Closet inventory: What to keep, toss

By MADELEINE MARR
mmarr@herald.com

To keep or not to keep? Sometimes when you peruse your double-stuffed closet, it's hard to know.

''If something is of good quality and flatters your figure, then it's just about wearing it in a modern way to make it in style,'' says Gretchen Rust, co-owner of the Miami-based vintage clothing website Back-in-Style.com.

Herewith, she and biz partner Sheffield MacIntyre tell you what pieces you should hold onto, no matter how long they've been hanging around.

1. Accessories-R-Us: Can't keep track of what's hot in gems? Put on those pearls, girls. ''Short or long, they are consistently the ideal finishing touch,'' says MacIntyre. Belts are also the ultimate conundrum. How do you wear one, and what size? ''When all else fails, go '80s,'' says Rust. ``All you need is a wide one fastened around a jacket and it looks current.''

2. Shoe in: You'd be perfectly happy spending the rest of your life in flip-flops and sneakers. Unfortunately, reality means having to dress it up once in a while. Rust and MacIntyre suggest two surefire classics -- ballet flats, ''because they are comfortable and have an eternal elegance'' -- and loafers. Never mind you bought them when Poison last came to town. ``This all-purpose shoe never looks trendy, but always fits in.''

3. Color code: Bet you thought black would be the ultimate go-to hue. Nope, the duo says, it's navy and white. ``This combination is classic. It's always in and always crisp.''

4. Made in the shade: Living where we do, sunglasses aren't just a statement, they're an optical necessity. Confused about frames? Opt for aviators. ''They've been making them since the '30s and have been a style piece since the '60s,'' MacIntyre says. ``You can't go wrong.''

5. Timeless trophies: The pair tell you a few more golden oldies to covet:

• A strapless gown because ``the neckline is sexy and understated.''

• A pencil skirt in navy or black. ''It's chic, goes with everything and goes anywhere, whether it's a business meeting or cocktails.'' Or, if you're trying to conceal a bumpy back end, a ''flattering and feminine'' 1950s full skirt.

• The great white blouse: ``Frilly or minimalist, this [staple] goes just as well with your business suit as it does your jeans.''

• A Birkin bag: ''If you're lucky enough to find one of these in your closet,'' Rust says, ``you probably don't need anyone to tell you it's always in.''