The Wardrobe Edit: Time to get real with what you actually use in your wardrobe. According to a recent study, we only use about 20% of the clothing we actually own. So, eighty percent of your closet is clogged with stuff you neither use nor need. Get rid of it! There’s been a lot written on the subject, so we won’t bore you with it here. You can simply pluck the things out that you haven’t worn in 2 years or go the full Marie Kondo. Whatever you choose, you need to make it a habit to regularly groom your closets (and learn how to make smarter choices) when buying. This is a big job…perfect for the weekend.
Time: 3-5 hours hours, max! Don't fall into the trap of trying clothes on and wasting time. Be ruthless. If you haven't worn it all year (or longer) it's time to say goodbye. Toss or donate.
YOU’LL NEED:
- Proper Hangers: A real investment in good quality hangers is the easiest and most permanent change you can make. They last a lifetime and are well worth it. Get more than you think you need.
- Vacuum
- Duster, old t-shirts and/or duster
- Furniture Cleaner
- Bags to toss/donate
- Plastic bins or space saver bags to store seasonal clothes.
- Row of pegs or valet hook to hang outside your closet.
- Garment Groom
HOW TO DO IT:
1. Start with plucking away all the garments/shoes and accessories you want to toss or donate.
2. Stow Seasonal Clothing. Very few of us have the luxury of ample closet space. You need a winter coat (but not in July). I wash and stow away my clothes twice a year (even shoes). Doing this not only give you more hanging space, it also removes visual clutter which makes it much easier to see your clothing options and get dressed.
3. Dust it down. This is a good time to vacuum and dust every corner of your closet.
4. Use Real Hangers. I can’t stress this one enough. Nothing signals chaos more than mismatched, random hangers (or God-forbid, wire hangers from the dry-cleaner). I like the ones from The Container Store, but you can find similar from Target or Amazon. Just please don't get those dreadful skinny, huggable hangers. They ruin the silhouette of your clothes and collect dust. You can get really tricky with specialty hangers, but I've found you really only need two types: A classic wooden one with a trouser bar and a clip hanger for skirts. That's it.
5. Group Clothes in Categories. You probably already do this, but if you don’t, now is the time to start! It's easy, just hang like with like (e.g. pants in one section, shirts and dresses in another) etc. This will go a long way to help you get dressed in the morning quickly.
6. Hang from Light to Dark. Working within your groups, hang clothing from light to dark. Example, shirts>>>light to dark. Pants>>>light to dark. This does two things; it helps you find what you want to wear based on color and category and it also helps to visually demarcate the change of category (pants to skirts, for example. It sounds complicated, but its seriously easy. And it works.
7. To the left, to left. The empty hanger trick. This is the One simple trick that will help you to keep your closet tidy forever. I’ve never seen it mentioned anywhere by any organizing Guru (which is baffling because it’s so simple). Here it is: Once you pick a garment to wear, don’t put the empty hanger back where it was, put it to the very end of your closet (I use the left side of my closet) and keep it there until you need to rehang something. This will ensure that you always have a hanger free when you need one AND you aren’t taking up valuable real estate in your closet with empty hangers.
8. Be Organized (and do laundry). Most of usover-launder our clothes. I'm NOT advocating for second day yoga pants or sweat socks, but I AM suggesting an easy system for the stuff that's lightly worn or requires dry-cleaning. If you've worn a workday dress or shirt once and it's not soiled, you can refresh it and wear it again! Get yourself a valet hook, row of pegs or even a curtain rod. I know it sounds weird but stay with me. The point is, you have dedicated place to hang your outfit the night before AND a place to refresh your lightly worn garments and air dry before putting them back into general population. There. You have a system!
Lastly: Deal with your shoes. If your closet is small, reconsider where you store your shoes. Maybe inside your closet isn’t the answer. There are plenty of good-looking options at every budget for storing shoes that look good and take up less space in the wardrobe. Edit down and choose one.
Reward: The refreshed and renewed space that used to be a cramped closet is now an efficient dressing room. Well, almost. Call it a dressing machine! Treat yourself to a gorgeous set of storage baskets, a brass Valet hook or row of pegs.
Instant Gratifcation: I suggest a nibble on a frozen Peppermint Patty while staring at your new organized closet. So refreshing!