Reigning in my wardrobe with SwapIt

This past fall, I had the opportunity to work with the team from SwapIt to reign in my closet and rethink my wardrobe.  It’s something I had been both needing and wanting to do for a while, so when I was offered a complimentary in-home session in exchange for sharing the experience with you all, I jumped at the chance.  

REIGNING IN MY WARDROBE WITH SWAPIT 

After spending years working in non-profit management, I had pretty much nailed the all black everything uniform.  Getting dressed for work– whether that meant meetings at city hall, teaching in middle or high schools, fundraising events, board meetings, or day trips to Detroit– was fairly effortless once I figured out what worked best for me.  But since making the shift to be home with our children, I’ve struggled with what to wear, how to wear it… and how to keep it free of apple sauce + finger paint.  And, honestly, my body feels very “work in progress” since becoming a mother (and having two children in less than two years), so that presents its own wardrobe challenges.  

Despite putting a lot out there on the internet, I’m generally a pretty private person, so the thought of inviting three strangers into my home was pretty nerve-wracking.. but in the good kind of way that suggests there’s room and opportunity for growth.  I figured I didn’t have a lot to lose, and was really tempted by the chance of gaining a newfound appreciation for the clothes in my closet and some new strategies for streamlining my wardrobe and making better choices when getting dressed.

Stefanie (Swap It’s founder) and Sara (a professional stylist) showed up at my door in Southie just after the kids had gone to bed one Monday night, armed with a clothing rack, clipboards, a selection of clothing to swap (culled from other clients), and a professional photographer to document our two hour session.  Stefanie and Sara had reviewed my pre-session questionnaire, but also took the time to chat, review my goals, and share an overview of the process before we dove (mostly figuratively, but kind of literally) into my closet.

In addition to completing a questionnaire and submitting a few photos to Stefanie, I did spent a bit of time cleaning out my closet before the session.  There was an embarrassing number of clothes that I haven’t worn in ages (some didn’t fit, some were just plain weird)– it was pretty easy to part with those (I donated many, and will consign the rest).  What remained were a few new-ish pieces that I wasn’t totally sure about, a number of old standbys, and a neat stack of jeans in, like, three different sizes.  

Over the course of our two hour session, Sara pulled together a ton of new and different combinations (most would have never occurred to me)– I kept an open mind, tried everything on, was mostly a good sport about being photographed, and provided feedback on each look.  I had the option to swap some of my outgoing items with the new-to-me items they brought in from other clients– a part of the service that I think is so smart + unique. 

A few weeks later, Stefanie emailed me my look book — a file of photos from the session that I could refer to each time I struggled with what to wear.  Even more valuable than the look book and even the session itself, however, were the questions Stefanie and Sara asked both before and during their visit.  How do I want to feel in my clothes?  How would I describe my style?  What do I want to project through the clothing I wear?  What is missing from my wardrobe?  Do I like to shop?  Do I like putting outfits together?  What is challenging about getting dressed?  Truth be told, I’m still working through a lot of this (and I’m sort of surprised by how emotional and illuminating this has been).

I’m realizing that rather than getting more creative or adventurous, what I’m really craving is fewer choices.  There’s a reason all black everything has worked so well for me in the past– my closet was limited to a few great black dresses, pants, tops and sweaters (most of which played well with one another and worked for two or more New England seasons).  My goal for the next few months (post No Shop February, obviously) is to slowly and carefully build all black everything 2.0: Mom Edition (no dry cleaning, a few playground-friendly options, but still polished and versatile).  I’m looking forward to working in a bit of color and fun with the accessories, shoes and jewelry I already have on hand.  

Other great takeaways from our session:

• The roll-tuck-roll: I’m pretty sure this is the signature SwapIt move.  By rolling your pant legs slightly, front or side-tucking your top, and rolling your sleeves, you add a little something extra to your look.  
• Change your shoes:  I was amazed by how good it felt to ditch my usual flats and slip on a pair of nude heels from my closet, and how this easy swap transformed one of my favorite outfits.  Though I rarely wear heels now, I used to wear them daily, and this sort of brought me back to a time of feeling in control of my wardrobe, my time… and my life (LOL).  While it’s not practical to wear heels most days (and my life is now run by little people — and I am eternally grateful for this), I’m reminded that it feels good (and it’s rather easy!) to dress up now and then.
• Make use of my mirror: We have a full length mirror, but I never got around to hanging it.  I usually rely on our bathroom mirrors, which tell most (but not all) of the story.  I’ve made a habit of using the full length mirror more often since my SwapIt session.

SwapIt offers a variety of sessions and services for clients in the Greater Boston area.  Click here to contact SwapIt or schedule a free consultation call.

Also On Tap for Today:

• Working on a #noshopfeb wrap up + wish list for later this week
• Monday workout with Mama Beasts √ The spring session just started — come join us!
• Relevant reading: The Surprising Health Benefits of a Clean Closet from Apartment Therapy

How would you describe your style?  Have you adopted a uniform?