2014 was a tough year for many of my clients, myself included. The last few months of the year brought the end of a 21 year relationship and 16 year marriage to the man I thought I’d be with for the rest of my life. Instead of letting it break me, I decided to use the experience to strengthen and empower me, to transform myself into the very best and highest version of Me.

Of course, being a stylist, the very first thing I did was go through my closet. If I’ve learned anything from my work, it’s that when you look good, you feel good and when you feel good you do good.

You also gain confidence and with the right amount of confidence you can accomplish anything you set your mind to. You hold and carry yourself differently and not only do you do better, you expect better too. Why should you expect or accept anything less than the best?

Even as a stylist with a strong sense of style, with a functional closet filled with pieces I love and that work for me, I still need to go through my closet regularly to reassess and regroup.

Here are the steps I took to get my closet and myself on track. What surprised me was that as I was slowly transforming my closet, I was also transforming myself. I related the process below not only to my wardrobe, but to my life as well, and the results have been nothing short of spectacular.

Step 1. Get Real

Take a good look at each piece and be honest with yourself. Is it in good shape or worn out and dingy? Does it look great on or are you keeping it because it cost you a small fortune? Do you wear it regularly or hardly ever? Most importantly, do you love it?

Sometimes we hang onto things because it’s easier to just leave things as they are. Sometimes we hang onto things because we’re afraid to let them go. What if one day you want or need it and it’s not there?

Whenever you clean out your closet, there’s work involved, things get messy for a while but once everything’s sorted and reorganized, you realize that the struggle was worth the effort.

Be ruthless. Go through everything in your closet and ask yourself if it serves you in some way or if you love it. If it doesn’t or you don’t, then…

Step 2. Let It Go

If something doesn’t fit or look great, is worn out, damaged or outdated, or it isn’t fabulous, let it go. Donate it, sell it or pass it on to a friend.

Worried that you might not have anything left? Don’t! Getting real and getting rid of what no longer serves you, gives you the opportunity to fill up your closet with things that do. Before you do any shopping though, you must first…

Step 3. Decide

What do you need? What should it look like? How do you want to look? Who are you? Who do you want to be?

Before you purchase any new pieces to fill up the void in your closet, you must make some decisions. Do you know what looks good on you? Do you know which cuts or styles are best suited to your shape? Do you know which colours light you up?

Once that’s been determined, take a look at which pieces are missing from your wardrobe. Put together a list of what’s required and where it can be purchased. Now you’re ready to…

Step 4. Go For It

You’ve gotten real with yourself, you’ve decluttered, you’ve put a plan together and now you’re ready to reap the rewards. You get to fill up your closet with items that are 100% right for you.

With your list in hand, go on out and start creating the wardrobe of your dreams. Just remember, a confident woman like you never settles for anything less than the best.