We have all been there, the night before a wedding or big event like an interview, and we are digging through the closet trying to figure out what to wear. Nothing fits and the stores are closed for the day. Now panic sets in, maybe some tears. Why didn't we plan this sooner?

So the goal here is to plan your wardrobe for your big events so you are not stuck at the last minute trying to put outfits together.

So let's make this simple:

Step 1. LOOK AT YOUR SCHEDULE FOR THE NEXT FEW MONTHS

What and when are your major events 2 to 3 months from now?

Examples may be:

• Wedding in the city
• Weekend away
• Interview
• Christmas party/office party
• Week vacation to New York

Step 2. SHOP YOUR CLOSET

Do a quick once over your closet to see if you have what you need to support those events. This is NOT the time for a closet overhaul, it’s a scan of what you own to fulfill your current needs.

Give yourself 30 minutes to an hour.

Grab a paper and pen, or jot down notes in your phone. Maybe even take some pictures of what you have as a good reference for when you go shopping.

Pull out the pieces that you like for these events. Try them on. I know, you don't feel like getting naked right now, but trust me. Try them on.

• Do they fit?
• Do you have accessories to complete the outfit including shoes, jewelry, undergarments, handbags.

For the wedding maybe you already own a great dress, but you need some jewelry. So add that to your shopping list. Take a picture of the dress and shoes so you have it when you are shopping.

For the weekend away, maybe it's a really casual weekend. You have tees, shorts, jeans and hoodies. Make a list so you don't forgot anything including items like underwear, pajamas, socks. As you are looking through your items your swimsuit is looking a bit worn, so put 'swimwear' on your list.

For the week vacation, the big question is what size suitcase? Big or Small? Let’s focus on small here. Remember that you’ll probably be changing at least twice a day. For some that may seem unreasonable but think about it: day outfits for tours and sight seeing & evening outfits for dinner, theatre. So with that thinking and a small suitcase the goal is to take the least amount of items but that they go together to make as many outfits as possible.

Pull out all the pieces you love from your closet. For example, that dress that you love for its lightweight fabric and its versatility. Or that new matching tank and shorts outfit you bought last month. Lay it all out what you have so you can see it together (on your bed or the floor) I have a picture of this from my trip to New York.

Here are some basic tips for planning what to bring:

Dresses/rompers are great one and done pieces, the look can change with different shoes & accessories. So that's 2 outfits right there per dress.

Your tops should be interchangeable with all the bottoms you are bringing.

Bottoms should vary from dressy jogger, jeans, shorts and skirts.

Matching tops and bottoms are really trendy and versatile right now and the 2 pieces can make at least 3 or more outfits depending on the other items you are bringing.

Don’t forget a rain jacket or lightweight sweater or jacket. Just because its summer doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be prepared.

I love having a scarf on hand when I travel. There is this great brand call Ovcio that makes the most lightweight, packable, and warm scarf. Check them out here:  https://www.ovcio.com/pages/featherlight-scarf (this is not a sponsored link)

So once you have pulled out all those pieces, count how many outfits you can make and will wear. Double check that you have outfits for special events like going to the theatre. Once it's all laid out you may notice that you are missing some pieces. Maybe a white collared shirt for layering with a tank and short set and to wear with your black dress pants. You shouldn't have any pieces that only make 1 outfit if you are packing a small suitcase.

Reminder: take a picture of all the items you laid out and/or keep a list of what you selected.

Step 3. MAKE A SHOPPING LIST & GO SHOPPING ASAP

Now you should have a list of the items that you need to buy from Step 2. Set aside an afternoon to get all the shopping done in one go.

Stick to the list when shopping! Don't get sidetracked by all the pretty things out there. Stick to the plan. If you are like me, you will buy things while you are there, so I always remind myself that I will go shopping there and that will be so much more fun than shopping at home.

So now you are ready to enjoy your summer events and look stunning while you are at it.

Remember: Be beautiful. Be intentional!