| Every woman I know, at one time or another, | | | | no longer fits, or we don't feel beautiful in it, it's |
| has stood in front of her closet in frustration and | | | | time to retire it. Giving something to either a |
| claimed, "I don't have a thing to wear!" When your | | | | charitable organization or a consignment shop will |
| closet is unorganized, with clothes that no longer | | | | allow someone else to enjoy wearing the item, |
| fit the body you are in today, or contain things | | | | which is a great gift. |
| you haven't worn in years, dressing in the | | | | 3). Merchandise It |
| morning becomes a challenge. Did you know that | | | | Go through each section of your closet and |
| the average woman only wears 20% of what is | | | | merchandise all like items together: jackets, tops, |
| in her closet? Follow these four tips to organizing | | | | skirts and pants. Be sure to separate your suits |
| your closet and you will find that you'll not only be | | | | and sort each piece separately. By hanging your |
| better organized, you will become more efficient | | | | suit pieces by category, you will see more mix |
| when dressing each morning. This will reduce your | | | | and match options. Perhaps you might find |
| stress level, and allow you more time to have | | | | another skirt to wear with that suit jacket. After |
| that sip of coffee or read the paper before you | | | | all items are grouped together by classification, be |
| begin your day. | | | | sure all hangers are facing the same direction. |
| 1). Organize it | | | | Colorize each type of clothing from light to dark, |
| Your closet needs to be a storage area for your | | | | from left to right. When you colorize your closets |
| clothes and accessories. Go through your closet | | | | you will see more color options to create some |
| and remove all the items like golf clubs, exercise | | | | new outfits. You will also be able to quickly access |
| balls, and luggage. Relocate these items to another | | | | if you have too much black in your wardrobe and |
| area of your home. After you have removed all | | | | need to add a splash of color for interest. |
| non-clothing items, you want to separate the | | | | 4). Categorize It |
| closet into two different sections; work attire and | | | | Be sure that all of your accessories are organized |
| casual clothes. This will save you time in the | | | | and in full view. Whether you own twenty pairs of |
| morning to only consider the items in the work | | | | shoes or a hundred, it is important to organize |
| appropriate section of your closet. If you can, | | | | them so that you can quickly select a pair when |
| only keep the current season's wardrobe in your | | | | dressing. You have several options: organize them |
| closet and relocate the other season to another | | | | into hanging shoe bags, floor shoe racks, plastic |
| closet. This allows you to just select items from | | | | shoe boxes, or hang a photo on the outside of |
| the current season versus having to look through | | | | the original shoe box. This allows viewing the color |
| all of your clothes each morning. | | | | and styling at a moment's glance. For belts, try a |
| 2). Keep It or Purge It | | | | hanging belt rack that affixes to the wall, or one |
| Before you start merchandising your closet, it is a | | | | that hangs on the closet rod. Separate the dressy |
| good idea to make sure every piece works for | | | | belts from the casual ones and sort by color. |
| you. Try on each item and then stand in front of | | | | Scarves can be merchandised together by rolling |
| a full-length mirror and ask yourself these | | | | them up and storing them in a storage box or |
| questions: | | | | hanging them on a plastic scarf hanger by color |
| - Does it fit? | | | | tones. |
| - Do I love it? | | | | Sort your handbags by dressy vs. casual and |
| - Is it still in great condition and in style? | | | | store them by color on either a shelf or bin in |
| - Do I feel fabulous in it? | | | | your closet. Jewelry can be kept either in jewelry |
| - Does the color and the silhouette of the item | | | | boxes, or in a hanging jewelry storage bag that |
| flatter my coloring and figure type? | | | | fits over your closet rod. A great tip is to store |
| The answers you get will help you determine | | | | long necklaces on a hanging belt rack on the wall. |
| whether you keep the item or purge it. As you | | | | This keeps your long necklaces from getting |
| try on each item, if you really want to keep it, | | | | tangled in drawers. With everything organized you |
| you can also assess if it needs to be dry-cleaned, | | | | will use a wider range of your accessories more |
| repaired, or have some minor alterations. When I | | | | often, and consistently add accessory magic to |
| work with a client on this process I always | | | | your outfits! If you follow these four tips, you will |
| recommend sorting into three piles: dry-cleaning, | | | | be well on your way to a more organized closet. |
| alterations/repair, and charity or consignment | | | | It will truly represent the clothes you feel great in |
| store. The items we decide are keepers go back | | | | today, allow you to see more mix and match |
| into the closet, but only if we love them, wear | | | | alternatives, and dress with greater ease and |
| them routinely and feel great in them. If the item | | | | confidence each morning. |