Temperatures are tumbling where I live and it’s almost time for me to switch my closet from warm weather to cool weather clothes. As you might imagine, I grapple with the “wear it” or “toss it” issue twice a year.
A rule of thumb, as proposed for years by fashion editors was if you haven’t worn it in a year, get rid of it. But, for me at least, that’s hard to follow. I sometimes get emotionally attached to my clothing plus I have successfully resurrected items that I haven’t worn in a year or more. So, no. I ignore that rule. But the preponderance of clothing at the back of my closet, the items I have to work for to get to, makes me realize that I do need some help in sifting through what to wear and what to toss.
Just in time for my closet overhaul came an email from image consultant Janna Beatty and author Sharon White who co-wrote Quintessential Style: Cultivate and Communicate Your Signature Look.
Here, their tips for tackling the dreaded task of cleaning your closets …
Use it or lose it. Nothing should be in your closet that you can’t wear right now, Beatty says. That means anything that doesn’t fit, is in need of repair or is out of season shouldn’t be taking up space. If you have extra closet space, move the out-of-season clothing there. If you plan to lose weight, do the same with clothes that don’t fit. Mostly, though, donate or toss the excess. “Be brutal in deciding what to keep and what to get rid of,” Beatty says.
Organize your collection. Once the clutter is gone, it’s time to organize what remains, White says. Dressier clothes should hang toward the back of the closet unless you wear them often. Types of garments – skirts, pants, tops – should be grouped together and organized from casual to dressy.
Customize your closet. Builders mostly build generic closets, using standard measures for clothing racks and shelves. People then just use whatever space is there, whether it works for them or not. Beatty and White suggest that instead of working with that generic layout, you should make your closet work with your wardrobe. That could mean bringing in more storage for shoes, or deciding whether you need more or less hanging space than what’s available.
Maintain Your Closet. Once you’re done organizing, you aren’t really done, Beatty and White say. “You can’t expect to stay organized if you don’t regularly tidy up,” Beatty says. “Make sure you hang clothes back up after you wear them, or put them in the hamper if they need to be washed. Put clean laundry away promptly. If you aren’t careful, you’re closet will be a quagmire again.”
About Janna Beatty
Janna Beatty, owner of one of Texas’ premier makeover studios, is co-author of the book Quintessential Style: Cultivate and Communicate Your Signature Look. She has studied in New York and Paris with some of the most respected advisers in the fashion and beauty industry. A successful business owner for more than 30 years, Beatty speaks to corporations, professional organizations, and women’s groups. She also has been a guest on radio, podcasts, and television.
About Sharon White
Sharon White is an award-winning author who lives and writes in Central Texas. She has written for New York Daily News, Huffington Post, Fashion Bible and other online and print magazines. She publishes a popular lifestyle blog based on her book, Quintessential Style.
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