Well, this isn't actually my closet, but I did spend all day yesterday organizing my closet for the spring/summer season. The funny thing about any closet organizing photos you find on the internet, is that whose ever closet it is, it only seems to have maybe 24 clothing items. That definitely is not the case in my situation. I have loads of clothes. I do try to cull out the things I haven't worn in a few years, and toss items that are stained or don't fit. Now things are paired down, and I actually have space between my hangers, and can get a fix on what is in there to wear.
I was very pleased at the end of my effort, as I did compile a nice pile of items for donations, and reorganized the items I do plan to wear this season. The most fun aspect of closet reorganiztion is rediscovering items that are super cute that you kind of forgot about.
I recently was reminded of a technique to help you decide what to toss at the end of a season. Put your hangers backward on the rod.
Like that. Ok, so as the season progresses, if you choose a clothing item to wear, hang it back up with the hanger going in the normal direction. At the end of the season, any hangers still facing backwards are items that you did not wear and might want to consider donating or tossing. Brilliant, don't you think?
Do you keep clothes in three different sizes? Your Fat Clothes, your Thin Clothes, the Clothes that actually Fit Right Now? Yup. Been there, done that. I am here to tell you, pack the Fat Clothes, and the Thin Clothes into boxes and either donate them or store them. Do not let them take up valuable real estate in your closet. Believe me, and I speak from experience, when you lose weight and go back to wear those Thin Clothes that finally fit again, they will be out of style and funny looking and you won't want to wear them after all. With a few exceptions. And if you go back to having to wear your Fat Clothes…well, I do not know what to say, except I am sorry.
In your closet, only keep the clothes that fit, that flatter, and that are on trend right now. If you cull out the things that don't fit, the things that need repair, the things that are stained, you will be left with a basic collection of things that are appropriate to wear right now. With things paired down, you can see what you need: dark wash jeans, more basic cardigans, dressy pants, a new dress… whatever. Try, it and you'll see! What I discovered is that I have a ton of lovely "Work Clothes" that would be amazing in an office environment. In my "Country Style" life now, those work clothes are never going to get worn again. As beautiful as they are, those jackets, dress pants and silk blouses would be better used if I donated them to an organization like Dress For Success that helps women find employment and self sufficiency.
51 responses to “Closet Organizing”
I think it’s time for me to cull out a few things from my closet … I knew I’d lost a little weight, but I had no idea that I’d lost THAT much until I tried on a few pairs of shorts (to try to determine which ones fit) for our upcoming trip … when I saw how poorly they fit, I had to try everything ok. Yikes! Can you say emergency shopping trip?!?! When we get back, it will be time to go through all those clothes that no longer fit and find new homes for them!
I think it’s time for me to cull out a few things from my closet … I knew I’d lost a little weight, but I had no idea that I’d lost THAT much until I tried on a few pairs of shorts (to try to determine which ones fit) for our upcoming trip … when I saw how poorly they fit, I had to try everything ok. Yikes! Can you say emergency shopping trip?!?! When we get back, it will be time to go through all those clothes that no longer fit and find new homes for them!
I think it’s time for me to cull out a few things from my closet … I knew I’d lost a little weight, but I had no idea that I’d lost THAT much until I tried on a few pairs of shorts (to try to determine which ones fit) for our upcoming trip … when I saw how poorly they fit, I had to try everything ok. Yikes! Can you say emergency shopping trip?!?! When we get back, it will be time to go through all those clothes that no longer fit and find new homes for them!
What stellar ideas and suggestions and all make good sense, too.
Alas, we bought this house because we love the land around it. Our closet is woefully small and poorly planned. Sigh! Yes, all the more need for good organization so will do the hanger backwards thing.
Hugs!
What stellar ideas and suggestions and all make good sense, too.
Alas, we bought this house because we love the land around it. Our closet is woefully small and poorly planned. Sigh! Yes, all the more need for good organization so will do the hanger backwards thing.
Hugs!
What stellar ideas and suggestions and all make good sense, too.
Alas, we bought this house because we love the land around it. Our closet is woefully small and poorly planned. Sigh! Yes, all the more need for good organization so will do the hanger backwards thing.
Hugs!
Can you come to my house? I definitely need some organization skills. Have a great Mother’s Day weekend Nicole!
Mary
Can you come to my house? I definitely need some organization skills. Have a great Mother’s Day weekend Nicole!
Mary
Can you come to my house? I definitely need some organization skills. Have a great Mother’s Day weekend Nicole!
Mary
I remember a gorgeous dress that I saved hoping to fit into again some day. When that day came, even though the dress technically fit, it seemed my body had reshaped itself (age, I’m thinking) and the dress just no longer flattered.
I remember a gorgeous dress that I saved hoping to fit into again some day. When that day came, even though the dress technically fit, it seemed my body had reshaped itself (age, I’m thinking) and the dress just no longer flattered.
I remember a gorgeous dress that I saved hoping to fit into again some day. When that day came, even though the dress technically fit, it seemed my body had reshaped itself (age, I’m thinking) and the dress just no longer flattered.
Great post. We moved from a new construction home to a 70 year old home and our closet size went down about 75% for the master closet. Need to do this exercise so badly. I do have a few ‘power suits’ that I have which are 10 sizes smaller than I wear now, but I keep thinking … hoping … Unfortunatley, I still work in a business office setting and I could really use more pants, blouses, cardigans, etc…
Great post. We moved from a new construction home to a 70 year old home and our closet size went down about 75% for the master closet. Need to do this exercise so badly. I do have a few ‘power suits’ that I have which are 10 sizes smaller than I wear now, but I keep thinking … hoping … Unfortunatley, I still work in a business office setting and I could really use more pants, blouses, cardigans, etc…
Great post. We moved from a new construction home to a 70 year old home and our closet size went down about 75% for the master closet. Need to do this exercise so badly. I do have a few ‘power suits’ that I have which are 10 sizes smaller than I wear now, but I keep thinking … hoping … Unfortunatley, I still work in a business office setting and I could really use more pants, blouses, cardigans, etc…
Thanks for all the organizing advice. I wish you could be here to give me some personal wardrobe advice, too!
Have a great weekend.
Thanks for all the organizing advice. I wish you could be here to give me some personal wardrobe advice, too!
Have a great weekend.
Thanks for all the organizing advice. I wish you could be here to give me some personal wardrobe advice, too!
Have a great weekend.
We all need to hear this every once in a while! Thanks and have a great weekend.
We all need to hear this every once in a while! Thanks and have a great weekend.
We all need to hear this every once in a while! Thanks and have a great weekend.
Definitely time to clear out those closets and admit that I will never again fit into most of what is hogging the space.
Thanks for the “inspirational message”.
Definitely time to clear out those closets and admit that I will never again fit into most of what is hogging the space.
Thanks for the “inspirational message”.
Definitely time to clear out those closets and admit that I will never again fit into most of what is hogging the space.
Thanks for the “inspirational message”.
Sigh…my closet awaits me. You are so right.
Sigh…my closet awaits me. You are so right.
Sigh…my closet awaits me. You are so right.
The hanger tip is a great one. I’ve never heard it before but will definitely have to try it!
The hanger tip is a great one. I’ve never heard it before but will definitely have to try it!
The hanger tip is a great one. I’ve never heard it before but will definitely have to try it!
Funny, when I was moving from the city to the country, I told my DH I needed new black shoes. He was sure I had black shoes and so I pulled out about 18 pairs. Laid them all out and said “Are any of these country appropriate?”.
He took me to the shoe store to buy the new black shoes I needed!
Funny, when I was moving from the city to the country, I told my DH I needed new black shoes. He was sure I had black shoes and so I pulled out about 18 pairs. Laid them all out and said “Are any of these country appropriate?”.
He took me to the shoe store to buy the new black shoes I needed!
Funny, when I was moving from the city to the country, I told my DH I needed new black shoes. He was sure I had black shoes and so I pulled out about 18 pairs. Laid them all out and said “Are any of these country appropriate?”.
He took me to the shoe store to buy the new black shoes I needed!
I just did this myself, and although at first my closet felt bare, I really can/do wear everything in there now.
I just did this myself, and although at first my closet felt bare, I really can/do wear everything in there now.
I just did this myself, and although at first my closet felt bare, I really can/do wear everything in there now.
I have the same photo in hopes that my closet will magically look so nice. Have you noticed that the clothes have the same coordinating colors?
I have the same photo in hopes that my closet will magically look so nice. Have you noticed that the clothes have the same coordinating colors?
I have the same photo in hopes that my closet will magically look so nice. Have you noticed that the clothes have the same coordinating colors?
Great advice – thank you!
Great advice – thank you!
Great advice – thank you!
Happy Mothers Day Mary!
Happy Mothers Day Mary!
Happy Mothers Day Mary!
okay, you inspired me to clean out some drawers where i have shirts i can’t wear because they are too small. ;p it does make it better for the tops i can wear. closets? do i have to? ;p
okay, you inspired me to clean out some drawers where i have shirts i can’t wear because they are too small. ;p it does make it better for the tops i can wear. closets? do i have to? ;p
okay, you inspired me to clean out some drawers where i have shirts i can’t wear because they are too small. ;p it does make it better for the tops i can wear. closets? do i have to? ;p
All wonderful ideas Nicole.
I’ve never heard of Dress for Success but I will be searching for a similar cause in my area.
All wonderful ideas Nicole.
I’ve never heard of Dress for Success but I will be searching for a similar cause in my area.
All wonderful ideas Nicole.
I’ve never heard of Dress for Success but I will be searching for a similar cause in my area.