...Get Your Closet Organized

I've been overwhelmed with ideas about what to write for my second posting. I get so excited thinking about clothes and shopping and playing dress-up in my closet, it's really hard to pick just one!

I've had people ask, "Where do I start in achieving a good wardrobe?" I think the best place is in your own closet. As with anything, we save time and money by being organized, and clothing is no different. How often have you had an event to go to and you stood in your closet looking for something to wear and found nothing, so you found yourself at the mall? I'm not suggesting that you never go shopping for anything new, but I believe that most of us have far more hidden deep in our closets then we think. It's really important to know your own inventory.

The first thing I recommend, if you haven't already done so, is organize your clothes by item. All pants together, all short-sleeved shirts together, skirts, etc. You might find that you have some duplicates. Ask yourself, "Do I really need four black skirts", and then pair down accordingly. Look at pant and skirt lengths when making your decisions. For instance, you might want to have two different lengths of black skirts and pants. You may want to have a pair of black pants that you wear with a heel and one that you wear with a pointed toe flat.

You'll want to look at the condition of each piece. Don't keep anything with a stain or an irreparable tear. Buttons are replaceable and well worth the effort if you truly love the garment. Let go of clothing that follows those crazy trends from 5 years ago we didn't think we could live without. Trends come and go, but classic pieces never go out of style, and if cared for will last for years. That's a topic I'll address at a later date. If you're choosing between four black pencil skirts, decide which two you gravitate toward and discard the others.

Take some time to try things on too. You may have forgotten how much you love that black pencil skirt because you haven't worn it in awhile. Make sure you check the fit. Pants and skirts shouldn't pull through the tops of the thighs. That's a sure way to make you look fuller trough the hips. Buttons should not pull on any garment either. I've been told that we aren't supposed to keep clothes in various sizes because it promotes a yo-yo effect with our weight, but I don't agree with that. I see nothing wrong with having a few skirts or pants that are forgiving after six weeks of holiday eating. I'm always grateful for them!

After you have your closet organized by item, you'll want to group things together by color, all black shirts, all white shirts, etc. This is helpful when putting an outfit together and also when you're headed out to do some shopping. It allows you to take a quick look in your closet to see where the gaps are. We tend to be creatures of habit, especially with our clothing. Maybe if you see that you have 15 black shirts hanging all together, it will encourage you to try something different. There's no need to keep spending money on the same things.

After you've gotten your clothes organized, it's time to tackle the shoes. Ladies, please discard all square toed, clunky heeled boots and shoes immediately! They won't be back in style any time soon, and if they are, that's a trend you don't need to participate in. Look to see if you have any shoes that just need a little attention. It's always cheaper to maintain them rather then replace them. Leather can be polished and the tips on your heels can be replaced.

After you've finished, you'll want to find some place to donate all of your unwanted items that are still in good condition. If you live in the San Jose area, I have some names of a few places that accept clothing. I'd be happy to refer you to them. You might want to check with your friends to see if there's anything they'd like to have. I always appreciate my sister sharing things with me.

I truly believe that getting your closet organized is the first step to having the wardrobe you've always wanted. You may want to invite a friend, whose opinion about fashion you value, to help you sort through everything. I'm also available for closet consultations. You can reach me at [email protected] to set up an appointment.

Happy Organizing!