Almost What Not to Wear

I don't know about you, but I have a closet full of clothes I don't wear. I've fallen into the "Mommy wardrobe" trap. The one where you only where yoga pants and other comfy clothes with elastic waistbands? Yeah, that. I don't necessarily want to wear nice clothes when I run after my kids or am playing with them on the floor. Plus, I work from home, leaving me with even less incentive to dress nicely.

I've always kind of wanted to go on the show What Not to Wear not only to meet Stacy and Clinton and leave with a smashing wardrobe, but to learn tips and tricks on how to make the most of the clothes that I have. Earlier this week, I had the chance to do that...sort of.

While I didn't get to learn from Stacy and Clinton in person, I got as close as I could get. I participated in a Style for Hire seminar. Style for Hire is a new company founded by Stacy London. The premise is that stylists should be accessible to more people, not just celebrities or the wealthy. It's a network of personal stylists across the country who are hand-picked by Stacy and can help you purge your closet, figure out new looks that flatter your frame and figure, and go on a personal shopping trek to help you fill in the gaps in your wardrobe.

For the seminar, I was a volunteer "client," meaning that I dragged my wardrobe (most of it) to a hotel in Manhattan to let a group of stylists pick through it, help me figure out what works and what doesn't, and help me shop my own closet to find new ways to put together outfits. Yes, in case you were wondering, I did leave my workout and shlubby clothes at home.

I know that it still sounds fairly frivolous - the whole notion of personal stylists. But what I admire about the company is that it's trying to help clients (primarily women) learn to embrace and love their bodies no matter what shape or size. So much of our self-esteem is caught up in our own image of our bodies and is often reflected in how we dress. By showing folks how to dress, what works and how you can create new combinations from clothes you already own, it's empowering.

I had a ton of fun and walked out with some great ideas and tips. While I may still be wearing yoga pants as I write this (come on! I just had physical therapy!!), I feel like I have a lot more options when I look at my closet in the morning.

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