Spring Cleaning

Today officially marks the first day of spring!!! Beautiful blossoms are beginning to bloom, our days are longer and cute lady bugs are crawling around.  Just one thing seems to be out of sync, when you look in your closet and it looks like you are stuck in November!!   You open the closet doors and you see clothes, shoes, belts and coats. You have no idea where to start. No fear, I have quick reference to help you clean out your closet and get ready for a fashionable spring.  Keep in mind the three S’s: Save it=you can keep it and wear it this season. Share it=donate it to a charity of your choice.  Scrap it=throw it away;  it served its purpose. LET’S GO!!

Save it: You spy the bold, black, casual blazer, but the button is missing, but it looks wonderful.  Go to the fabric store (Hancock Fabrics or Joann’s) and get new buttons—adding a jeweled funky button will give it a new look.   Going through your shoes you see the taps on the heels of your pink peep toe pumps are down to the nails (you know you hate that annoying clicking sound when you walk).  These are salvageable, for less than $10 a pair you can get the taps put back on them (Heel Quick-Lenox Mall and Cumberland Mall) and keep on strutting. 


Share it:  You have your pile of things that you preserved well now you must try on.  You realized some items just do not fit (face it the pants are now officially high waters---you really should have read the label). Someone will LOVE to use that top, dress, blazer, jeans, etc.  Go ahead and donate that trendy bubble hem dress, the one you only wanted to wear to the office summer picnic, face it, you are done with it, and you will never wear it again.  Reaching way back in the closet and you see the skirt you have not wore in…GEEESH years (I am sure there was a reason you stopped wearing it) more than likely you will NOT wear it this year.   Oh, what about that asymmetrical dress you got the great deal on, but it looked HIDEOUS on you.  No matter how much you spent on the item, if it is unflattering on you it may look DEVINE on someone else.  The wool blend cropped jacket that makes you itch---why wear something that is uncomfortable?  Here is a list of reputable, local Atlanta charities that are in need of clothing donations (they are a tax write off, too):
-Partnership Against Domestic Violence (PADV): PADV is the largest nonprofit domestic violence organization in Georgia, has provided professional, compassionate, and empowering support to battered women and their children in metro Atlanta. (www.padv.org)
-Dress For Success: The mission of Dress for Success Atlanta is to promote the economic independence of disadvantaged women by providing professional attire, a network of support and the career development tools to help women thrive in work and in life.  (www.dressforsuccess.org/atlanta)        
-Atlanta Day Shelter for Women:  The mission of the Atlanta Day Shelter for Women is to ease the burden of homelessness for women and children and to assist in establishing self-sufficiency by providing comprehensive education and supportive services in a manner that respects human dignity.  (www.atlantadayshelter.org)
-Corporate Code: FOR MEN Corporate Code is designed to expand the participation and leadership of displaced men in Atlanta-the homeless, formerly incarcerated, and/or unemployed.  The goal of Corporate Code is to help them gain economic independence by providing interview-appropriate clothing and career counseling. (www.corporatecodeatl.org)
Veterans Empowerment Organization of Georgia (VEO): VEO's mission is to provide the appropriate assistance to veterans who are neglected, sick, hungry and homeless in the state of Georgia. VEO has a transitional housing program that provides a caring supportive environment to allow the veterans to rebuild their lives by returning the dignity of self sufficiency lost to the circumstances that left them homeless. (www.veteransempowerment.org)

Scrap it:  Aggghhh, the seam is busted on those grey slacks and besides that they have been worn a million times over, you can not even imagine being seen in them.  Don’t even clean the house in tattered and torn garments!  You pick up the soft pink, silk blouse and you noticed you never got that huge, oily, tomato sauce stain out of it from last year—it must go to the landfill.  Staring at cargo capris, you can not remember if they are navy or grey or maybe they were black-that is when you know they are way too faded, toss it.

Now that you made space in your closet…TIME FOR SHOPPING.  As you hunt for great deals these are 10 key pieces you need this spring:
1.  Military Chic: get the cargos or the light weight blazer—maybe both
2.  Bold Prints: polka dots, stripes, florals, animal (leopard, zebra, python)
3.  Crisp White: a classic button down, a pair of jeans, a sheath dress, your handbag…so many ways to add white into your spring look.
4.  70s Inspired: jumpsuits (be careful of the fit and fabric…you have to try these on and really know your body type), maxi dresses and flare leg pants/jeans.
5.  Pop color: citrus yellow, cobalt blue, tangerine
6.  Fashion Tote: some are large yet stylish enough to carry your notebook, magazine, cool flats, snacks…I am not the only one that puts all that stuff in a bag am I?
7.  Wow Jewelry: bangles, statement necklaces, scarves, large earrings
8.  Wedge sandal: an easy shoe and a fave of mine with maxi dresses.
9.  Khaki: cropped pants, jacket, a hat, you need this color in your wardrobe. Khaki blends really well with many of the bright colors for spring.
10. Little Black Dress-get a great one that will take you from day to night with a quick change of accessories.

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**ROZZIE’S TIPS** REMEMBER looking good=feeling good.  You always want your clothes to make you feel like the best and most beautiful you.  Sharing your unwanted clothes will help someone less fortunate feel their best.