I always lay clothes out on my bed before I pack, helps me visualize outfits, I’m thinking the H&M denim vest would be really cute over the silk leopard Cynthia Rowley dress, perhaps with a belt to give me a waist, and my red buckle boots! Even packing gets me excited! (Clothes from left: H&M denim vest, Guess military jacket, Cynthia Rowley silk dress, H&M metallic dress).

My passport… This will be my second stamp this year, the poor thing really needs more attention. Specifically some Parisian stamp-love. (Leather passport cover from Danier).

Clothing-wise, I would describe this location as urban, cool, a great place to wear contemporary edgy clothes that are casual. Of course, this won’t stop me from having a “Ladies-who-lunch” moment in this pale pink Danier leather jacket and obnoxiously bling scarf. 1 part leather jacket, 1 part neck scarf and 1 part ballet flats = well coiffed 60-something classy woman in my mind, I get quite a kick out of creating different personas with outfits. To complete the look I really must have a giant Hermes tote! Who’s got an in at Hermes and $25 000 lying around?? ; )

It’s fairly close by… can you guess where I’m off to??

Xo StyleStruck

What do you get when you mix two cute chicks with a mess of a closet?

So what is a closet detox you ask? It’s when two brilliant and stylish women take over your closet, leaving you helplessly clutching your champagne flute while they dissect each and every piece of clothing you own. This is an absolutely wonderful way to start off any season, especially the Spring season when you’re itching for a Spring cleaning, or a fabulous new wardrobe. 

I spent my Saturday afternoon with the ladies of Operation Style, Jillian Crago and Kristy Rogerson, who came over on a mission: to give my over-stuffed closet a much needed detox and me a much needed lesson in closet organization. They started by completely emptying out my closet and then sorting out all of its contents into neat categorized piles; long sleeve, collared, vests, skirts, etc. Once everything was organized Jillian and Kristy examined each piece of clothing for its shape, colour, fabric quality and relevance to today’s styles. Most pieces were lucky, others, like an old black stretchy and very short Wilfred dress, were not. “Faded goes,” Jillian told me. I don’t know why I was hanging onto that dress, the last time I wore it I was blending drinks behind the bar at Cactus Club. 

We all have items like this, say an old sweater that you haven’t worn in a year but that you haven’t gotten rid of because you “just might” wear it one day. Or maybe there is a pair of jeans hanging in your closet that haven’t fit properly in, oh about eight months, but you’re saving them because they’re your skinny jeans and you’re hoping that one day, mayybe one day they’ll fit again. (okay yes, I’m talking about my beloved Karl Lagerfeld skinnies). “Those pieces you never wear just stare at you when you’re trying to get dressed, which just makes it harder to find the right outfit!” Brilliant advice from Kristy. 

As Jillian and Kristy went through all of my clothing, they created outfits for me with pieces that I would never have thought to pair together! I kept thinking things like, “I’ve had those for years, how come I never thought of pairing them with the cream blazer??” to myself. I won’t lie, at the start of all this I was feeling very nervous, almost nauseous at the thought of other people seeing what my closet actually holds. Some of those things have been in there for years, and I’m not talkin one or two, I’m saying yeeaars, like since 9th grade years. How embarrassing. Although my pride in showing the girls my Chanel pumps did ease the pain a bit. So I pressed on. As each outfit was created, Kristy took a picture so that I could remember them. 

Wearing: Forever 21 Blazer, Wilfred stretchy tank, DIY trousers, Michael Kors flats. 

Wearing: Cynthia Rowley dress that’s been shortened by the girls of OS, vintage gold belt, Manolo Blahnik flats.

Wearing: Guess jacket, silk top from (212), white Sirens jeans, Stuart Weitzman heels.

Wearing: H&M shirt, H&M striped dress, Michael Kors flats. Kristy also laid some outfits out for me… This one (below) I am really looking forward to wearing come Spring!

Once it was all over, I felt like I had a whole new closet and more importantly, a whole new wardrobe! And thanks to these two lovely ladies, my closet is professionally organized, right down to the colour-coded arranging of the shoes.

A note to guys: A closet detox would make an awesome Valentines Day gift for the lady in your life! I don’t know one woman who wouldn’t love to have this experience. Information on women’s services click here!

And now for the before and afters, top picture shown is my closet before… Here is the after!

If you’d like to see what kind of magic Operation Style can work on your closet, send them en email! They’d love to hear from you! info@operationstyle.ca

XO StyleStruck