In a previous Hub, I suggested that you completely empty your closet and start from scratch.

• The first task is to go shopping! IN YOUR OWN CLOSET and DRAWERS! Don't forget to look in those storage boxes under the beds for clothes you may have packed away last season.Take the time to assemble outfits that make you feel attractive and keep only those items that are in excellent condition and that fit. Some things have sentimental value, so pack them away in a trunk.
• Organize seasonally. There is little point in having 4 chemises taking up hanging space during the winter.
• Decide what you need for the season and MAKE A LIST. Make several copies of this list; one for your closet, one to put in your purse, and an extra to keep in the car or on your desk.
• Determine your budget for the season, allowing for all 4 seasons, unless you already have a perfect wardrobe for some of them.

Having determined your budget and your needs, you are now ready to shop retail.

• Only shop sales. I am on a couple of mailing lists for my favorite stores and mark my calendar for the big markdown sales, frequently getting brand new high-quality and designer clothes at up to 75% off.
• Consignment shops are fabulous places to pick up incredible bargains. My favorite local consignment shop punches a card every time you make a purchase. When the card is full, you get $20 toward your next purchase. I also take my own clothes to be consigned and usually put the monthly check towards a purchase.
• Goodwill stores are hit and miss, so I hit them often. I was driving across the state and allowed plenty of time to find Goodwill and Thrift stores in several small towns. I had a wonderful day bargain hunting and it was good to get out of the car and stretch my legs. I found interesting costume jewelry, a Ralph Lauren purse in mint condition, several leather belts, and quite a few new items with tags. One of my favorite Goodwill purchases is a pair of dark brown suede slacks from Saks Fifth Avenue. I had to have a seamstress make an alteration, but at less than $5 for the slacks, it was worth it. I also buy most of my bluejeans at Goodwill. They have a huge selection and I like them worn in. I also enjoy trying kicky, trendy new things and it's no extravagance or splurge to pick up a few blouses or dresses at $4 each. One of our local Goodwill stores gets donations of brand-new clothing from several retail shops. If you check often or get to know the staff, you can often get very lucky.
• I have always wanted to get a group of girls over for a clothing swap, but unfortunately, my best friends and I are all completely different heights and sizes. Maybe I will decide to have them over for an accessory swap. It would take a fair amount of organization, but I would e-mail them a general policy list along with the invitation, specifying how many items to bring, how the swapping would procede, what kind of items are acceptable, etc. I would also ask them for their input before deciding on a definite swap date. Asking each participant to bring a box of freebies would guarantee that everyone got a real bargain.
• I realize that it is nearly impossible to carry a stack of store cards with you at all times, so I keep an index card file box with cards from stores we have locally such as the Gap (which includes Banana Republic and Old Navy), NY & Co., Chicos, etc. These stores frequently offer discounts on top of sale prices and I have done very well on basic items that need to be replaced annually. If you have not planned ahead and forget your card, the staff can key in your telephone number and credit you with using the card anyway. Some of these cards build up rewards.
• Speaking of rewards, one of my best bargains is using the site MyPoints for reward cards. At the moment, I have gift cards sent to me as rewards totaling $60 for purchases at TJ Maxx, Marshalls, HomeGoods, or A.J. Wright. I earned these cards by clicking on email advertisements and getting points for each click-through. I was really sold on the site when Wheel of Fortune featured MyPoints points as a prize on the wheel! You do not have to purchase anything to earn points, but I always check with their site first before ordering anything off of the internet to see if the company is listed as one of the MyPoints merchants. If so, you can greatly increase your point count. Ebay, WalMart, and Barnes and Noble are some of their featured merchants.
• Last but not least, I love yard sales and have found some super clothes for less than $2 each. My guess is that I find something worth having at about one in twenty sales. But it sure is fun to hunt, and I wish all of you happy bargain hunting!

Shoes can cause a dilemma. I always carry a pair of disposable nylon footies in my purse and use them when trying on any shoes. I almost always only buy new shoes from the consignment stores, but if they are gently used, I clean them carefully with Clorox wipes and spray them with an athlete's foot treatment before wearing them.

It is important to check the quality of a garment, not only for its construction, but also for the material. There's no point in buying a great pair of wool slacks with a broken zipper unless you can put in a new one yourself or have budgeted for alterations.

Check carefully, then check again for stains. Stains, holes, and tears are often overlooked in the excitement of finding a 100% cashmere sweater for $15 or just the right color blouse to go with your favorite suit. Stains on white clothing are usually pretty easy to remove, but I spilled something with curry in it on a white synthetic blouse from Chicos and had to throw it out after trying my usual set of tricks. I frequently leave whites out in the full sun to bleach, sometimes for several days in a row. My great grandmother recommended putting white linens in a container of water with a little lemon juice added and setting the pail in the sun.
The internet is an excellent source for researching stain removal treatments. I carry a small spray bottle of Oxyclean and find it has saved several pieces of clothing for me.