When I was a kid, I always loved going shopping for new school clothes and supplies. There was nothing like a fistful of brand new, freshly sharpened pencils, and it was hard to wait until it was cool enough to wear my new fall clothes. The anticipation of a new beginning as I entered the next grade was thrilling.

Even if you don’t embark on a new school year in September anymore, it feels like a time for a fresh start as the weather becomes crisp and clean – time to set goals, get organized, clear out the closets of the summer clothes to make room for sweaters and jackets, and think about new ways of doing things. All of this is part of “self-care,” even though it sometimes feels like chores.

Self-care is a phrase I’ve been hearing used in a lot of contexts recently, and it resonates with my work as a wardrobe consultant. Helping women take care of themselves, and as a result overtly value themselves, is the reason I chose this endeavor. We often take care of everyone else’s needs before our own. When we take a step back, we realize that what we do for others without hesitation, we have not done for ourselves in months or years, if not ever.

While clothing serves a basic function to provide protection to our bodies (and to prevent us from breaking the law!), HOW you wear clothing reflects your personal style. And the more you feel like your clothing reflects who you are as a person – your intelligence and expertise, your ability to lead, your confidence, your strong sense of humor, your playfulness or seriousness – the better you feel.

It is not vain to care about the clothes you wear; it is self-care. It is not consumeristic or shallow to want to feel current or contemporary; it is self-care. It is not selfish to want to look great; it is self-CARE.

Back-to-school time motivates me to take a look at myself and my goals. One of my business goals has been to begin this blog – and here we are! Watch for regular posts, and click on the “Follow” button at the bottom of the page if you would like to receive an email notification when I post a new entry.

If you would like to find or redefine your personal style and make changes to your wardrobe, don’t hesitate to contact me. I will help you practice that important element of self-care – feeling great about how you look!

Nancy – 1st Grade