Strategize: Out with the Old, In with the New
It’s the new year, and many of us are still trying to keep those pesky New Year’s resolutions. One of them is usually “out with the old, in with the new,” discarding items and habits that no longer serve our best interests. And when it comes to our wardrobes, that could mean “spring cleaning” before the arrival of spring.
Typical Client Closet
As an image consultant, I work with clients every day shopping their closets, seeing what they have, what they no longer like and what no longer suits their style, their size or their pocketbook. What I usually find in client’s closets is a mishmash of clothing pieces either packed so closely together that they can’t find them or a ragtag range of colors, styles and separates that have no companion pieces. (Rule of thumb: Every piece in your wardrobe should coordinate with at least two, if not three, other pieces.)
According to Japanese cleaning consultant Marie Kondo’s international best-selling book, “the life-changing magic of tidying up: the Japanese art of decluttering and organizing,” creating a look you love starts with cleaning out your closet. It means keeping the things that give you joy and letting the rest go.
“The process of assessing how you feel about the things you own, identifying those that have fulfilled their purpose, expressing your gratitude and bidding them farewell is really about examining your inner self, a rite of passage to a new life,” says Kondo. “The yardstick by which you judge [your wardrobe] is your intuitive sense of attraction…so arm yourself with plenty of garbage bags, and prepare to have fun.”
Sort: Keep Only Things That Bring You Joy
Before you start to sort, know that there is a correct order of categories to help you tidy up your closet. According to Kondo’s KonMari Method, start with easy-to-discard wardrobe items rather than those with sentimental value. First, pile every bit of clothing you have carefully on the floor. This includes coats, handbags, shoes, lingerie and loungewear. Anything you forget to pile on the floor is automatically a must-go item because you didn’t even remember you had it in the first place!
For efficiency, go through your clothing categories in the following order:
Tops, such as shirts and sweaters
Bottoms, like pants and skirts
Clothes that should be hung, such as jackets, coats and suits
Socks
Lingerie and undergarments
Handbags and clutches
Accessories, such as scarves, belts, jewelry and hats
Clothes for specific events, like cocktail attire, swimsuits and uniforms
Shoes and boots
Keep only things that give you joy. “Because you will keep only the things you truly love, your energy and joy will increase,” says Kondo. If it doesn’t fill the bill, place it in the discard pile. But hold each discard in your hands first and acknowledge it with gratitude because it has definitely served its purpose, even if you’ve never worn it.
If you’ve never worn it or it still has the price tags on, its purpose was to help you learn what you don’t like or what no longer gives you joy. Maybe your color palette has changed. Perhaps you no longer like a look you once loved. Maybe an item no longer fits or it’s out of date. Whatever the reason, acknowledge the piece with gratitude and send it on its way to someone who can give it the love it deserves.
Now that you’ve created a wardrobe you love, stay tuned for Part Two of the series: “Coming Into the Closet: How to Strategize, Sort and Store Your Wardrobe.” Coming soon to a LL Style Studio blog near you. By combining knowledge from this two-part series, you’re on your way to a lighter, brighter New Year–and a lighter, brighter you.
