Why is it that so many of us have a closet full of clothes, but never seem to have anything to wear?  Possessing a wardrobe that is well suited to you and your lifestyle can benefit you in many ways.  The right clothes give you energy and confidence.  And knowing what to wear when you get up in the morning helps to start your day with a minimum of effort.

Remember these basic principles when shopping to add to your wardrobe:

• The emphasis should be on fit and quality
• Buy the best you can afford in simple classic styles
• Choose flattering styles to suit your body type

The first place to start is to examine what you already own.  The first rule is Pare it Down.  In closets, as in life, less is more.  In most cases, the 80/20 rule applies.  We wear 20% of our clothing 80% of the time.  The remaining 80% usually represents impulse purchases, orphaned pieces and clothes that are just a bit too small.

Take everything it out of your closet and assign it to one of three piles:

Pile 1:		Things you don't like, you don't wear and that don't fit. Include anything that is out of style or that you don't feel right in.  Chances are if you haven't worn it in the last year, you probably won't ever wear it again. This is the Get Rid of Pile.
Pile 2:		Things that need cleaning, mending or a small alteration. If they are not cleaned, mended or altered within a month's time, they join the Get Rid of Pile.
Pile 3:		Clothing that you wear, that you like and that fits. Pile 3 then forms the basis of your wardrobe building.

When you look at the clothing in Pile 3, think of it in terms of colour groupings or "clusters."  Clustering is a group of five to eight pieces that work together by colour:  items that mix and match together.

Buying clothes in groups and building on what you already own is a cost-effective way to build a wardrobe.  The secret is to buy a few basic pieces that are interchangeable.  You can update your look each season by purchasing several new pieces that coordinate with your clusters.