INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Consider a typical week or season in your life and write out a list of all the environments and activities you get dressed for on a regular basis. Jot down the type of clothing you need for each environment. When assessing your wardrobe, keep these activities and clothing categories in mind.  Figure out what you actually wear with your hangers. Turn all your hangers hanging backwards in your closet. Over the course of f two or three weeks, as you take out clothes, turn the hanger the right way. At the end of this period, this will help you see what you do use, and what you do not -- the disused items will hang on the backwards hangers. Your list could look something like this: “internship (business formal), school (casual), gym (athletic wear), concerts (going out clothes), oil painting class (old, messy clothes)” This strategy will help you avoid keeping or adding pieces to you closet “just in case .” For example, if you seldom go to the beach, you likely do not need a dozen bikinis. If you have an active lifestyle and dress pretty casually at school, focus on filling your wardrobe with athletic apparel and comfortable basics like jeans and knit tops. Do not bother splurging on dress shoes that you’ll rarely wear. Some items may not be worn often but acceptable to keep. Examples include:  Interview clothes Clothes appropriate for a formal occasion: wedding, funeral, christening, semi-formal dance, awards ceremony, graduation. Christmas sweater, if you really like it and do wear it every year. Ceremonial clothing, such as academic robes for a college professor. Start by pulling everything out of your closet, drawers, and shelves. Look at each piece 1 by 1 and decide whether or not it can stay. Create a “keep” pile for garments that fit well, that are appropriate for the activities and environments you listed out, and that you enjoy wearing. Then reorganize your closet by neatly hanging or folding the clothes from your “keep” pile and placing them in an easy-to-reach spot.  This strategy is called “shopping your wardrobe.” Rediscover clothes you actually love but do not wear often enough. Try this to bring a fresh burst of novelty into your wardrobe without spending a penny. If you have not worn a piece in the last year, consider this strongly as a piece to pass on. Either commit to wearing the piece, or let it go. If a piece does not fit correctly--whether too large, too small, or is uncomfortable--generally it is time to let it go. If a piece is severely stained, ripped (with maybe the exception of artfully torn jeans or purposefully bleached items), or otherwise not presentable it is also time to let it go. Sentimental pieces that hold memories but are not actively worn usually should be let go. While you might treasure the handknit sweater your grandmother made for you, maybe just keep your favorite. You do not necessarily have to toss all your clothing treasures, as there are some ways to keep them without cluttering up your closet, such as:  Make a shadowbox of your Scout uniform. Make a T-shirt quilt of all of the free T-shirts accumulated during your high school sports career. Turn your favorite concert sweatshirt into a pillowcase or throw pillow. Upcycle your beloved but worn jeans into your new favorite bag or other crafts.   Make a “toss” pile for the pieces that need to be discarded. Sell to a or donate these clothes to get them out of your wardrobe. If you have a blazer and a structured dress that are a little roomy around the middle, have a tailor nip in the waistline to give your clothes a leaner silhouette. If you have shirt sleeves, dresses, skirts, or trousers that are too long, get them hemmed to the right length. Have your bottoms taken in at the waist so they fit comfortably and flatter your figure.  Tailoring will not work for all pieces. While a good tailor or seamstress can often do amazing things, not every item can be tailored. The cut, the type of fabric, and condition of the fabric all play a role. Tailoring can get expensive. While it may make sense to tailor a high quality blazer, it may not for a pair of shorts. It is easier to make smaller than make larger. It is easy to shorten a cuff. A size 10 pair of pants is unlikely to be able to be able to fit a size 16 woman. Keep in mind that certain areas, such the shoulder area, are hard to alter. Don’t buy or keep pieces that don’t fit well in the shoulders since you probably won’t be able to have them altered. Breathe new life into an older piece from your closet with simple alterations. Hem a dress into a blouse, give trousers more personality with a cropped cut, or swap out boring plastic buttons for higher quality ones. Dressing well starts with the right undergarments. Toss out bras that are too small or too big, since they will create lumps and bumps under your clothes. Do the same for panties or briefs. For men, toss out worn-out or mismatched socks, which can make a sleek pair of shoes look drab.  When wearing suiting, aim to match your sock color to your trouser color.  If you have a skirt that looks see-through, your outfit will instantly look cheap. Pop on a simple slip underneath to smooth out the fabric and give you a little more modesty.   Measure your bra size. Only keep or purchase bras in the right size and in styles that you like. Consider wearing well-fitting shapewear under special occasion dresses.

SUMMARY: List all the activities you regularly dress for to narrow your wardrobe’s focus. Keep the clothes that fit well and work with your lifestyle. Considering tailoring your clothes so they fit perfectly. Get rid of undergarments that don’t fit you well.


INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Recognize that you don't know everything.  Be honest about your faults and weaknesses.  Don't obsess over your reputation, or take serious offense over what people who do not know you well think of you.  While you shouldn't allow people to walk all over you or verbally abuse you to your face, you should understand that people often say things which are stupid and untrue.  Recognizing that the people who say hurtful things about you or those you care for have problems which you did not cause can bring an inner peace and contentment. If you've hurt someone, or lashed out in anger, apologize.  Say, “I am sorry for hurting you, can you please forgive me?” Do not constantly look for the perfect partner or job with which to make you happy.  These things can bring happiness, but being truly content requires that your contentment is not linked exclusively or primarily to them. If you lose the job or partner that you love, find something new to bring contentment.  Remember that there are many jobs and many people who can make you happy. Instead of worrying about what you deserve, or what others should do for you, learn to be thankful for what you have.  If your parents give your brother a big vacation for his birthday and they give you only a night out at the movies, don't hold a grudge against either your brother or your parents.  Instead, be thankful you had the night out.  Don't obsess over what you did or didn't get.  Doing so will reduce your overall contentment.  Explore why you feel entitled to more than you're receiving.  Do you feel snubbed?  Do you think you're better than the person who received more than you did? Look for the upside to your jealousy.  For instance, imagine you are jealous of a friend who was asked to donate to a good cause when you weren't.  You might be jealous of the person who was asked.  But upon reflection you might realize you were jealous because you wanted to donate to a good cause as well.  This means your heart's in the right place.

SUMMARY:
Be humble. Do not make happiness contingent on something or someone else. Don't be jealous.