Shop Your Closet: Don’t Get Overwhelmed 

The pros help one woman pare down a closet overflowing with clothes.

Her Closet Is Filled, but She Always Wears the Same Things 

The problem: Working from her New York City home and taking care of two children, Andrea Costa, 41, tends to keep T-shirts and jeans on heavy rotation―despite her love of shopping. “I buy pieces that I think are fabulous, but in reality I can’t seem to coordinate them with what I already own,” she says. Instead of the self-described “kiddie” uniform she relies on, Andrea would like an adult update that can keep up with her as she juggles her busy schedule.

 The expert advice: Use it or lose it. Stylist Sarah Davidzuk and Joe Lupo, a fashion consultant and a coauthor of Nothing to Wear? (Hudson Street Press, $26, amazon.com), created several step-up looks, taking advantage of the amazing pieces that Andrea may not have used for everyday wear and working them into her routine. They selected a few of her intimidating accessories, like a printed scarf, a rust-colored leather bag, and gold metallic boots, and suggested she use them to play up basic jeans and a simple peacoat for a pulled-together look even when she’s on the go.