Do you ever wonder how some women just seem to “get it” when it comes to fashion over 60? How do they seem to always look put together?

Do you think you are the only one with a Monday morning discard pile that faces you when you return home at midnight – only to get a second layer of discards Tuesday morning?

What was I thinking? Did I really think my pants would magically reappear from the dry-cleaner? Who jammed this zipper? Seriously how long has that button been gone? I know I came home with two shoes, or was it two socks?

I just can’t keep up! With everything else that is going on in my life, how am I supposed to look put together? I can’t even keep milk in the refrigerator.

What About When the Seasons Change?

Did you have boots on today, while the sassy gal at church showed up with new pumps? Are you feeling not only “not current”, but also out of season? Do you perhaps feel styled from another decade?

Ok, enough about the problem. Let’s talk about the strategy behind dressing with purpose. What is the magic potion that everyone else seems to be drinking?

The recipe and it’s pretty simple – plan, plan, plan ahead girlfriend! Didn’t your mother tell you that, if you fail to plan, you plan to fail? Or was that Oprah? I can’t remember. It was probably someone we weren’t listening to anyway.

Let’s start with last night. Did you plan your outfit for today or were you thinking you would just wing it.

First Line of Defense: Plan Your Outfit the Night Before

Add a valet pole to your closet or a hook to your door where you can pull out the basic elements in advance – pants/skirt/dress/jacket. Then add to it as the ideas start to formulate.

By the time the bewitching sleepy hour rolls around, you might even have your shoes, scarf and jewelry lined up.

Wouldn’t you be off to a better start tomorrow if all you had to worry about in the morning was what flavor tea to drink?

Second Line of Defense: Take Care of Your Inventory!

As you get naked, at the end of the day, assess your items. Do they need to be dry cleaned, ironed or polished? Is the hosiery torn?

Don’t put anything back into the closet that needs TLC in one form or another. The magic elves won’t be fixing those items overnight and you are likely to reach for that stinky shirt when your ride is waiting outside.

Third Tactic: Schedule Your Personal Maintenance Tweaks on Your Calendar

Schedule your manicures, pedicures, haircuts, bra fittings and whatever other maintenance is required to keep you upright, up-to-date and uplifted!

Don’t leave these things to the last minute. Schedule them in blocks, get your name on their schedule every six weeks or however often you need those bushy brows waxed. Then all you have to do is show up!

Fourth Strategy: Pay Attention to the Weather

Listen to the weatherman, weather woman or even a weather app. Just don’t get up and assume. There is nothing worse than leaving the house ill prepared and ending up commuting in a torrential downpour when everyone else has their puddle duckers on. Tune in and pay attention!

Fifth and Most Important: Get a Good Night’s Sleep

Don’t just leave it to chance. Make it a priority! Arianna Huffington’s new book, Thrive, urges us to get in touch with who we really are, to be present in planning our own lives, starting with the importance of sleep.

She cites a study at Duke University, which found that poor sleep is associated with higher stress levels and a greater risk of heart disease and diabetes.

So plan your sleep all day long by paying attention to what you eat, what you drink, what you think about and what stimulation you let in. She encourages us to let the night be the night – dark and quiet.

So, after you set out tomorrows outfit, drink a big glass of water, leave all the electronics downstairs in the off position, go upstairs and just sleep.

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How do you avoid wasting time while you are getting dressed? What tips and tricks have you learned over the years that help you to look your best without interfering with your business schedule? What do you think is the essence of fashion over 60? Please join the conversation.