Editing is only one aspect of the closet review process. It is a very big aspect, which is why we spend so much time talking about it, but in addition to editing things out, you need to think about adding things in. So once the edit is complete, your attention should turn to the following question:

What should you add to your wardrobe so that it reflects your current style preferences, lifestyle, environment and climate in the form of great fitting, comfortable and flattering items?

You will be thinking about how to put together your looks for the next few months, the next season, or perhaps even the next couple of years, and building a shopping list for what you need to acquire.

Of course, you were probably already doing this while you were editing your closet because it is natural to think about the adds as you deal with the edits. You probably also created a list of missing wardrobe items along the way. Great idea! But it’s always best to also do a thorough review once your wardrobe is edited and organized.

Without this final review, you run the risk of putting the wrong things on your shopping list, buying up all this stuff, but still feeling like you have nothing to wear. On the other hand, if you have the discipline to take this final step you’ll get a better idea of how your wardrobe items relate to each other, which in turn will help you to make more informed decisions about what to put on that shopping list.

You can think about the final step of a closet review in terms of the following questions:

• How does each item fit into an outfit, or into several outfits? Are there any incomplete outfits?
• What are your personal wardrobe essentials? Are you missing any of these items? Do you have any that need to be duplicated? 
• Have you covered all the wardrobe capsules for your lifestyle? Sleepwear, underwear, lounge wear, socks and hosiery, workout wear and sports gear should not escape the closet review process. Be sure to address those areas of your life too.
• How does each item fit into a capsule, or into several capsules? Are there any additions you could make to help existing items work with more capsules?
• Do you need to build onto a particular capsule in order to get more mileage from its components?
• Do you need to introduce colour and pattern? Do you need to introduce neutrals and solids? 
• Do you have enough tops for your bottoms, and vice versa?
• Do you have enough dresses to balance your outfits that are based on separates? 
• What new styles or silhouettes would you like to try? Can you slot these silhouettes into an existing capsule, or do you need to build one from scratch? And if the latter, can you afford to build a new wardrobe capsule? 

When I review closets with my clients, we answer these questions as we haul out the items and spread them onto the bed. That helps us think of items in the outfit and capsule groupings. Visuals are important! I also encourage clients to try on suggested outfit combinations to make sure that they like the pairings. There is no use thinking up a combination in your head just to satisfy the need of creating an extra outfit when it doesn’t work in real life. Get cracking and try on those outfit combinations.

We end up spending a chunk of time creating outfits with existing items, as well as thinking about how we can create that next level of fabness by adding the right new items into the mix. As we go I capture the shopping list on a piece of paper, but you might want to use your laptop or iPad.

Remember that your shopping list is not cast in stone. You can change your mind as you see fit. But it does help you to focus on your needs when you shop. For example, as much as you love to shop for tops, you might have that covered. And what you really need is to flesh out your assortment of bottoms. If this is reflected on your list, and you make a point of using your list, there will be less dilly-dallying about, looking at tops. You will naturally focus on looking for the right bottoms. 

This process might sound overwhelming and I wish I had a shortcut solution, but there’s no free lunch. If you want to create a fully functional wardrobe in a cost effective manner, closet review discipline pays off. The good news is that the more regularly you review, the faster and easier the process becomes. As practice hones your closet review skills, you will reach a point where editing and adding to your wardrobe becomes much less a process and much more intuitive. When that happens, fashion becomes more fun than ever.

Women from the Ankle Down – The Story of Shoes and How They Define Us combines fashion history with social history and tells the story of 20th century American footwear through some of the era’s most iconic shoes. From Dorothy’s ruby slippers over the femme fatale pinup pump to Nancy Sinatra’s boots and the Reebok Freestyle. From well-heeled suffragettes to the impact of the 1960s women’s liberation movement, the influence Hollywood had on shoe design to our current devotion to personal choice. Author Rachelle Bergstein shares the stories behind these historical moments, interweaving the design innovations with the evolution of modern women and the fashion that reflects – and has shaped – our changing lives.

The book also features designer mini bios and informational tidbits. Here are five to whet your appetite – did you know that:

1. From the 14th to the 17th century women of superior rank and considerable means wore chopines, shoes with platform soles as high as 20 inches. They limited the wearer’s range of motion, and in extreme cases, required servants on either side for support.
2. During the reign of Louis XIV only aristocratic men had the right to wear shoes with red heels – they were strictly reserved for the court.
3. At age sixteen, Salvatore Ferragamo specialized in comfortable, period-appropriate cowboy boots for the big Hollywood movie studios.
4. For a dance number in “Funny Face”, Ferragamo designed a pair of black suede slip-on loafers to go with Audrey Hepburn’s black turtleneck and stovepipe pants. At first the actress was hesitant to wear the white socks meant to go with the outfit because she didn’t want to draw attention to her long feet.
5. Romance novelist Danielle Steel collects Louboutins and has over 6,000 pairs of the famous red soled shoes in her closet.

Do you have any baffling or remarkable footwear-related tidbits that you would like to share?

A top has a round hem when the hem is higher on the sides than on the front and back, and curved downwards. Five things make the curve flattering when the top is worn untucked. 

1. It breaks the strong horizontal line that a straight hem creates across the body.
2. It draws the eye upwards and increases vertical emphasis.
3. It elongates the leg line by exposing more of your leg on either side.
4. It gives an outfit more structure and visual interest. 
5. It visually shortens the length of the top.

That said, round hems don’t look fab when they’re too short, especially when you’re wearing them with trousers or jeans. I have found that my taller clients in particular need to make extra sure that their round hem tops are long enough. This is why the hemline looks particularly good on petites. 

Round hems work both in knits and wovens, and fitted and voluminous silhouettes. The lengths vary from tunic to regular length (a few inches above crotch point) as seen below. Here’s a tip: if your round hem top looks too short, try wearing it with a skirt instead of jeans and trousers. Shorter tops generally work better with skirts. 

Do you wear tops with round hems? Do you find them more flattering than straight hems?

From tiny wallet bags to hard-cased micro bags, The Telegraph reports that mini bags are trending this season. How small will you go?

Fendi is celebrating the 15th anniversary of their famous Baguette bag with pop-up stores in Paris, Los Angeles, London and Tokyo. The fashion house is also bringing out a commemorative scarf with an illustration by Karl Lagerfeld and a 344 page coffee table book.

The bicycle commuters among us might love this stylish black and cream carryall designed by GiveLoveCycle. It comes in two sizes, and can hold your bike helmet and all your purse essentials.

Fab Links from Our Members

CocoLion loves Damsel in Dior’s style, and is smitten with the way the blogger is mixing jeans with this Helmut Lang piece.

After watching “The Iron Lady”, Anne came across this interesting interview with former UK Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher on the subject of clothing and the fashion industry.

Janet just discovered CONSTRVCT, a digital bespoke service that allows you to design your own wearables that are then printed and manufactured for you.

Gaylene believes that it is useful to think about the impact that our clothing has on others’ perception, especially in the workplace. That’s why she finds Lisa’s approach to building a career wardrobe much more practical than many other traditional lists.

Angie absolutely adores forum member Sylvia’s relaxed baggy shorts outfit. Volume, softness, dignity and spunk all finished off with the best flat sandals and hat.

These fourteen ways to wear a navy blazer (via forum member Bella’s Pinterest board), have inspired Laurinda to go out and find her own.

Vildy wanted to share this lovely holiday outfit with crisp white shirt and straw sunhat worn by the beautiful Shakira Cain.

Charmian recommends Empty Emperor’s approachable but rigorous discussion of consumerism and the psychology behind it. She found her post on Barriers to Buying Less particularly interesting.

Carole says a drape knot is such an elegant way to dress up any outift and add colour. She refers us to MaiTai’s tutorial on how to tie this knot.

Helen Gurley Brown, longtime editor of Cosmopolitan and author of “Sex and the Single Girl” passed away this week. MaryK will remember her as a woman who saw and helped bring about many changes in women’s lives.