“I have a closet full of clothes but nothing to wear”
Sound familiar? There are a lot of reasons we end up here- jobs and lifestyles change (hello, Covid?), purchasing items impulsively or out of desperation- whatever the reason, the first step in rectifying your purchasing habits and adjusting your wardrobe to suit your lifestyle is to get organized- as in, get to organizing your closet.
It seems counterintuitive- cleaning out your closet and editing items will help you create more outfits? When you physically take out and evaluate each item, you have the opportunity to reflect on its utility. Sometimes you discover gems you forgot you had, or find a new use for neglected items.
“Clutter creates chaos, which impacts your ability to focus (and) limits your brain's capacity to process information. Clutter is a form of visual distraction, which increases cognitive overload and can reduce working memory. Research has shown that people are less irritable, less distracted, more productive, and better able to process information with an uncluttered and organized work area.”
That “nothing to wear” feeling is often the result of sensory overload from disorganization. Your brain is too busy trying to make sense of the mess to actually put together an outfit. When your closet is organized and edited down to include items you actually wear, you’ll spend less time getting dressed and experience less stress doing it.
“Where do I start?”
The best times to edit your closet are when the seasons change (Spring and Fall). Not everyone has room for a year’s worth of wardrobe in one closet; removing and storing out-of-season items is the best way to create space. Even if you do have the room, cleaning and storing off-season items with pest repellant will help them last longer.
A closet cleanout can seem like a daunting and lengthy process, but breaking it down into sections will quell the overwhelm.
PREP
It’s important to have a sense of your style identity to aid you during this overhaul. This will not only make the editing process more efficient and painless, but will help you add in the right pieces and eliminate wasteful spending. I start with my CLASS system to help clients identify their unique profile.
STEP ONE: REMOVAL
Ideally EVERYTHING is pulled out of your closet, dresser, etc. and placed in one area to sort into categories:: Tops, pants, skirts, dresses, outerwear, shoes, etc. Each category can be broken into subcategories, e.g. TOPS: sweaters, blouses, tees; PANTS: jeans, slacks, athleisure.
Most people already organize their wardrobe this way but it can get mixed up over time. Once everything is categorized you can start the evaluation and edit process.
STEP TWO: EVALUATE AND EDIT
Try on and evaluate each item within each category. Things to consider:
Item’s condition (pilled/stained/torn=bye bye)
Current fit or size of item, and/or it’s ability to be tailored
Emotional impact while wearing- does it make you feel confident and attractive?
Lifestyle, occupation, etc.- ability of item to get you dressed for typical activities
Coordination with other pieces within your wardrobe- try styling it in at least three outfits, and take photos. Make notes of what type of outfits you are putting together (work, casual, etc.)
Is it YOU?
Enlisting the help of trusted friends and loved ones to offer opinions can be helpful if you’re having trouble being realistic about items. Technology is another useful tool- text photos of yourself in a piece (or just the item by itself) to trusted advisors or post on social media for comment (with caution!).
STEP THREE: INVENTORY AND ORGANIZE
Ideally, the items that are left are in good condition, fit your body and your lifestyle, coordinate with other items in your wardrobe and feel good to wear. Take note of how many items make up each category- this will help you identify where your shopping needs lie.
Placement location in your closet is also important- frequently used items and pieces worn for ‘higher stakes’ occasions (work, social events) should be easily accessible and featured prominently to expedite dressing. Lower stakes (workout, lounge) and infrequent (formal) can be less visible.
There are a few guidelines to consider when putting items back in your closet:
Knit items like tees and sweaters should be folded- hangers can distort the shape of the garment and stretch out the shoulders. Fold and drape over hanger or use hanging fabric shelves
Using the same hangers for everything (e.g. wood or space-saving velvet) creates a uniform look and reduces distraction
If you’re lucky enough to have shelves for shoes, stack each pair heel-to-toe (ying/yang) to save room. Arrange top to bottom: dressy/special occasion, heels, flats, sneakers, boots/booties
If you stack your shoes in boxes, remove them from the original opaque boxes and place them in uniform clear bins (like these).
Hang items by category-color-sleeve length. For example: sleeveless red tops, short sleeve red tops, long sleeve red tops, sleeveless orange tops, short sleeve orange tops… Hanging in rainbow order (red, orange, yellow…) makes it easy to find items since our brains process the color spectrum naturally
Try to leave an area open for prepping outfits, such as a small bar space or retractable valet bar
STEP FOUR: PLAN AND BUILD
By this step, you should a wardrobe containing items that:
are in good condition: nothing torn, stained, overly pilled, etc.
currently fit your body or will fit with minor tailoring
are comfortable to wear
feel good to wear emotionally
make sense for your lifestyle
can be styled in multiple outfits
You should also have an idea of what you have an abundance of (black pants) or are lacking (basic tees), by virtue of how large or small your categories are. Building outfits during the edit process will also highlight any specific holes in your wardrobe (lots of patterned blouses, but no solid bottoms to wear with them). Make a shopping list (like you would for the grocery store), and be as specific as possible with each item- include colors, materials, and/or possible brand or retailer. Keep on your phone or in your wallet to reference whenever you’re out shopping or browsing online.