The idea is to have a well organized wardrobe where you can visually see all your clothing and accessories and make well thought out decisions on what works well together and be able to create great outfits.
That is all well and good if you have a personal stylist, bags of time, huge walk in wardrobes and plenty of daylight to see everything clearly.
We are all pressed for time and most of us will never make the commitment to spend half a day going through our wardrobes to match outfits, sort through what needs to go to charity or thrown away stuff we never wear.
We compromise and the results are pretty catastrophic considering the amount of time we spend shopping for clothing and the amount of money we invest is stuff we never wear. There are statistics out there that suggest we use 20% of what we purchase.
We wear the same safe outfits over and over again. We try to figure out what else to wear with our favorite top but it is too complicated and too time consuming in the hectic and fast paced lifestyle we lead and anyway who knows what piece of jewelry to match etc etc too many decisions first thing in the morning. Mothers especially managing the school run and getting to work on time can hardly start rummaging through their wardrobe to find something new to wear.
Organizing your wardrobe is the solution but that takes up a lot of time – easily half a day. Even thinking of taking everything out and laying my clothing on my bed to go through individually what works, what needs sending to cleaners, washing, mending etc gives me a tension headache.
I get side tracked anyway especially once I establish the clothing that I never wear is now too small because I have put on weight, or the impulse buy that cost too much and my mind just starts wondering off.
End of my ambitious plans to get organized.
My suggestion is baby steps that are small but significant in achieving your own wardrobe Utopia!
- Glance visually over everything in your wardrobe and start to take out everything that is out of season to either put in the spare room wardrobe or put in storage containers. Try not to store soiled clothing instead send to dry cleaner or put in a “to wash pile”. Keep in mind that woolens need extra attention since you need to include lavender or another repellant in storage to prevent moth attacks.
- Once you have accomplished your first task there is room to organize and create a system. You can breathe a sigh of relief!
- Now take all your pants, all your jackets, all your dresses and blouses and group them together on hangers . Anything you already know is not going to be worn again can be bagged for charity or thrown away. Clothing in urgent need of mending, cleaning have a “to do” pile.
- At your own leisure when it is convenient start grouping the brown dresses together and then the yellow dresses etc Same with folded tops should be grouped in piles in colors on shelves.
- Once you have completed this stage you are now at a point where you can start making intelligent decisions on what you own and what works well together and what you need to shop for. Ideally this whole process has taken place at the beginning of a new season so you can go out and replenish your wardrobe with current season merchandise.
- The key to success is not to work under pressure or time constraints and to enjoy the process. You definitely can learn to do this on your own and do not need a personal stylist unless you have the time and money to employ a professional. I think a clothing wardrobes can be very personal spaces and maybe not something you feel comfortable sharing with a stranger
- As you slowly, sort through all your blue denim pants you will start to automatically pare together outfits and get rid of what you do not need anymore.
Now you can start to enjoy shopping and making the best use of your purchase. Your confidence in your choices will reflect in how you present yourself to the world. Compliments on how you look will encourage you to make even greater strides and accomplish even more with your organized wardrobe!
Look I cheat I have those over door hanging systems with complete outfits already assembled and ready to go on those days when I get up and really only have minutes to get ready.
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