Q: I have an active social and business life, and I worry about repeating outfits. Is there anything out there, like a clothing calendar, that can help me keep track of what I wore when and who saw me?
- C.G., New Jersey
A: I've been fixated on fashion since junior high, when I wrote down everything I wore to school on a wall calendar to avoid repeating the same outfits too often. It was my private obsession with keeping my look fresh that taught me how to stretch my wardrobe with long print scarves, sweater vests or colorful tights.
You can use your computer to create your own fashion spreadsheet. Or consider Myclothingcalendar.com, a free Web site where you can record all the details about your outfits, the events you wore them to and the people who saw you -- and you can add photos, too. That way, you can instantly recall who saw you in that fuchsia gown or yellow tie. There's a similar application, called 'pocket closet,' for iPhone users.
But more important than not repeating the same party dress is choosing the ensemble that is the most flattering -- and the most photogenic. Even if you aren't a celebrity, an image of you at a fancy event might still pop up on the Internet or in the style pages. So rehearse your wardrobe in front of the mirror and snap yourself with your cellphone camera from different angles. You may discover that some of your favorite frocks don't look so swell in a photo. You will see which blouses or shirts magnify bulges, which prints you should avoid and when you need to take off a necklace.
You can take your snapshots a step further: Personal stylists make it easy for their clients to get dressed by giving them stacks of snapshots showing complete outfits with all the trimmings.
[時(shí)尚記者Teri Agins答讀者問。]
問:我經(jīng)常參加社交和商務(wù)活動(dòng),擔(dān)心衣服重樣。有沒有一種工具,比如穿衣日歷一類的東西,可以幫我記錄下來我何時(shí)見何人時(shí),穿了什么衣服?
-新澤西州C.G.
答:我從初中開始就很注意穿著了,當(dāng)時(shí)我把上學(xué)時(shí)每天穿什么衣服都寫在墻上的日歷上,以便避免過多地重復(fù)穿同一套衣服。我熱衷于保持自己形像的新鮮感,正因?yàn)槿绱耍覍W(xué)會(huì)了如何用長長的花圍巾、毛背心或是鮮艷的緊身褲來拓展我的衣柜。
你可以用電腦創(chuàng)建自己的穿衣表。或是考慮利用免費(fèi)網(wǎng)站Myclothingcalendar.com.在這個(gè)網(wǎng)站上,你可以記錄下來所穿衣服的全部細(xì)節(jié),出席的場合,見了什么人,你還可以添加照片。這樣,你就可以馬上想起你穿著那件紫紅色的晚禮服或是打著那條黃色領(lǐng)帶見過什么人。iPhone為用戶提供了一個(gè)類似的程序,名字叫"口袋衣柜".
不過,比避免穿同一套衣服出席派對更重要的是,選擇最好看、最上相的服飾。就算你不是名人,你出席一個(gè)盛大場合的照片仍可能會(huì)出現(xiàn)在互聯(lián)網(wǎng)或時(shí)尚版上。所以,在鏡子面前試穿一下衣服,用手機(jī)從不同的角度拍下來。你可能會(huì)發(fā)現(xiàn),你最喜歡的一些衣服并不上相。你會(huì)看到哪件上衣或襯衫使你看上去更加臃腫,你應(yīng)該避免哪種花色,何時(shí)應(yīng)該把項(xiàng)鏈摘掉。
你甚至可以把拍照更進(jìn)一步:個(gè)人形像設(shè)計(jì)師能幫助客戶輕松搭配服飾,向他們提供一系列展示搭配齊全的服裝和飾品的照片。