Q: It's easy to accumulate so much clothing that you become overwhelmed by it. Sort through all of your clothing to decide what to keep and what to donate or sell. If you're having trouble deciding whether or not to keep something, ask yourself:  Does this still fit me? Would I like to wear this right now? Do I feel confident in this? Do I feel good when I wear this? Are there occasions where I would wear this again? Look at the clothing that you kept, but don't wear very often. You might want to tailor pieces to create new clothing items. A classic example is to cut the legs off of an old pair of denim jeans, creating denim shorts. But, you can create more unique pieces with older clothing. Try:  Getting your clothing tailored. If you have a classic suit, but you never wear it because it's too large, get it taken in.  Consider using the fabric from a vintage skirt to create a new shirt or bag. Dress up a vintage t-shirt by wearing it with a tailored blazer or sports jacket. You should have shoes for a variety of situations. To keep things simple, start by making sure you have shoes for work (whether they're dressy or active), running around, casual everyday wear, and dressy or formal situations. For example, you may want:  Active: sneakers, boots Dressy: oxfords, pumps, heels Casual: sandals, boots, flats, loafers Gather all of your jackets, scarves and hats in an easy to find place. This is something you may want to do seasonally, every 4 months or so. The outerwear you need for winter will be remarkably different than what you need in the spring or summer. Here are some examples of what to gather:  Winter: heavy coat (like wool), larger warm scarves, beret, parka, beanie Spring: layering jackets (like cotton), cardigans, pullovers, blazers, fedora Summer: lighter jackets (like denim or bomber), baseball caps Find your sunglasses, jewelry, purses, belts, ties, and watches. These accessories are the finishing touches for your outfit, so try to have a variety of styles. Look at thrift stores, antique malls, garage sales, or shop for locally made items. To get started, try to find:  Sunglasses: a simple black or tortoiseshell pair, a fun bright pair, aviators Jewelry: earrings, necklaces, bracelets, rings, cuff links, watches Belts: simple black or brown belt and wide patterned belt Try something different. Look for clothing in different textures, colors, patterns, or style. If you don't feel like buying new clothes, spend some time pairing clothing pieces that you don't normally wear together. You might just find a new combination that reinvigorates your wardrobe. Break some fashion rules. Try pairing bright or patterned clothes with other bright patterned clothes. Or, layer different textures to add interest to a new look.
A: Get rid of clothing you no longer want. Repurpose your older clothing. Sort your shoes. Locate your outerwear. Gather your accessories. Get out of a style rut.

Q: Dinner or evening parties may be the first kind that everyone thinks of. But a party at another time of day can be less expensive and more memorable. For instance, you could host a lunch party that focuses on finger foods like bruschetta. A brunch party can also be fun, and it’s easy to come up with inexpensive dishes like omelettes. You don’t have to go all-out when it comes to feeding your guests. Pasta dishes, casseroles, and stews can all be inexpensive. It’s also easy to make a large amount at one time, so everyone will have plenty to eat and you’ll have more time to mingle. For an even more inexpensive option, ask each guest to bring a food or drink of their own to share. If you’re wary of calling it a “potluck,” refer to it as a “recipe exchange.” It can be lots of fun to learn about each other’s favorites! If you don’t want your guests to be responsible for the whole meal, you can ask them to bring just part, like a drink or dessert, and you provide the main food. Serving finger foods and small plates gives people more opportunities to mingle, instead of being stuck at a seat with a full meal. It can also cut your party costs. Think about serving dishes like:  Chips and dip Soup shooters Meat skewers Vegetable trays Fresh fruit Chocolates Everyone wants dessert, so why not cut to the chase? Host a party where you serve a few desserts. Even store-bought desserts will be a hit. You can also ask guests to bring their favorite so everyone can share and sample. These can be inexpensive crowd-pleasers like:  Ice cream with a variety of toppings A simple pie, like apple or cherry A cake A trifle Pastries Cookies Chocolates or candies Brownies Custard or pudding Party costs can add up quickly when you factor in alcohol. To avoid this, you could always throw a “dry” party. Or, you could feature a “signature” drink at your party so that you only have to choose certain drinks instead of having a fully-stocked bar.  For instance, you could serve a drink with sloe gin in it for Halloween, and call it a “vampire cocktail.” Alternatively, you could go with one drink that you know is a favorite of your guests. If you serve alcoholic drinks, make sure to have some non-alcoholic options for those who are designated drivers or prefer to abstain.
A:
Host a lunch or brunch party. Cook simple but crowd-pleasing dishes. Go for a potluck or recipe exchange. Stick to snacks and appetizers instead of entrees. Throw a desert party. Keep alcohol to a minimum.