How to Edit and Organize Your Wardrobe in 10 Simple Steps

The temperature has dropped and it’s time to break out the sweaters, suede boots and corduroys. Unless you have a walk-in closet, that means that you’re going to have to swap out your summer wear to make room for your fall fashions. The problem that most people face when editing their wardrobe is that they aren’t realistic about what it is that works for them and so their closets are exploding with items they will never wear. For example, I am a middle-aged mom and teacher. I haven’t worn heels in years, as I’m constantly on my feet. I am much more comfortable and feel much more stylish in a pair of jeans or cords, a cozy sweater and a pair of suede desert boots than anything else. Knowing this means I have very little use for anything dressy or restrictive, which is why I no longer own many items that fit that description. This knowledge really helps me organize and curate my closet. It’s a bit of work and takes time, but it’s worth it. If you’re ready to tackle your closet/dressers, these 10 steps will make the job much easier.

1. Identify your day-to-day style. How would you describe your style in three words (my words are “comfortable”, “casual”, and “earthy”)? Keeping those three words in mind, dress the part. Unless you absolutely love it and plan to wear it on a special occasion, get rid of any items that don’t fit into your lifestyle or intended look. Your closet real estate is too precious to waste. You should have one or two outfits that fall into a category of clothes you hardly wear (such as two “dressy” outfits, in my case) and the rest should be items you would wear regularly.
2. Weed your collection. Now, look at what’s left. If it’s stained, ripped, worn out or you no longer wear it, toss it, sell it or donate it. Do not talk yourself into keeping something. If you have multiple items of a similar style (for example, three black knit turtlenecks) keep the best two and donate or toss the third. Remember – you’re cherry-picking!
3. Assess the “maybes”. If it doesn’t fit, decide whether or not you would wear it if it still did. If you would, and it can be altered, take it to a tailor or if you can, alter it yourself. If it’s not worth the hassle or the expense, into the donation pile it goes!
4. Accessorize wisely. Look over your handbags, belts, scarves and hats and repeat steps 1-3 for these items.
5. Prep your space for your edited wardrobe.
   1. If your dresser drawers are wooden or old, line them with paper or fabric so they don’t accidentally snag any of your garments. 
   2. Wipe down closet rods, floors and shelves. Use cedar blocks to naturally keep moths at bay. If the cedar loses its scent, just sand it a bit to release a new layer of fragrance.
   3. Place soft woven baskets on your closet floor to store things like scarves, belts or handbags. These are easy to slide in and out of place.
6. Get organized. Now that you have gotten rid of the clothes you no longer want, it’s time to decide how to organize the ones you want to keep.
   1. Pants, skirts, dresses and even jeans could be hung up in your closet. If you use plastic or metal hangers, recycle them and consider upgrading to wooden ones. They look nicer and won’t leave fold marks on your clothes. 
   2. Blouses and shirts should also be hung up. Non-slip/velvet-lined hangers are great for these items. If you are buying new ones, consider which color options best fit your decor. Try to keep everything uniform.
   3. Once everything is on hangers, group items by type and color from light to dark. So, pants should be hung up together in a section. White pants on the left and black on the right, other colors get grouped in between.
7. Fold it. Sweaters, knits, tees, undergarments and socks should be stored in dedicated drawers. Be sure to carefully fold everything before placing them in your dresser. If you want to “roll them” a la the Marie Kondo method, that works too. I choose to fold my garments and group them according to type and color.
8. Take care of your delicates. Don’t tuck socks into one another when storing them (this ruins their elasticity). Simply fold them together. Bras should not be folded when stored, especially if the cups are wired or shaped. Don’t forget to edit these items as well! Undergarments are the foundation of your wardrobe. If they don’t fit correctly, your clothes won’t look as good as they should.
9. Check out your shoes. Do they need to be polished, re-soled or possibly replaced? Are they comfortable? Only keep the pairs that you wear and that are in good shape. Don’t throw them in your closet. Make sure each pair is stored nicely or possibly in it’s own box. You can even use shoe organizers if need be.
10. Stay on top of the wash. If you stain a garment, pretreat it before you wash it. Once you have cleaned and dried it, take the time to put it back in its proper place, neatly. Iron items that need it as you put them away. An organized closet only stays that way with regular maintenance.

Once you have finished cleaning out your closet, make a cup of tea, sit back and stare at your gorgeous, neat new space. Trust me, the next time you get dressed, you’ll feel like you’re shopping in your own home. You’ll also be surprised at all of the new combinations of outfits you can make now that you can see everything and know that it all works for you and your lifestyle. Happy dressing!