Advice
Welcome to our advice section. Every week I answer new questions submitted
by readers on Organizing, Image, Fashion and Event Planning.
You can read my "AddSPACE To Your Life!" column every week
in San Diego's “The Coast News" or read the archived columns
below.
E-mail your questions to advice@addspacetoyourlife.com
10.14.04
An ounce of prevention stops
clutter in its tracks
Dear Kathi,
All of my relatives seem to think that I am the holding ground for
their old stuff and I end up with lots of things that I don’t
want. How can I keep my house from being barraged with unwanted heirlooms
and family junk?
Joy, Cardiff by the Sea
Joy,
Learn to stand up for yourself and tell your well meaning
relatives politely 'thanks, but no thanks.' If they protest, ask them
why they feel you should hold onto what they no longer need.
One of the best ways to prevent clutter, is to stop it
before it starts. Do your family members consider your house the dumping
ground because you already have a lot of clutter? They might get the
impression that you love to collect things so you wouldn’t mind
holding onto theirs.
If you are a collector and wish to break this habit now, ask yourself
three simple questions before you bring anything new into your home:
1) Ask, 'Am I going to use it now, or in the near future?'
Or better yet, how many times will I use this in the next year? If
it is a family heirloom that landed on your doorstep only because
of someone else’s sentimental attachments, just say no.
2) Ask, 'Am I going to use it ever?'
Lots of clutter piles begin with one simple impulse buy. Make sure
that if you will use it, it’s use will make up for the space
it takes to own it. If you will only use it once every few months,
it's probably not worth the extra space it's going to take up in your
home.
3) Ask, 'Where is it going to live?'
Make sure you have a clearly defined space for the item you're considering
adopting or buying. Otherwise, it's bound to be brought home, put
someplace temporarily, and eventually end up in a pile with other
items that were not well
thought out.
If the item is going to end up in a pile somewhere without a space
to live, forget about it. If there is a space and it won’t cause
something else to be displaced, then perhaps it is OK. If there is
no space available, and you really want it, you must release something
else to make room for the new item.
Be diligent, form new habits and soon you will no longer be the dumping
ground for your relatives.
Kathi,
I just graduated from college and I keep hearing that every girl should
own a little black dress. I am a size 14 and feel like I will have
a hard time finding a little black dress that fits. I have a few events
coming up during the holidays and now want to own a little black dress.
How do I go about finding this piece?
Jolene, San Marcos
Jolene,
Don’t get alarmed about finding a ‘little’ black
dress just because you are a size 14. The majority of women in the
US are a size 12 or 14. The idea behind the ‘little’ black
dress is that it flatters your figure and makes you ‘look’
little.
The most important feature of your new dress -- more important than
its designer label or trendiness -- is how well it flatters you.
Simple silhouettes like the A-line and sheath are typically the most
flattering for all body types. Hemlines that end at the smallest part
of your knee will flatter your legs. Not every dress cut will work
for your body so you'll need to do some quick research on your specific
needs.
Finding the dress that flatters your figure is as much about playing
up your best features as it is about hiding what's not perfect.
Not sure what your best asset is? Ask a friend or significant other.
Or go to a fine women’s clothing store and enlist the salesperson's
help.
The easiest way to look fabulous in your little black dress is to
show off your best features. If your legs are spectacular, show them
off with a short, fitted dress and stilettos. If you have gorgeous
eyes, play them up with off-the-face hair, beautiful makeup and jeweled
earrings.
Keep in mind that once you find that perfect dress, you will want
to wear it year-round – so buy it in a silk, brocade, organza,
or jersey. Fabrics like velvet and satin are best reserved for winter
holidays.
Kathi is a professional organizer, image consultant and event planner
based in San Diego California.
Please
submit your questions to:
advice@addspacetoyourlife.com
.
San Diego Professional Organizer
