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I March 2010 Ruthan Brodsky I Special to the Jewish News hopping in your closet" is becoming a commonly heard term. It refers to exploring the dark corners, storage space or basement to uncover your own fabulous clothing from past seasons. In fact, if you are among the more fortunate who kept and maintained your spe- cial-occasion clothes and can still fit in them (with some adjustments), you can find something so very old that it will feel new. The impetus for this remarkable trend is, of course, the economic recession. Most of us either can't afford to purchase another black cocktail dress or we're reluctant to spend the money because we already have three stashed away. The fact is you don't have to look very far and you don't have to spend much to find great new looks. "I used to keep recycling the same five or six outfits but since David became executive director of the Michigan Jewish Sports Foundation and I'm the foundation's director of communications, we now attend many special events besides all the vari- ous committee meetings," says Hedy Blatt of Bloomfield Township. "The good news is that black is the staple color in my wardrobe. My clothes are also easy to work with because, although I have a few artsy pieces, most of them are classic in style. What's even better is that I still have many good pieces from past seasons, which means I can mix and match and update my wardrobe with accessories. I may never need to go out and buy another pair of black slacks, even if they are on sale." Hedy has managed to assess her lifestyle and shop accordingly by organizing her clothes according to her new position with the Sports Foundation. She sticks to what she uses and keeps the classic items she's had for years. She also uses her artistic background to add a touch of flare. "I look in magazines for the latest fashion trends," says Hedy. "The chunky jewelry styles this year inspired me to use a chain that I purchased as a belt and wrap it around my collar as a necklace. It updated an outfit and saved me time and money. "I enjoy mixing the clothes and can't recall the last time I bought a dressy outfit. Today, I'll take a velvet top and wear it over a full pant and find a glitzy belt some- where in my closet." One of the keys to shopping in your closet is having your closet organized so you know what you have before you start putting outfits together in different ways. Then you can discover what you can use for accessories to change the entire look of your current party clothes. While certain pieces of clothing only need updating every few seasons, accesso- ries can be cycled in and out more regularly to keep your wardrobe fresh and stylish. Sometimes the problem of not having anything to wear for a special event is not being able to separate the suit jacket from the pair of slacks you purchased togeth- er. Think that your clothes and accessories are meant to socialize with each other. "I started breaking up suits and mixing fabrics several years ago," says Linda Roth of West Bloomfield. "I really like the look of wearing wools with chiffon or silks and using colors together that you might think shouldn't be worn together, such as red, orange and hot pink. These days, I mix ruffles and pin stripes for a change of pace and mix fake jewelry with real jewelry. And I still love my vintage clothes because the fabrics and stitching are better. "We attended a bat mitzvah the other week and I dug out a turquoise Hanae Mori dress. I received lots of compliments and wondered why I had kept it in storage for so long, other than no one dresses up anymore. We live such casual lives." Pull out your jewelry box and think creatively about different ways to wear the items. Instead of wearing one broach, wear a cluster on your suit lapel. Tie a scarf around the handles of your favorite purse instead of around your neck. It's an inex- pensive way of updating each season and can be done with jewelry, belts, shoes, scarves, hat or bags. Roth's husband, Ellis, doesn't need to shop in his closet. "As a building contractor,