The January issue of Glamour magazine (the one with Brittany Spears on the cover) is worth a look. It has an excellent, illustrated seven page article on how to successfully mix-and-match ensemble pieces that most of us already own. The same pieces are dressed both up and down, which is key to a making a small wardrobe work.

Getting the biggest bang for your fashion buck means paying keen prices and making wardrobe items work overtime. This article shows you how to do it. My favourite tips were:

• Wearing a black turtle neck under a white button down shirt
• Pairing an arty printed T with trousers, a denim jacket and Converse sneakers
• Slipping blouses under sheath dresses
• Opting for pale shoes (I’m biased because pales shoes work well with  my hair colour)

The article points out that adding different accessories to an outfit makes it look and feel new. I wholeheartedly agree. The accessory, handbag and footwear departments in any store are the first to tickle my fancy at the start of a new season. Based on many of your fashion and style resolutions for the new year, it sounds like we’re all going to pay closer attention to our accessory collections this year. I’m willing to bet that the accessory areas of departments stores will show a sales growth in our challenging economy.

Uggs are extremely popular and there is no stopping the look. I’ve seen teens and women of all ages wearing the Australian ped in all sorts of everyday fashion ensembles (over jeans, with sweats and under skirts). In an overly snowy Seattle, the weatherproof Ugg has been the number one item of footwear on the streets and it’s virtually sold out at retail.

There are Uggs and there are Uggs. The “classic” Ugg is styled like a bedroom slipper and should not be sported as fashion outside the comfort of your home. I hear they are practical in the snow and I might make an exception for this. I can understand them functioning as necessary gear for walking in the snow or shoveling snow in the driveway (you can change into other boots or shoes once you’re back on warm dry land). As for an après ski statement, I wouldn’t take it that far.

You have countless options when it comes to stylish weather proof boots for snowy Winters. Actually, there are stylish options by the same brand. Bring on the pro-Ugg arguments if you’re a classic Ugg wearer. I doubt you’ll change my mind.

The “classic” Ugg, which made the brand famous. I call them “the bedroom slipper variety”. Not so fab.

These Uggs are infinitely more flattering and stylish because they actually look like a shoe.

I encourage regular closet sweeps and there is no better time to do it than early in the new year. I notice on the forum that some people got stuck in before my annual reminder. Brilliant.

Your goal is to have a small, fully-functional and efficient wardrobe. This is how you alleviate “what to wear” stress and save money. Here are the guidelines:

• Be ruthless: You’ll defeat the goal of the exercise if you’re not brutal about the process. Obviously, you need something to wear, so it might mean holding onto less-then-perfect items until you can afford to replace them.
• Create a holding zone: Store items somewhere (like in the garage or attic) if you think you might miss them later. These are the items you are unsure about passing on. If you haven’t missed these pieces after one year, find new homes for them.
• Keep a sentimental box: I’m not unreasonable. Unflattering items that are loaded with fond memories deserve a special place. We keep these items in a box in the garage so that they don’t clutter our small walk-in-wardrobe. Some of my clients have resorted to taking pictures instead of keeping the physical pieces as a way of optimizing space.
• Keep everything in sight and on hand: It’s not ideal to swap out seasons, or use more than one closet (that’s why I encourage a small wardrobe). Try to have all your clothes, shoes and accessories in one place. It prevents repetition and encourages ensemble creativity and variety.
• Create a closet system you can maintain: The crux is keeping your closet neat and manageable. There is little point in tidying up when your shelves are a shambles a week later. Create a storage system that works for you so that you know what you have at all times.

Once you have a fully-functioning wardrobe, adopt the ”one-in, one-out” principle. This forces you to keep things under control. Thereafter, the skill lies in updating your wardrobe with the right items and in the right quantities to keep your look current, appropriate and fabulous. Bring on the closet sweep!

Other posts in the closet organization category that you may want to consult:

• Your closet: inspiration or irritation?
• Wardrobe essentials
• Wardrobe favourites
• Wardrobe orphans
• Wardrobe golden oldies
• Fabulous unworn items: keep or toss?
• Closet Organization: Part 1
• Closet Organization: Part 2

Retailers in the northern hemisphere will be full of Spring merchandise in less than six weeks. It’s hard to get our minds around that fact when there’s still snow on the ground, but that’s the way the crazy retail cycle works. Here are the trends that I expect to see in stores over the next 6 months:

• Strong 80’s flair: I’m all for it.
• Prints: Butterflies and pastel florals.
• Maxi dresses: You know how I feel about this trend.
• Suits: Makes for a nice change. This is the year of the pastel suit.
• Cropped military jackets: Fabulous. I love military inspired items. Does anyone remember the Sergeant Pepper jacket?
• Floppy pants and baggy bottoms: I doubt harem pants will take off, but we’ve seen wide-legged pants make a comeback. I’m curious as to how this trend will be received.
• Zipper accents: The “tough girl” rock-chic vibe is hanging around. Another trend that I adore.
• Rompers and jumpsuits: They were fringe fashion last year and I hope they stay that way.
• Single shouldered tops: Interesting.
• The exposed midriff: I’m staying covered up.
• More fringing: A little bohemian flavour is fine.
• Daytime sparkle: We’ve already seen this trend come through. I wear my metallic poloneck during the day, dressed down with faded jeans and casual boots and it makes for a fun look.
• Bikinis: I’m sticking to a one-piece.
• More gladiators: Both flat and stacked. Love the trend but can’t wear the shoe. Oh well. I’ve come to expect footwear seasons with a limited assortment of wearable possibilities.
• Accessories: Oversized necklaces, pastel handbags and footwear, stacked bracelets and cocktail rings.
• Hair: Center partings.

The colors will be ice-cream tones:

• Brights: Turquoise, yellow, apple green and fuchsia
• Pastels: Blush, peach, light blue, aqua and lilac
• Neutrals: head-to-toe black and nude, nude, nude

Each new season brings with it a sense of excitement. As always, I’m chomping at the bit to share our feelings about what’s out there. So far, it’s the military influences, the zipper accents and colours like apple green and turquoise that excite me the most. Trends like maxi dresses, jumpsuits and bare mid riffs excite me the least. What’s your take on these trends?

The mood of Spring 2009’s colour palette. Yummy.