Sorting Through Closet Favorites

How do you feel when you walk into your closet? Are you at peace with how things are organized? Do you see shoes neatly lined up, shirts color-coded and dresses cleanly draped on matching hangers? If the answer is yes, I’m jealous of you! I try my best to keep a tidy closet, but lately mine are crowded with too much stuff – most of which I don’t like or wear.

It’s time to regain control!

Get a Grip on Daily Wear

Take an honest look at your daily routine and decide what items you use regularly. Some shoes will get worn more than others, and some won’t ever touch the pavement. Take them to the resale store, donation station or give them to a friend who wears the same size. Cocktail dresses and winter boots can be moved to another closet if you are limited on space. If you don’t have the luxury of more closet space upstairs, move the out of season clothing to the back and pull all of the current season choices up front.

Invest in boxes and storage bins, along with under bed solutions. Pick up a few extras when you are buying them for your college-bound kid. Now it’s time to get down to business.

Ask Yourself the Hard Questions

How many pairs of jeans, boots, winter down vests, purses, etc., do you (I) really need? I “have a friend” (me) who has enough white t-shirts to clothe an entire neighborhood and the surrounding area.

She (me) has so many winter vests, in multiple colors, to start a specialty vest store. In her defense, they look great over a white tee shirt! The truth is, I live in Texas, where it seldom gets very cold, and I am shamefully over-vested. So, how many cute, quilted, colorful, down vests do I really need? I think 5, maybe 7, and I’ll keep the blue one, the cream one, definitely the black one, another blue one, the blue plaid one, the green plaid one and the red plaid one. That’s 7, and I’m donating the rest! Whew. I may keep the pink and the metallic silver one also. And, another cream one. A well rounded 10! I’m good to go.

Do this with your jeans, boots, tees, purses and lingerie drawer. Full disclosure, I have issues in all of these areas. It’s hard to part with old friends – even when you haven’t worn them or pulled them off the rack in years.

Look inside your closet and take note of how many jeans you own and then figure out how many fit you, and which ones do you really wear. According to an Instagram account, called The Jeanius, Amy Bannerman, fashion director for Cosmopolitan, says a person should have four to five pairs that they truly love. They should include a pair of black, flair or cropped and a girlfriend or boyfriend style.  The author notes she owns 68 pairs of jeans; she would have to scale down if she had my closet!

Jeans can be a girl’s best wardrobe staple, worn with a great (white) tee, a silk shirt, a great pair of heels, riding boots, a bomber jacket, a favorite blazer or a creamy soft sweater. You only need a few pairs if you buy the right style and fit.

Tabulate Your T-shirts

It doesn’t matter how many you have, but rather how many you wear. Long sleeve, short sleeve, v-neck, boat neck, work out and with logos. They all serve a purpose. As long as you are using them, don’t toss them too soon. T-shirts represent special moments from the past (graphic designs and sports logos) and are easy to throw on with a great pair of jeans.

White tees are clean looking and can be worn with almost anything. A nice fitting tee can even serve as an underpinning with a woman’s suit. Black and gray t-shirts are also great staples and look good under a blazer. A common issue is the space they take up in a closet or drawer. If you are bursting at the seams with your favorite tees, remove them from the hangers or drawers and put them in a clear bin. Now, take them out as you use them. Put the ones you use in your drawer or hang them back up, and see how many you have actually utilized through the month. If you find you have several you can live without, don’t feel guilty purging.

Inspect Business Staples

Even if you have taken time over the years to build a timeless business wardrobe, your staple pieces need regular attention. Has anything faded? Do you see signs of wear, or could you benefit from a few updates? This is where working with a stylist (or your most stylish friend) comes in handy.

Clean and Store Jewelry and Accessories

Your key pieces will last much longer if they are regularly cleaned and properly stored. Whether heirloom or costume, a little extra care goes a long way. Although you may have a large (or growing) jewelry or sunglasses collection, a seasonal decluttering will remind you of some fun favorites you haven’t worn lately. You will instinctively know when it’s time to retire other pieces.

The list can go on and on, but I have found that jeans and tees, along with my coveted vests are my biggest problem. What is yours? I’d love to hear from you. Tweet me @dianegottsman and tag me on Facebook or Instagram.