Vancouver Style: Clean Out Your Closet with Michelle Addison

As the Content Manager for VancouverMom.ca, I have the luxury of working from home. I’m also a mom. This means that I spend most of my days in what’s comfortable, rather than what’s stylish. Let’s face it – kids are going to smear their sticky hands all over me no matter what I’m wearing. I don’t have much call for dressing up, and I’d hate to see my nice clothes ruined, so my Vancouver style tends toward yoga pants and T-shirts. But like most people, I will admit I feel better when I’m looking well pulled-together. So when Vancouver mom and fashion darling Michelle Addison offered to come give me a closet cleanse, I was all over it.

Update Your Vancouver Style with Michelle Addison

Michelle spent a decade working as a stylist and buyer for various luxurious retailers and styling firms. She spent the last few years with Jessie Carlson, as her right hand stylist, dressing the chicest women in the city. With a three-year-old of her own, though, she’s ready for a fresh Vancouver style chapter. She’s launched a new company that focuses on in depth outfit design and wardrobe consulting. She can help you put together a wardrobe that all works together, so you don’t need a lot of pieces. And if you don’t have a great eye for detail, Michelle really shines when it comes to finding the right belt, the perfect necklace, the tucked in shirt or the rolled up cuff.

I was a little bit intimidated when I opened the door and ushered Michelle into my house. What would she think of my tragically out of date wardrobe? How many of my favourite pieces would make the cut? And why hadn’t I gotten around to vacuuming before she arrived?

Going Through my Closet

I needn’t have worried. Michelle was warm and friendly, and we immediately headed upstairs to go through my closet. We started with my pants. The pieces that I’d been hanging on to for years that still didn’t fit were the first to go. She gave me pointers about the best fit of jeans for me, and forced me to part with my hopelessly dated leopard-print pants, even though I protested that they were comfy. As we worked, she made three piles – stuff to keep, stuff to get rid of, and the “maybe” pile. She asked questions about my lifestyle – how often I went out, how I spent my days, what I liked about certain pieces. She made a real effort not only to understand what looked good on me, but what would really work for me as I crafted my own personal Vancouver style.

There were certain allowances made for some clothing pieces. Michelle asked if any pieces had sentimental value, and she kept her hands off of them. She also didn’t go through my workout clothes. And when I winced as she put something I liked into the discard pile, she said, “I am fully aware that after I leave you may rescue this shirt out of the pile.” For the record, I only did that for one item.

Shopping for an Updated Look

Michelle helped me pull together a few outfits before she left. Then, she followed up by sending me a shopping list, complete with photos. It contained just 11 items, and the focus was on making the most of what I already had, so that I would have a wardrobe that really worked for me. At her suggestion I’ve been wearing different shoes, and I bought a couple of necklaces, and I have to say I really do feel more pulled together. And I’m still comfortable, and ready to chase my kids around the playground. Over the next few months I’ll be keeping my eye out for some great boots and a good pair of skinny jeans. Plus, if you do a closet cleanse and need help finding the right pieces, Michelle also offers personal shopping services.

If you need help crafting your own Vancouver style, you can visit Michelle Addison’s website, or catch up with her on Facebook and Twitter.