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Year-Round Fashion Resolutions

I always have new fashion ideas at the beginning of the year, but then I start to get lazy. How can I stay fashion-fresh all year long?
Instead of plotting too far ahead, make daily or weekly fashion decisions a part of your regular routine. You'll have the hang of it in no time -- and will be turning heads wherever you go!

We all know what the New Year brings... Resolutions, and an overwhelming pressure to keep them. Resolutions are like diets; they never work! We set ourselves up for failure followed by guilt when we really could avoid the whole thing. Instead of waiting for a "certain date" to do something, just do it when you think of it, or soon after. Then it becomes something you just do rather than a big serious impending responsibility that you just want to run from.

So since we're talking about Fashion Resolutions here, let's try to make this little list of goals into fun activities that become a part of who we are.

Tackle the Closet

Clean out and reorganize your closet on a regular basis... I am just as guilty of this as the next woman, but when I finally do clean out my closet, I find a handful of "new" outfits just waiting to be worn. Sometimes it's as simple as hanging two items next to each other. You may have never thought to pair them together until you visually see them side by side, then voila! New outfit!

closet organizing

Hanger Patrol

While we're talking about closet organizing, if you haven't already, start making a gradual switch to felt hangers. They take up far less room than any other hangers and keep everything nice and tidy.

closet closeup

Think Before You Buy

Stop impulse buying! Online shopping actually helps me buy more responsibly because it gives me time to really look at all my other options and compare prices as well as look in my closet to see if I already own something similar. If I can't think of at least 3 different ways I can wear an item, I usually don't buy it. Case in point: I have a really fun pair of royal blue ankle heels I bought because I walked by them in a department store and they spoke to me. I have never worn them.

blue suede shoes

Buy Less, Spend More

Quality vs. quantity! Choosing pieces that will last for years to come not only because of their quality but because they are a timeless and classic style will not only guarantee you'll always have the perfect thing to wear on hand, but it will save you money in the end.

Burberry coat

Doll Yourself UP

Wear the fanciest dress in your closet, even if it's just to dinner in your own kitchen with your husband and kids... because, why not?

sequined dress

Accessorize

Splurge on handbags and sunglasses... and sometimes shoes. Why? Because you can literally wear rags if you have nice accessories. They somehow equal each other out.

Gucci sunglasses

Never Say Never

Denim on denim, big hair, blue eye shadow, etc., etc. and so on and so forth! It all comes back in style, and who can resist fun trends? Let's just hope we do them better the second time around.

denim on denim with black blazer

Model for You

Before wearing a new outfit to an event you've been waiting for, try it on and take photos of yourself either in your mirror or ask a friend or your husband to assist you. A photo really demonstrates how items fit and show color combos that you may not see in the mirror. Not every day {unless you're a fashion blogger ;}, but for the big occasions, photograph your ensemble first to add details or iron out the flaws.

photo your outfits

He Says

And finally, for a male opinion, I decided to ask the husband what would be a good fashion resolution for 2012. He thought for a moment then replied "Pants... I'd wear more pants I guess." Needless to say, it made me giggle.

My husband below, thrilled, holding my bag and assisting me in my outfit shots while I set up the camera:

husband-patient

* all images are mine

What are your 2012 Fashion Resolutions? How do you plan to feel great by looking your best this year?

Be sure to enter the Life Well Lived Moments Sweepstakes for a chance to win a Kindle Fire!

BlogHer Style Editor Maegan Tintari {@loveMaegan} is a Fashion, Home & Lifestyle blogger from Los Angeles. Go to ...love Maegan for your daily dose of inspiration!

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gkleinworth 5 pts

Aside from the daily inspiration on Pinterest to keep my fashion fresh- I also keep a binder of tear outs from my magazines. Whenever I come across something I like- I tear it out to refer back to later on. About once a month I go through it & pull out the things that I want to add to the mix. It keeps things feeling updated & I never get tired of my wardrobe.

erinjbailey 5 pts

This was really good! I got a job in an office and realized I barely have any business casual clothes! Btw, that closet looks fantastic!

PennyDrdfl 5 pts

That's some good advice. Thanks!

Sabrina Enayatulla 6 pts

My fashion resolution for 2012 is to *FINALLY* get rid of clothes that don't fit me anymore! My answer here: http://tinyurl.com/7oypd5p

The Brain Lair 5 pts

I just found the tumblr What I Wore and I love it. I bought her book, after borrowing it at the library, and am working through getting my closet in order and making sure I own at least the basics. Each evening I look at her outfits and see if I have a similar one in my closet and I wear that! I love it. I plan to budget and spend on a decent grownup wardrobe this year and every year!

thriftyatsixty 6 pts

alldoors For 2012, before I buy anything, I'm selling what I no longer want or need out of my closet and onto the shelves of my local consignment store. Simple is better for me in 2012

AlishaF 7 pts

LOVED this post!!

I'm starting my new year off with a closet cleaning. I've somehow managed to let my closet overflow onto the my floor. In piles. I know I'll wear more of my clothes if I know exactly where everything is and if I can SEE everything. I want to stay fashion-fresh not necessarily by following all the new trends this year, but by feeling confident in everything I wear - old or new trends!

Lisa @ Books Lists Life 5 pts

I've gotten really lazy as a sahm. I think my resolutions would be- don't wear slippers in public, always wear a bra, more skirts, less pants. Keep an eye on the thrift store for quality basics.

Sistas of Strength 6 pts

I'm trying to, like you mentioned above, go with quality over quantity. I love getting a good deal, sometimes so much so that I'll but something simply because it's a good deal. then I never wear it because I really don't like it that much!

allicatcook 8 pts

I resolve to buy clothes that actually fit me and only clothes that me. I'm petite and sometimes it's difficult to find things in my size. I've been guilty of buying items that are on sale, but aren't really my size. Then they just sit in my closet because they are too big, small, long, etc.

Karla Elaine 5 pts

Hi Maegan,

My 2012 fashion resolution is to get all my clothes organized, but then to actually keep them organized this time!!

You can read the rest of the ways I plan to look my best this year in this post http://www.simplelivingfamily.com/?p=1436

Happy New Year!

elleinadspir 5 pts

I love all of your tips! For me, I need to try and get dressed more...less weekend casual and more dressed up. I miss it from my office work days and need to find a way to make it part of my life again. Heels at the playground...here I come!

leighvslaundry 8 pts

I know that it seems so simple but my resolution is to take more time for myself and try to shower more. Don't worry, I'm the queen of the cat bath...so I'm not smelly. With two young kiddos, I don't always take the time that I should to make myself look my best.

It doesn't matter if you have fancy clothes on, if they are wrinkled and your hair looks like Yahoo Serious then you are not going to look and feel great.

Emily@SAHM.i.AM 23 pts

Here's to more showers! I totally understand the cat baths..I do the same thing but I feel so much better when I get a real shower! Good luck! leighvslaundry

lindsmarc 6 pts

My fashion resolutions for 2012: (1) Learn how to do new hairstyles on YouTube. (2) Mix it up. If I'm bored with my look, imagine how everyone around me feels. (3) Wear more skirts and high heels. Pants and flats win out way too much in the morning clothing wars.

My feel great by looking my best plans: (1) Get back into running races and triathlons. (2) Invest in good skin care products. (3) Less junk/fast food and diet soda, more veggies and water. (4) Zumba!

Emily@SAHM.i.AM 23 pts

I don't think I can call this a fashion resolution but I'm going to keep running this year. I've been having a hard time getting back into a routine since I was pregnant (she's two now!) but running is how I plan to feel great by looking my best...not because I'm going to loose weight or anything like that but because I feel better when I've been exercising. When I feel better I like the way my clothes look and I'm less likely to feel like I don't have anything to wear and when I feel good I'm more inspired to be creative with what I own. Feeling good = I like my clothes = I keep my resolution to buy less stuff this year! And I'm going to get better at refashioning what I have in my closet that I don't like...that's as close to a fashion resolution as I'll get!

FabGrandma 5 pts

I'm planning to buy more things that "go": together to make several looks. I want a few good pieces that work for me for any occasion. And I certainly am going to look for shoes that are comfortable as well as stylish. I find that as I get older, my tastes change. I want to look good and be comfortable now where when I was younger, all I thought about was if it looked good on me.

Grace Hwang Lynch 56 pts

I have to say yes and no on buying those shoes you'll never wear. I have several pairs of heels I'll never wear in my closet, because my real life demands sneakers and Danskos. But some of my favorite pieces that I wear often and get compliments on are the crazy things that I bought because they practically jumped off the shelf at me. I'd like to know how to tell the difference between the clothes that speak for the right reasons... and the ones that are just tempting you to buy stupid things ;)

Happy Wives Club 8 pts

It's so funny you wrote on fashion this morning because I woke up thinking about fashion in more of a symbolic manner. For some reason, when I woke up this morning I thought about how when I wake up and put on love, I receive an endless amount of compliments from everyone I meet. So if there's a fashion accessory I'll be wearing this year, it's that.

www.happywivesclub.com

victorias_view 1903 pts moderator

Maegan, I love that pink dress! It is beautiful!

My fashion resolution is to accessorize more to update what I already have...

Maegan Tintari 21 pts

victorias_view Thank you... and always a great idea!

HRBartender 9 pts

I had a stylist come over in December and give me a list of classic pieces I'm missing in my wardrobe. It wasn't expensive (stylist was offering a deal on RueLaLa) and the list they gave me wasn't outrageous (12 items max). I'm having fun searching for the items.

isaselby 12 pts

My fashion resolution for the new year is to organize my closet and work with the clothing I have. Saving money + fashion can go hand-in-hand.

Maegan Tintari 21 pts

isaselby Always a fantastic notion... including DIYing and upcycling old things into new ones!

Conversation from Twitter

immisslisa
immisslisa

loveMaegan I wore denim gouchos and my messy bun slipped to the right Fri. Felt very "Three's Company," but got ... http://t.co/IV36xfwD

AmbersMouthwash
AmbersMouthwash

loveMaegan did everything get fixed with your blog?

JordanWolk
JordanWolk

loveMaegan Love the post! Tackling the closet is completely worth the effort!!!

BetterHalfMommy
BetterHalfMommy

blogher My 2012 fashion resolution is to bath everyday. (Well almost everyday) and wash my hear AT LEAST twice a week.

loveMaegan
loveMaegan

BetterHalfMommy omg gross & hilarious at the same time, LOL! For the record, I only wash my hair 3 times a week... it's healthier that way

BetterHalfMommy
BetterHalfMommy

loveMaegan Lol, I'm a mom of a toddler that is down to 1 precious nap a day. I get and do what I can. I'd also like to pee alone this year.

 

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