New Year, New Focus!

Welcome to 2019! 
Along with the champagne popping and the fireworks display, another universal practice to celebrate the new year is set a resolution! The new year is all about hope and what you hope to achieve in the next 365 days. The unfortunate thing about most New Year’s Resolutions (especially the ones set in the closing hours) is that we often end up ‘breaking’ them very quickly. In some cases less than 24hrs!

So, instead of setting a resolution for 2019, why not set a focus? One or two words that will help to guide you through the next 12 months. Words such as; Gratitude, Self-care, Growth, Connection, Creativity, are all important, no matter your goal. So, how do you begin the New Year with a new focus? A great place to start is the wardrobe. 

What you choose to wear is a fantastic tool that can be used to communicate your values and identity. Looking at your wardrobe and deciding what to wear is often the first things we do and the first decision we make in the morning besides brush our teath and take a shower. So why do we neglect it? It is a forgotten area as it is behind closed doors, hidden until we go to use it and feel overwhelmed! It doesn’t matter if you are a professional executive, an entrepreneur or a stay at home Mum, a cluttered wardrobe can make you feel anxious and frustrated! I hear all the time "I have nothing to wear" in a closet full of clothes!

Working as a Fashion Stylist in Hong Kong I see clients wardrobes almost every day. Did you know that we only use 20% of our wardrobe 80% of the time? There can be so much value sitting in our wardrobes that we do not have time to explore or know how to wear when we are quickly getting ready for the day. How would you feel if every morning you were excited by the endless choices you have in the wardrobe, or knew exactly what to wear to help you get through the day successfully? 

Instead of helping my clients with a simple makeover, whose effects can disappear quite quickly; I help my clients learn how to dress with a focus and for success and this is no different for 2019 resolutions.
It’s an empowering process where you learn how to put key pieces together to achieve an effortless style that enhances your personal brand (professionally and/or in your personal life) so you can embrace any opportunities with confidence and authenticity. Because when you feel confident in your unique sense of style, it allows you to maximize life’s opportunities.

So here are 3 tips on how you can re-focus your wardrobe for 2019:

1. Start first by cleaning your wardrobe. Remove all clothing and shoes and give the wardrobe a good dusting! You will be surprised how dirty it can get and can damage your garments long term. I like to use a solution of 1 part vinegar, 1 part distilled water and a few drops of essential oils such as eucalyptus and lemon. Bugs dislike the scent of eucalyptus and it has natural antibacterial properties (two great benefits to your clothing) and lemon is a refreshing burst helping you to feel re-energised. Lavender is a great alternative for Eucalyptus.​
   
2.  Turn all your coat hanger around at the start of the New Year or new season. If you don't know which items of clothing you wear/don't wear,  turning all your coat hangers around the wrong way so that the 's' hook is facing the front of the wardrobe. When you wear an item of clothing you can place it back in the wardrobe with the coat hanger the correct way (with the 's' hook facing the back of the wardrobe). At the end of the season, you will have a visual representation of the items that you did not wear. This is the perfect time to ask your self if it is of 'value' to you!
3. Organise the wardrobe space you have so that you can see everything you own. If you can not see it, we can often forget that we 'have' it and thus it never gets worn. If you don't have a lot of hanging space, then Marie Kondo's book "The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying" has some great idea on how to store and fold items so that you can see them every day.

Getting organised in the wardrobe is just the beginning of how to build and develop your personal brand and achieve a confident style. The 3 tips above are a great way of slowing getting started to removing stress. Amanda Leigh Style can give you more personal guidance on how to make your wardrobe work better for you. So get in contact with us to find out how. Start 2019 off on the right foot (in the right shoe), with the right focus and an amazing wardrobe, so that you will be ready to dress for success each and every day.