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  1. Dressed TO KILL

A shopaholic’s guide to cleaning out your closet!

It is that time of year again…the time of year when I start to panic! Holiday parties to attend, each one requiring the perfect dress, shoes, hair and makeup. And, this year, one of my nearest and dearest friends is getting married two days before Christmas. My credit card is taking some major abuse and I don’t know how to stop this from happening. I feel very helpless, but at the same time, know that the silk Chloe dress that I purchased for my husband’s office party is perfect and well worth the hefty price tag! Could I have found something more reasonable in price? Easily, but, it was love at first sight and there has yet to be an instance when a piece of couture has let me down or broke my heart (can’t really say the same for a man, can I?).

Are my feelings towards clothing (and shoes, can’t forget the shoes) abnormal? My husband, quite frankly, thinks I am insane. He loves to see me happy, but doesn’t get how a dress can have such an effect on me.

He hates shopping and is happy to buy all of his clothes from the discount store down the street. He does not even begin to appreciate couture and swears you can find the same quality at the mall! I was faced with this reality when he opened a Prada shirt I had purchased for his birthday and said: “How much did you pay for this!?” Not… “The fabric is so soft and these lines, amazing! I am going to look like a million bucks in this!!”…that I was hoping for. This is severely upsetting to me, but trying to school him on this subject is like trying to convince my four year old that she should only eat half the bag of Skittles. I personally think he is a bit jealous of the dress, but he assures me he has nothing against my Chloe, but the price tag leaves much to be desired! I have to figure out how to keep this dress and not completely blow our Holiday budget. Hmmmm…..

So, I turn to my closet. It almost always holds the answer to my quandaries, and this time proved to be no different. EBAY! That’s it! I can sell the items I no longer wear and pay for a good chunk of my Holiday indiscretions. Goodbye Rock & Republic jeans—we had some good times. I love what you did for my bum, and my legs seemed to go on for miles. And you, Diane VonFurstenburg blouse—I remember how each of my steps seemed to make beautiful music when I wore you. I won’t soon forget…

I combed through it all and found many of my once-prized possessions weren’t getting used as much as they should. I decided I would make some much needed cash and pass the joy onto others! I am always surprised at my genius when I am faced with returning something I love. So please, if you saw a colleague or friend looking stunning at a holiday party, be sure to let her know! You never can tell what she had to sacrifice to be fabulous!

Pamela Andrews is a fashionista mom of two and an internet entrepreneur. After the holidays, you might see her Chloe for sale at her site at http://stores.ebay.ca/Gorgeous-Girl