5 Things to Steal from Your Mom’s Closet

Help, I’ve run out of things to wear! That, and the patience to patch together something fresh and exciting.

It’s a vicious cycle that begins when I acquire a new piece and proceed to wear it over and over again to the point of obsession. I’ll wonder how I survived so long without this brilliant jacket, this extremely flattering dress, or this precious pair of animal print flats—because now it seems that I can’t live without them. My wardrobe, at that moment, couldn’t be better (at least, in my near-sighted eyes).

Then, sometime later, it strikes without warning. I’ll be rifling through my closet for that very piece when, suddenly, it hits me: This again?  Oh, dear Lord, I’ve been sporting the same three outfits for weeks now—and it’s getting to be pretty obvious (that’s an understatement.).

That day of the vicious cycle was yesterday. I had somewhere to go, nothing to wear, and only one place to turn as my last resort. Can you guess where?

Not to the mall to buy something new—times are hard, and I have a travel fund to furnish!

Not to my brother’s closet, like I usually do--he doesn’t have anything new, either!

Not to the scissors and sewing kit to give my old threads a makeshift makeover. I’ve tried that before, and I think we can safely say that I’m no seamstress. I've learned my lesson the hard way—all rags and tatters (so many tatters).

If you've read the title of this column, you’ll have had the answer to this question ages ago. It was off to my mother’s wardrobe! Indeed, every time I find myself waylaid by one of these outfit-less days, I skip over to Mom’s closet and mine it for gold—all that fine, good, classic stuff that mothers always seem to have and that you probably would too, if you weren’t so busy with all those new trends.

Below, find out what I grab from her collection to refresh mine. You may want to try the same with your mom’s closet—or perhaps even your lola’s baul?

(Flashbox photo from Gossip Girl courtesy of The CW)