure you’ve got the Closet Staples: When I work with a client we go through everything to make sure she’s got the perfect assortment to ensure easy mixing and matching. Closet Staples are those pieces that create a foundation for your outfit. They’re not the stand out pieces, but they make it easy for you to pull together a look. They really mix and match with everything – think basic pants, great blouse and that perfect blazer. U*styled’s Q&A call this week will talk to this more in depth.
3. Keep it Organized: The system varies person by person and depending on your closet space, but it’s imperative to keep your closet organized so you can see all the beautiful things you HAVE TO WEAR! Otherwise, you’ll find yourself stumbling upon a long forgotten amazing piece that would have been perfect for that client dinner and you’d completely forgotten you owned it. For beginners, I like to keep it simple: Categorize it (tee shirts, blouses, dresses, skirts, pants, etc.) and then sort by color. Most important, you need to be able to see what you have. This is especially true with accessories.
4. Take a Deep Breath: Overwhelm is the surest way to give up. Before you go to your closet to pick out your outfit, take a deep breath to calm yourself. Remember, this is supposed to be FUN and EMPOWERING. Your wardrobe shouldn’t get the best of you – especially since this is only the beginning of your day!
5. Scan and Choose: If you’ve organized your closet, then you should be able to see everything that you have. And even if your system doesn’t have everything in eyesight, you know exactly where to look for it. When you scan your closet, you have the intention of picking out ONE piece you ABSOLUTELY want to wear. Whether it’s your favorite jeans, your new heels or that perfect blouse … your objective now is to build an outfit around that. And if you have the Closet Staples as outlined in Step 2, you should have NO problem!

BONUS: When you hone in on that ONE piece you definitely want to wear, you guarantee you’re going to feel FAB all day long because you love what you’re wearing!