Time For an Intervention

Cherry Blossoms are beginning to bloom for us out here in California – spring is here!

I love a new season and every spring I get so excited about the latest trends that I start picking up a few new things that I “have to have” before the weather has even turned.

The other day while showing off my latest maxi dress purchase to a girlfriend, instead of getting “I love it, where did you get it, I have to have it” her response was, “I’m thinking you kind of have something like that already in your closet”.

Dang, it’s happened again!

I’ve started to shop for spring before switching out my winter clothes-not good, mistakes will be made.

Time to swap out the closet.

Twice a year I “gut” my closet and give it a little facelift.  I do this by removing EVERYTHING out of my closet, bring my seasonal clothing out of storage and resetting it all.  I inspect every item that goes back in,  pack up off-season clothing and donate or resell what is no longer working for me.

I understand that this whole process may seem overwhelming. Planning is the key.  I pick a date on the calendar when I have a few hours free.  I know I need about 4 uninterrupted hours to accomplish what needs to get done in my closet.  On my date of choice I set aside the time, turn off my phone and focus.  I let my close friends know what I am up to so they know why I am off the grid for a few hours. I grab a cup of coffee and start working.

A few weeks ago my girlfriend C asked me and our other friend A to organize her closet for her Birthday.

Really? No spa? Girls Night Out? You want us to organize your closet?

After insisting that is all she wanted for her Birthday, A and I showed up armed with coffee and snacks to clean out our dear friends closet. Here we go…

Before

 

Step One: Clear the space

• Remove all of the clothes from your closet and lay your clothing on the bed.  I place handbags, shoes and accessories in separate piles on the floor.
• Vacuum out the closet and toss any garbage, shoeboxes, bags and clutter. Create a beautiful clean space.
• Unpack any previously stored in-season items and add them to the pile.
• Now you have some empty totes/storage containers, start packing up the off-season items by folding them into the totes. Touch and inspect each item that is going into storage.  If it has had a full life, put it in the donate pile. If you won’t be wearing something for a while because it isn’t seasonally appropriate, in the tote it goes!  Repeat the process with your off-season handbags accessories and shoes. Your true fall/winter items should all be nicely packed up, ready for fall 2015.

 

Step Two: Sort the piles

• Now the hard part, deciding which clothes you will donate or resell. This is the hardest step, and the most important. If you want to have a truly organized closet, then your goal should be to get rid of as many items of clothing as possible. Below are a few questions I ask myself with each garment:
• Keep all the clothes that you wear on a regular basis and clothes that you would miss if they weren’t in your closet. If you’ve worn a certain item in the last week, month, or even few months, you should hold on to it as long as it’s seasonally appropriate.
• You are left now with a pile of clothes that need to be sorted.
• Have I worn this in the last year? If it has no sentimental value, it’s time to donate/resell it.
• Is this item so worn, pilled or faded that neither I nor anyone else will ever wear it again, toss it!
• Does it still fit? Stop waiting for the day that it will fit and donate it.

 

Step Three: Closet re-entry

• Now it is time to put your clothes back in the closet.  As you prepare your items for re-entry, evaluate each piece honestly.  For each item you are unsure of, ask yourself the questions listed above.  If you truly cannot make the call, set the item aside and ask a good friend to give you an honest opinion.  It is possible that you are holding onto the item for emotional reasons.
• Hang up your clothes and organize them. Try to hang up as many of your clothes as you can. This will make it easier for you to find your clothes and to conserve space. I like to use thin felt type black hangers. You can get these at Costco, Bed, Bath & Beyond and Target. These hangers allow for more storage and the items don’t slip off.

Felt Hangers via Bed Bath and Beyond HERE

• I like to organize my clothes by type. I separate my knits, blouses/shirts, pants, skirts, day and special occasion dresses. Once all the items are back in the closet I colorize them so I can really get a sense of what I own.
• The items I wear the most are in the best location for easy access and visibility, making it easy to get dressed in the morning.

Step Four:  Accessories

Handbags:

Scarves and Belts:

Shoes:

 Extras: Just for fun

• Paint your closet a soft pretty color.
• Add mirrors or a tall mirror
• Hang jewelry and scarves where you can see them  (see photos)
• Over-the-door shoe racks are a great way of saving space compared to on-ground shoe racks.
• If you have some space in your closet, perhaps put a dresser in the closet and store your folded items in it.
• One of my girlfriends gave me this fantastic tip:  Hang your clothes with the opening of the hanging part of the hanger toward you.  When you wear an item, put it back in normally.  Later in the year, you can go through your closet and evaluate the hangers that are still backwards and decide then if you want to keep the items or donate/resell them.
• I like to keep one basket in my closet for extra hangers. I have a second basket for slippers and flip flops to giving me easy access to items I wear daily.
• Add a fun quote or work of art for daily inspiration:

 And now..

Before and After

 Thoughts or comments? Scroll down and share!

I know I can’t wait to get into my closet this weekend! Once I am done I will be able to clearly evaluate what needs to be replaced, resoled, altered or donated.

Wish me luck and thanks for stopping by!

XOXO

Suzanne

 

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