Dressing For A Relationship?

We’ve all seen it happen, the happy couple – been together for years (or in some case just a few months) and all of the sudden it’s all sweatpants and dirty T’s. What is it about getting comfortable with someone that makes us totally lose our sense of style, not to mention our sense of self, sense of individuality, sense of normalcy…

I am what most would call a serial monogamist, and have currently been in a 2 1/2 year great relationship, but I find on weekends I tend to immediately go to my workout pants and T-shirt. After dressing up for work all week (I do work in a fashion environment here) sometimes I just don’t have the energy to spend an hour getting ready on Saturday and Sunday. However, how does that make my honey feel? Knowing that I spend all this time getting dressed for work, but don’t feel like I should take the same amount of care and effort at home?

So, here’s what I decided to do. Instead of immediately stripping off my work clothes when I get home for the preferable “lounge-wear” I have decided to leave it on, so that I’m not all “bum” at home. I’ve been trying to spend at least 1 of the 2 weekend days getting myself presentable, even if it’s just for a stroll around central park… and can I say it made quite a difference! Spiced up the love life, and the intimacy, and believe it or not has helped improve our relationship. It seems when you show you care (even just in trying to look nice for each other) it speaks volumes about how you feel….

Do you ever fall into the comfortable “bum” faze of a relationship? What do you do to change it?

Clean Out Your Closet!

Whenever seasons change we all know with a mix of dread and excitement that  closet cleaning season is also upon us. Dreading it because it’s a lot of work, but excited because we know after we clean out the old we have room for the new! With the recession and tight budgeting I haven’t been able to be as generous this year with the clothing donations, and have hung on to clothes that I would have normally dispensed of. Clothes that are in good repair that are not as well fitting as they were last year, I have in a pile to send to the tailors. Pants that have gotten a bit “rugged” on the bottom are being hemmed, and shirts with small holes are being repaired to wear longer.

Here are some tips I try to follow while cleaning out my closet, and staying within my budget:

Toss It:

- If you haven’t worn it in a year

- If you don’t like it, or don’t like the way it looks on you

- If it’s falling apart, or worn out

- If you don’t have anything to go with it, and can’t imagine what could possibly have matched it in the first place

Repair It:

- If it’s slightly faded and could be dyed back to it’s original color

- If it’s a minor repair job (small holes, a minor rip in the seam, etc.)

- If it could be tailored

Keep It:

- If it would look brand new with some different accessories

- If it’s a basic

- If you could put it with another outfit

- If it fits well

- If it makes you feel good wearing it

Here are some other sites with great tips for cleaning out your closet:

Cleaning Your Closet Tips

14 Great Ideas from Professional Organizers

Tips from Oprah

What are your favorite clean-out-your-closet tips that you can follow on a budget?