I have a confession...

Well before I flat out tell you, I would like to start with a related client story.

One day I was going through my client Marla’s coat closet and she pulled out a fabulous leopard raincoat and said “I love this coat, it makes me feel like a million bucks.” I asked her how often she wore it, and she said “not very often.” My reply was “why not? Don’t you want to feel like a million bucks all the time, or at least more often?”

Further, you don’t only want to own one “million dollar coat”. The goal is that all, or almost all of the coats in your closet will make you feel that way. And from there, it is not only about coats, but to create a wardrobe that makes you feel that empowered!!!

No, I am not recommending that you immediately dump the bulk of your closet all at once, and that is not where I am going with this story.

So, here is my story.
(BTW - It’s a total coincidence that they are both regarding coats; the coat is symbolic of any piece in your wardrobe that makes you feel like a million bucks.)

You see, I had a coat in my closet that I have been on the fence about for a few seasons. It was truly a fun and unique coat that definitely served a specific purpose in my wardrobe (long, neutral and winter weight).

Because I felt the coat needed more umph, I added my own belt to make it cooler and more stylized. Yet, despite the fact that I really did like the coat and got a few compliments on it, it was not making me feel like a million bucks.

OK, so now is the confession part of the story.

Most of you know that I have an ebook “How to Stop Closet Overwhelm & Actually Have Something to Wear”, which gives advice on how you can feel good about getting rid of things that you are on the fence about.

In my ebook, I reference donating the piece you are on the fence about to an organization that helps underprivileged women get back on their feet and obtain jobs they so desperately need:

If you have that extra blazer hanging in your closet amongst the slew of other blazers you own and you're sort of on the fence about it, wouldn't it feel great to donate that to a woman who would cherish it? You might help her get the job she really needs and improve her life.

So one day, I finally took my own advice and walked that coat over to donate. About a month or two later, I opened my closet and realized that I wasn’t really missing the coat and although it did fit specific needs, I was able to find and utilize other coats that did make me feel like a million bucks until I find that “million dollar replacement.”

It then made me think, I am pretty sure that there is a woman walking around New York in my old coat and not only is she warm, but I am also willing to bet that she feels like a million bucks in it. :) .