I found this old Boy Scout shirt when I was digging through my closet and decided I really wanted to wear it with something sparkly and girly for contrast.

Of course, a grown woman wearing a Boy Scout shirt meant the comments from the peanut gallery were in full force:

“Are you going camping? Can you pitch my tent? Did you earn your badge in (insert blatant ignorance here)?”

Sigh.

I started to wonder why I bought that shirt at the thrift store in the first place.  Nostalgia for my old Brownie days? Nah, I hated selling cookies (though eating them is still a favorite pastime).

Inspired by Michael Jackson and his apparent love for elaborate patches? Perhaps.

Flashing back to 1989 and one of the best movies of that era? Definitely!

Does anyone else remember Shelley Long and a pre-Rilo Kiley Jenny Lewis in Troop Beverly Hills? God, I loved that movie! Give me a Scout shirt and a few merit badges and I’m ready to throw on a Tina Turner wig and sing “It’s Cookie Time!”

Do your childhood memories ever influence your fashion choices?

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Memorial Day weekend usually marks the unofficial start of summer, and as such, is usually when I start pulling out my warm weather wardrobe. This year is a little dicey because I’m so busy doing other stuff–working on the 2nd issue of Style Sample Magazine, preparing for a business trip, gorging myself on fried foods at Taste of Cincinnati–but I figured I’d at least take inventory of what I have.

Except…Oh, what a tangled web. I pulled my summer stuff out, but there’s no room for it because an obnoxious closet monster has apparently regurgitated all of my belongings onto a chaotic jumble of hangers and shelves.

Silk camisoles are hung with Boy Scout shirts mixed in with graphic prints stuffed in with way too many skirts crammed next to Lord knows what else.

Don’t even get me started on all the tees and tanks and jeans haphazardly stuffed in the armoire. Or the inextricable tangle of costume jewelry. Or the pile of blushes, lip glosses (really, who needs this many? I only have two lips, right?), eyeliners, etc.:

Forget a weekend, I need a week.

On the plus side, I (re)discovered a treasure trove of thrifted and vintage items that I was on the verge of giving away:
What was I thinking? I’m a pack rat, I don’t give stuff away! So, I have a huge pile to take to the dry cleaners and a smaller one to take to the tailor, but I’m really excited about my new/old stuff!

How do you manage your seasonal wardrobe switch? Any tips? Help!

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One resolution down, 282 to go! So, this year, one of my resolutions was to organize my closet(s). I’ve made this resolution almost every year since I was 9. I won’t say exactly how many years that makes it, but know that it is a sufficient number. I decided to organize in sections–you know, a place for everything etc., etc. Here goes: 1. Belts and long necklaces. Hanging on the wall to save space. I have at least 25 belts. 2. Folded items. Mostly sweaters ( I have waaayyy too many sweaters), a few pairs of pants. 3. Hanging clothes. Tops and bottoms (blouses organized by color & print), then dresses. Skirts on the bottom. 4. There’s usually a clothes hamper there, but y’all don’t want/need to see that, right? 5. Blazers. No rhyme or reason to the organization here as I usually just grab one on the way out and hope for the best. 6. Aahhh, shoes. And bags. Glorious, lovely shoes and bags…I can never have too many! 7. Running shoes (for the 3 times per year I manage to get off my hoo-ha and run) and random accessories like scarves, hats, and gloves. 8. Vintage dress form (obtained for free at Cappel’s!) with more random scarves, structured hats, necklaces, etc. Whew! That seems like a lot, plus there’s more *not pictured! How do you organize your closet? Is it random or do you have a system? *Not pictured: Armoire (tees & tanks, jeans, pajamas, socks, etc). Storage bins (out of season items, stuff I haven’t worn since high school but won’t get rid of [why, Tamia? WHY?]) Trunk of car–don’t judge me! I need a lot of room! (random vintage items that I will: a. Wear. Someday b. Have altered to fit me c. Sell if I ever un-lazify.) T

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