Start by putting it all out on the table. Literally. Pull everything out of your closet and take a good look. If you can connect a blouse or sweater with something historic — like high school — it’s time to go your separate ways. Keep what you truly love, but be sure it’s still stylish, flattering and only gently worn.

Note: when you donate your old clothes, take only items that are in season. Most places that sell donated items don’t have room for clothing from every season. Put the summer stuff away and go through the same break-up process next spring.

Consider adding a few vintage pieces. That’s all it takes to build several different looks and take your outfits from sedate to stunning. We found a classy vintage place in Saukville called E-Collectique. The store is in an old bank and the most valuable items are, naturally, kept in the vault. You can shop couture labels like Chanel and Versace under the gorgeous chandelier, but the owner’s Smithsonian-like collection is fortified by cool, funky, lower-end stuff, too.

Jeans are the item to get at thrift and consignment stores. You can usually expect to pay $8 max, and most often, they’re still new. Why? We all know jeans can be deceptively cruel. Sometimes, you have to wear them a time or two to realize they really don’t fit and aren’t that flattering. That’s when they get cast out nearly new. Don’t make the same expensive mistake someone else did. Name brands abound at places like Retique in the Third Ward or Elite Repeat in Brookfield.

And before you take your box of exes to be donated, see if there’s any way to give new life to a few items with some creativity. Is there a pair of shoes on the verge that you might love again with a little embellishment? Look for earrings, brooches or pendants you might not actually wear, but might look great on those shoes. Then grab a hot glue gun and get funky. Reinvent purses, jewelry, picture frames and more. The Salvation Army in Menomonee Falls is a great source for old jewelry treasures. For an investment of just a little time and some 50-cent earrings, you can give a new spark to your former loves.