Many close to the BusyB Herself have deemed her the "What Not To Wear" stylist for Northern Virginia and let's face it, she is almost brutal when it comes to those who are just not treating themselves right by wearing the wrong colors and styles. She is equally fanatical about keeping clothes in your closet that you are not wearing. This month's issue is all about getting your home and self ready for summer. Enjoy!

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In This Issue:

• I Don't Have a Thing to Wear (but the closet is full)!
• Design Tips by Suzanne Copenhaver
• Wine & Cheese Party
• Home Maintenance Checklist

Next Month:
Vacations Anyone?

Last Month's Issue

My European friends are amazed at the amount of clothes and number of pairs of shoes that we have in our closets here in the U.S.

The majority of Americans who have stuffed closets feel they don't have anything to wear for that particular occasion. Why? Because we overbuy without thinking about where or when we are going to wear the items and then end up with an unbalanced wardrobe and packed closet.

So, if you change the organization of your wardrobe closet, ultimately you will change your overall appearance as well. I know. I hear you saying that it doesn't make sense but here are a few simple rules to get you started:

1. Fall/Winter Clothes: If you didn't wear it this past winter season, take it out of your closet.
2. Spring/Summer Clothes: If you didn't wear it last summer, take it out of your closet
3. Shoes: If you can't wear them for extended periods of time or they are showing signs of wear, take them out of your closet.

For those of you sputtering around saying "these are my comfy shoes" or "but I might wear that," get over it. Take the things out of the closet right now. If they are in very good condition, package for the Salvation Army or local charity shop and get the tax deduction. If they are not, put them immediately in the trash bin.

Now take a good look at what you have from last season that can be updated for this season. If you wore it last year (and several years before that), it is probably ready for disposal as it is outdated. I often run across women who are impeccably dressed but whose suits have seen better (ok not better but previous) days such as the 80's.

Finally you need to take inventory of your wardrobe and consult our article on the basic wardrobe before you buy anything else for the season. Read more about how to create a basic wardrobe.

The hours of daylight and the intensity of light are increasing with the advent of May. If you want to lighten the look of your window treatments for the summer months, now is the time. Unfortunately, along with the increased daylight comes increased heat, so the trick is to simplify the look and allow light in without the room temperatures becoming unbearable in the months to come. If you have a contemporary home, this is quite easy. You can simply remove all of the drapery components and leave or put up blinds or shades which allow filtered light in. The severe look works for this type of interior and is very refreshing and clean for the summer.

If your windows are heavily draped and layered, strip them down to the sheers or blinds with sheers over them. You can make this look more formal or romantic by draping sheer window scarves or sheer valences over them. This gives a light summery look to your room and allows some privacy while letting in the light. The important thing is to lighten the load. Dress your windows for the summer as you dress yourself using light, comfortable fabrics and styles which suit the season.

Hot Colors for Spring and Summer: Spring Green, Sky Blue, Violet and Bright Yellow

The weather in May and June can be a bit unpredictable so we recommend entertaining in what we call a scalable fashion. If you plan an outdoor event and the weather turns bad, dragging tons of plates and trays inside can be a disaster. If you have an event that is easy to transport, then you will not have the stress in front of your guests. A wine and cheese party is the perfect event for this time of year. If the weather gets dismal or even too warm, you can easily move the event inside and have it be equally inviting.

Choose wines that are light. We prefer a chilled white wine in the warmer months but go with what tastes good to you. Consult your favorite wine website for information on pairing wines and cheeses. If the only wine glasses you have are family heirlooms or imported crystal, we recommend that you go to your local department or discount store and buy a case of less expensive glasses especially if having the event out of doors.

For more information on cocktail parties and wine events, read our full articles.