Optimize Your Closet with Neiman Marcus: Part Three

As we round the corner into 2021, what a perfect time to take stock of our wardrobe - our closet - and optimize it with the goal of keeping key pieces that you know you will wear, organizing them so that outfits are clearly identifiable, pruning out pieces that are not serving you well, and finding a few select pieces to complete your collection.

I am honored to be partnering with Neiman Marcus to bring you this four part series. As a worldwide leader and pioneer in luxury fashion and lifestyle goods, Neiman Marcus is not only the place to find the right pieces for your look but it is also a go to destination for their exceptional tailoring and customer service.

Part One and Part Two were fab - enjoy Part Three - and stay tuned for part four in the coming weeks!

Part Three: Out with the Old

So you’ve figured out what pieces to keep (and maybe give a little TLC - check out Part One and Part Two) - and now you want to get rid what you don’t need.

I spent some time with Marisa Martorano, Brand Experience Lead at Neiman Marcus Boston and we offer you these suggestions for how (and where) to let go of pieces that are not serving you:

1. Consign (we love Chic Consignment in Andover, MA - be sure to mention Tara West Fashion)

   • When you clean out your closet set aside items you want to consign, if they are not in season for consignment store them away.

   • Remember you’re not going to get back what you paid for the item but it’s better than what it’s doing for you in your closet!

   • Steam or iron clothes before you present them to the consignment shop

   • Know what consignment shops are looking for:

     • Well kept clothing (no holes, stains, rips)

     • Current season

     • Brand names do matter. Ask the store ahead of time what brands they take.

2. Donate

   • Some great organizations for donations include:

     • Cradles to Crayons

     • Second Chances

     • Solutions at Work

     • Dress for Success

3. Swap

   • Here are a couple of fun and different ways to find a new home for clothes

     • Clothing Swap: get a group of friends together on Zoom and show them your items that you don’t want and vise versa. It’s like a virtual fashion show with your friends! Then you swap items, a boot for you from a friend’s closet a dress for them from yours.

     • Facebook & Instagram Live - a lot of our clients have been successful at getting rid of their items on FB/IG Lives. They take people into their closets and sell the items they don’t want anymore.