Want to love everything you wear? Want the ease of putting together an outfit without having to think about it? There are three key steps you will need to take in order to experience closet nirvana. 1. Purging 2. Organizing and 3. Designing. Part 1 is detoxing your closet of the mediocre, the bad and the ugly. To get started you will need to set aside between 2-4 hours to fully complete this step depending on the size and depth of your existing wardrobe.
Things you will require:
- A Critical Friend
- Full Length Mirror
- Heavy Duty Garbage Bags
- Labels
- Bins/Baskets
- Music: Listening to music while doing a chore you may not especially like can increase your motivation!
Let the clean up begin…
Set up 4 bins or baskets labeled “Keep”, “Items That Need Attention” (i.e. dry cleaning or tailor) “Toss” and “Donate”. Start going through every single item in your closet (that means wearing it). ANY item that does not fit you like a glove or which you have not worn in the last 12 months goes directly into the Donate bin. If it’s close to perfection but requires a little TLC, i.e. hemming it should go into the Attention bin. Any items that are damaged beyond repair and/or is completely worn out, place in the Toss bin and all other items that have passed the test go into the Keep bin for further review.
Ask yourself the following questions to help clarify what’s a keeper and what you are ready to let go of.
- How do I feel in it? Does it bring a smile to your face?
- What is your body language telling you? Are you standing up tall?
- Can you move in it? Does it allow you to do your happy dance (if life calls for it)? Test it just to be sure.
- Does it reflect the direction your headed in? Does it say creative or polished or elegant?
- Does it represent you? Would your girlfriend know that was a “Safina” top if she saw it in the store?
- Do you LOVE it? It is as simple as that.
If you don’t feel GREAT in it, if your shoulders are slouched in, if it feels restrictive, if it screams the OLD you, if you said you don’t love it. Then have the courage to let it go. In life including our wardrobes we should surround ourselves with things that make us smile, bring us joy and things that create fireworks. Don’t settle.
Did your tested and true ‘fabulous outfit’, the one you always feel great in – make it through? Why do you think that is? Does it fit? Does it contain your favourite colour? This can be identified as your faithfully fabulous outfit, the one that never lets you down.
Check back next week when I will go through in detail the best way to organize your closet – part II. Tips and tricks on how to group things together and adding your personal touch to make your closet space feel inviting, stress free and fun!
