How to Organize a Closet
Learning how to organize a closet is a skill that encompasses not only
how the closet LOOKS, but
how
you feel
about everything in there.
"It's important to edit
your closet. If you don't wear it, get rid of it!"
Nina Garcia
Fashion Director, Elle and Marie Claire Magazines
I love the word edit, don't you?
(Probably because it reminds me of reading and writing and I love both
of them, but I'm getting off topic here...)
Your closet, just like the first rough draft of the newest novel by
your favorite author, could probably use a tiny little bit (or maybe a
LOT) of
editing.
Here's my definition of editing your closet (which is the first step in
how to
organize a closet):
Clear out all the stuff
that is getting in the way of you
looking and feeling your very best right now
(no, not 10 pounds from now)
and get rid of it.
All of it.
Yes, I mean it.
Anything less is doing yourself a huge disservice.
Your closet is
where you
start each day. It's where you get your first
sense of who you are presenting to the world, and who you are
presenting to yourself.
You simply
can't be your
best if you don't feel great about what you
are wearing.
It's like having a bad hair day, and you know what that feels like (we
ALL do).
Most closets have about 10-20% of clothes and accessories that you
actually wear, and the rest sits in there gathering dust and taking up
space.
And keeping all the rest of the stuff that you're not using creates the
illusion that you have a full wardrobe that will take you anywhere you
need to go, even when it isn't true.
So learning how to organize a closet is a skill that goes
beyond making everything neat and tidy...you are also getting to know
yourself better, and what makes you look and feel great.
For detailed steps on how to organize a closet and clear out what no longer works:
Clearing
Out Your Closet: Step 1 - Getting Started
Clearing
Out Your Closet: Step 2 - Bras, Panties, and Socks
Clearing
Out Your Closet: Step 3 - Pajamas, Robes, and Lingerie
Clearing
Out Your Closet: Step 4 - Shoes, Boots, and Footwear
Clearing
Out Your Closet: Step 5 - Workout Clothes
Clearing
Out Your Closet: Step 6 - Accessories
Clearing
Out Your Closet: Step 7 - Clothes
In a nutshell:
1. Take out everything
that
doesn't fit the body you have right at this
moment. You're not wearing that stuff right now anyway, so
it doesn't
belong in your closet.
(And you'll never, ever, ever convince me that it's motivating to have
smaller clothes in your closet to keep you on your diet. Those
too-small clothes just make you feel bad.)
2. Next take out everything that is
worn
out, out of style, you never
liked anyway, and that doesn't flatter you. You deserve to
have every
single thing in your closet delight you.
If you're wondering how to tell if your clothes have passed their
expiration date, maybe it's time for a review of your
clothes
wardrobe.

3. Look at what's left.
What?
You only have three things left in there?
Good. Now you know what you have actually been wearing (even when you
spend 15 minutes in the morning trying to decide what to wear). And
imagine how easy it will be to keep three things organized.
4. Go and get yourself
matching
hangers for your three lovely items. I
prefer the white tubular hangers because you can always find more of
them when you need more and they don't take up nearly as much room as
wooden hangers (although you don't have that problem now that you only
have three things in your closet, do you?)
5. Vacuum out all the dust bunnies you knew were in there but hadn't
been able to see for the forest of clothes that needed to be edited.
6. Can you say, "
organize
my closets
?" Organize what's left by style
(pants with pants, shirts with
shirts), and by color (lighter to darker).
7. Enjoy your
clean,
cleared-out, beautifully edited
closet...preferably with wine and dark chocolate.
Learning how to organize a closet wasn't so bad, was it? :)
And here are some more
closet
organizing ideas.