WARDROBES Treasure trove of togs often hidden in closets

Author advises women to go shopping for clothing in their own homes.
NEW YORK (AP) -- Sometimes the urge to shop is so overwhelming, limits on time and money just don't matter.
But why put undue stress on yourself by going to the mall or Madison Avenue when the most convenient, inexpensive and rewarding destination might be in your own home, asks Mary Lou Andre, founder and president of Organization by Design and dressingwell.com.
"We wear 20 percent of our clothes 80 percent of the time," she says, so there is likely a treasure trove of togs to be rediscovered. It's probably hidden, though, by a mile-high pile of out-of-season sweaters.
The first stop on your guilt-free shopping spree is your closet, where you'll assess what you have and what you'll wear. Once the closet is organized, it'll be much easier to put together outfits and to make a list of the few items that you really do need to buy, says Andre.
Since many people seem to "collect" clothes instead of wearing them, wardrobes often spill over to other storage spaces, including spare bedrooms, attics, basements, even children's rooms. "As Americans, we are consumers who buy and buy and buy, and we never get rid, get rid, get rid," she says, so drag all garments into one location for sorting.
The questions to ask yourself as you look at the mammoth pile are:
U"Do I love it? Do I wear it?"
U"If I love it, why don't I wear it?"
U"Was this a mistake?"
Favorite garments that are already part of your daily wardrobe should then be hung in the closet on (nonwire) hangers as part of an entire outfit. Many people organize their wardrobes with pants in one part of the closet, skirts and shirts in others, but that's not how it would be done in a store, Andre says, mostly because it's an uninspired system.
Keep goal in mind
"The goal is to make the closet look like a store. You can always see the clothing in the store, and you want to shop in your own closet," she says.
If you love a piece but it's missing a button or needs to be hemmed or cleaned, then put it in a "to-be-tailored" pile that you'll then act on within a day or so.
If the item is not the right size -- and most women have clothes in five or six sizes in their closet, according to Andre -- there are two options: Get rid of it, or put it in storage if you're expecting a change in your figure, such as planning on having more children or if you're on a diet.
"Mistakes" -- a trend that never took, a look that was never yours or sale item that's never going to fit -- should be given better homes at a consignment shop, charity or children's dress-up trunk, Andre advises.
Main factor
"Clothes should fit your lifestyle. If you've gone from a bank job to being a full-time mom, you don't need all those suits, and college students looking for their first job won't need as many ski sweaters," she says.
Once you've whittled down your wardrobe, the fun can begin as you find the most flattering combinations and breathe new life into stale pieces by pairing them with new -- or newfound -- accessories. "I know cleaning might put a damper on things initially but you'll be happier in the end," she adds, especially if you find forgotten jewelry or (now) vintage handbags that can help put together your signature look.
According to Andre, who outlines her organizing and shopping strategies in the book "Ready to Wear: An Expert's Guide to Choosing and Using Your Wardrobe" (Perigee), most people find that even with their stuffed closets they are missing a few key pieces.
Required pieces
For women, these include a trench coat with a removable lining, which can take the place of several other coats; a black pantsuit that is appropriate for interviews, dressy dinners, weddings and funerals; black leather loafers, which take you from work to weekend; and a tote bag in good condition.
Men usually are without proper shoes and belts in good condition. An otherwise polished appearance is ruined by sloppy, worn-out accessories, Andre says.
She adds: "Fashion styles do come and go but an organized approach to dressing lasts a lifetime."