Conquer Your Closet – Dump the Clutter for Good!
Written By Dianne M. Daniels, CEO http://www.howtoloveyourreflection.com
Ladies, we are at war…with our closets! If you’re like me, it seems that the contents of your clothes closet just keeps growing and growing without any end, and there may still be days that you don’t know what you’re going to wear.
This article will help you to focus on the basics – how to weed through the volume of garments in your closet, what to keep and what to pack away, and how to eliminate some of the clutter that can accumulate over the years.
Let’s get started with 5 Essential Closet Organization Principles:
1. Remove everything that needs repair – you can’t begin to evaluate items for fit, finish or likeability until they are repaired, so set them aside.
If the repair is just a missing button, a dropped hem, or a busted zipper, the garment is probably worth fixing. If it’s a special occasion garment that you will wear very infrequently, or something you haven’t worn in years and really didn’t miss, then think twice about having it repaired.
2. Next, remove garments that don’t fit properly right now. Clothing that is too small will make you look overweight, and can also draw extra attention to parts of your body you’d rather not focus on.
Wearing clothing that’s too big for you isn’t flattering either – all that extra fabric tends to bunch up in places you don’t necessarily want it to be. What’s most flattering to your image and your new figure is to wear clothing that fits your proportions. If the size tag bothers you, take it out! No one but you needs to know what size your garment is – the fit is far more important.
3. Remove all garments you haven’t worn in a year, allowing for some seasonal items. If the clothes are simply out-of-season, put them into a garment bag and into an off-season closet, or pack them into a box. Make sure they are clean before you do this, because a stain or fragrance that’s had a chance to sit for months is far less likely to come out no matter what you do.
If the garment is not purely seasonal (multi-season clothes are the most versatile) but you still haven’t worn it for at least a year, try to figure out why. Is it the color? Is the fabric scratchy or uncomfortable? Is the size right, but perhaps the proportions are wrong?
Determining why you avoid wearing a certain garment – especially regarding fit – can give you additional clues on which garments, manufacturers or styles to avoid in the future.
4. Separate what’s left in the closet into clothes you wear all the time, and things you wear less often. You already know these things probably fit pretty well, don’t need repairs, and you like the way they look on your body. Analyze what these garments have in common: color, fabric, fit, etc. You’ll start to see similarities – the weight of the fabric, the length of pants, skirts or jackets, whether things are lined or not, whether the garments are highly structured with lots of seams, or unstructured – more loose and flowing.
Do the garments you have left have a certain amount of detail? Are they clean-lined and simple, classic items that don’t show their age? Or do you have a group of the latest trendy items that may need to be replaced in a year’s time because they are out of fashion?
None of these answers are wrong or right, they are just to help you realize the patterns you’ve followed, maybe even unwittingly, in developing your current wardrobe.
5. Sort any remaining garments by color, and get help from a family member or trusted friend to help determine which of the colors you have look best on you. Diversify a mostly-black or mostly-monotone wardrobe by adding accent pieces and new garments in seasonal colors.
Make sure to take your career or business environment into account when planning your wardrobe acquisitions – you want to remain appropriate. Your casual and weekend wardrobe items are where you can let your personality show and add items that are different in color, cut and / or finish.
Beware of ‘orphan garments’ – those items that only look good in ensembles and are harder to mix-and-match with other items. They tend to limit the life and versatility of your overall wardrobe because of their limited use.
Incorporate your body size changes and your changes in attitude, self-esteem and self-confidence into your wardrobe update plans. Allow for changes in your body proportions and realize it may take some time before you ‘recognize’ yourself.
Set aside those garments that don’t reinforce your positive progress, do not encourage you to continue on your journey to better health and better self-esteem, and get rid of them! Take special note of what is emphasized and what is camouflaged by your garments. Be critical about what is working for you and what isn’t, and work your wardrobe plan accordingly.
Once you’ve Conquered your Closet, it’s time to put together a master plan for your wardrobe that incorporates colors that flatter you, fabrics and designs that suit your body frame and personality, and that works for your business or professional AND your budget.
To Your Health,
Dianne Daniels
Meet Guest Blogger Dianne M. Daniels, CEO Love Your Reflection in The Mirror
Dianne’s passion for empowering women to love who and what they see in the mirror every single day comes from her own experiences and previous struggles with weight and low self-esteem.
A charismatic and powerful public speaker, author and coach, Dianne blends enthusiasm and humor into powerful and motivational messages delivering life-changing, high-content messages of empowerment to an audience interested in increasing their level of self-confidence, self-esteem and self-acceptance. She has inspired hundreds with her powerful message at conferences and meetings, and has taught courses within her local and regional community-technical college system..
If you’d like more information on creating your own personal image development plan, visit Dianne's website at http://www.howtoloveyourreflection.com.
Looking for a Professional Development opportunity for a company, organization or group? Check out her speaker website at http://www.diannedanielsspeaks.com.
