Today we wrap up our last set of challenges. We’ll focus on discovering new outfit combinations you already own, making sure you have what you need for all aspects of your busy life, and creating a strategy for going forward.
But before we jump in, I have to thank everyone for participating with such enthusiasm!
It has been so fun to see everyone’s closet “after” pictures. This round especially showed us so many examples of how to get creative with organizing a closet. It’s beneficial to see regular closets instead of the unrealistic ones we see on Instagram and Pinterest.
One of the things that set this site apart from others is that our readership genuinely fuels it. I never wanted to start a blog to talk about myself (you would be so bored). So while I certainly feel a connection with our audience, even friendship in many cases, I want this to be a resource first and foremost. The content produced here is inspired explicitly by your comments, questions, and requests.
This week is going to wrap up the challenge, but not the process.
Remember, it takes time to put all this into practice. That’s why so many women do this challenge every season.
Now that you know what you need, it’s time to do the work not only to find those items, but figure out how to translate all those gorgeous inspiration pictures into an outfit that will work with your lifestyle, budget, and body type.
If you are new to our community, I encourage you to ask specific questions, and request posts covering different topics. Our readers influence every post on this site. I consider our readers more like clients, so the recommendations, tips, and advice I share are all deeply considered based on everything I know about you.
Use our archives while searching for inspiration. Almost every style post notes how to translate each look based on size and body type.
I guarantee the more you participate in our community, the more you’ll get out of it.
Week 4: Create New Outfits and Write Your Wish List
If you haven’t completed week 3, please do that first. If you are just starting, or feel like you’re running behind, do not stress. This is suppose to be fun!
Take your time! There is no rush. These posts will remain on the site for you to reference. If you use Pinterest, you can pin these to a board for easy access.
Challenge #1: Create New Outfits
Spend some time in your clean and organized closet.
Doesn’t it feel so good?
With the clutter removed you might be amazed at the outfit combinations you never noticed. Every time I go through this process I always find a new way to wear something or rediscover an old favorite.
And there is just something so motivating about a clean, tidy closet.
My closet – after the edit.
To guide you, use your curated Pinterest boards and your lifestyle diagram. Try to recreate a few of the looks for each of your categories.
Use Pinterest as a search engine. Say you have a pair of black jeans. Type “black jean outfits” into Pinterest and be amazed at how many ideas you get.
Yes, I know the pictures on Pinterest are almost entirely of young, super-thin, super-tall women in four-inch heels.
The idea is not to replicate each look. Instead, be inspired by them. Look at the color combinations, pattern pairings, layers, and accessories. Those are the essential elements.
You may want to swap out a skinny jean for a straight leg or wear a different shoe. We all have to make adjustments to meet our specific needs.
Here’s an outfit I “found” after I did this challenge in January right before the world shut down.
Remember to use your entire wardrobe. Break up “sets,” and incorporate pieces you are saving for a schedule special occasion.
Pro Tip! Take pictures of your outfit options and keep them on your phone so they are at your fingertips when you need a reminder.
Challenge #2: Write Your Shopping List
As you work through your wardrobe, creating new looks, jot down what you need to create more outfits.
Could you use a different style pant?
Maybe an updated shoe would pull several outfits together.
You might need something as simple as a cami so you can start to wear a lightweight sweater.
Write down anything that would add more life to your existing wardrobe.
Keep this list with you (I keep mine on my phone) and only purchase from the list! By doing so you will stay focused, and your wardrobe will become more functional. If you buy things that are not on the list, you’ll end up with a closet full of items you don’t need all over again.
AND share your shopping list in our FB Group. I use all of the conversations on that feed to help create posts for each season.
Enjoy your new space and the fresh start!
Your closet won’t always look this great. Life will get busy, and you’ll need to regroup. The good news is it will be so much easier to keep it tidy now that you have a system. I follow this process twice a year, only it doesn’t take four weeks; it takes about an hour to get back on track.
Remember that your wardrobe is ever evolving.
You’ll never be “done.” There will always be something on your shopping list, an item that needs to be replaced or a new look you want to try. I hope that after this exercise, you start to hold your purchases to a higher standard and realize you don’t need so much, you just need the right options for you.
Join me in our Private Facebook Group for a LIVE Q&A!
On Sunday, October 18th at 7pm EST, I’ll host a Facebook LIVE, answering all of your questions, sharing tips, and my best advice to keep your closet organized, and begin to build a wardrobe you truly love.
This week’s challenge is all about getting your space organized! I am a big believer in organization. It makes life easier, saves money, and allows you to manage your time and energy better.
I worked with private clients for over a decade. One thing I know for sure is a messy, unorganized closet space is one of the biggest reasons why women feel overwhelmed (or underwhelmed) by their wardrobes. The good news is it’s one of the easiest issues to fix.
Week 3: Getting Organized
Your closet space should be lovely or, at the very least, tidy. It should bring a sense of calm, not craziness. It doesn’t matter what kind of closet you have. You could have a huge, custom walk-in or a simple bar and shelf. Either way, your experience can be blissful.
Challenge #1: Finish your edit
Last week, we challenged you to perform a QUICK edit. This is my clever way of easing you into a more in-depth edit, especially if you have a hard time letting go of things or just have a lot of stuff.
If you still have an undecided pile, now is the time to be ruthless. Get rid of anything you don’t love or need. Be honest with yourself.
Are you really going to wear it?
The only exception is if you NEED to wear the piece until you replace it with a better version. Make a note of it. You’ll need it next week when we create a shopping list.
If you are on a weight loss journey, and you have some pieces that don’t fit well, you can keep them, but remove them from your closet and store them someplace else.
I don’t want you waking up to a closet full of clothes that don’t fit. It’s not a great way to start your day.
Be sure the items you decide to keep are modern, fit your style, and are things that you look forward to wearing when you hit your goals.
If a piece is sentimental, give it the respect it deserves. Have it professionally cleaned, remove it from the plastic dry cleaning bag, wrap it in acid-free tissue, and store it with the rest of your keepsakes.
I love these cedar trunks. I have one for each of my girls and myself and store special pieces that are either memories, or garments I want my kids to have when they get older.
Challenge #2: Improve Organization
Take some time to find a place for everything. I know, I know; this was supposed to be fun!
I promise that an organized and clean space will help with your creativity. The process of creating outfits will not seem so daunting when you see what you have. A few quick tips:
Remove everything from your closet.
Give it a quick clean. I have seen enough closets in my day to know you have pieces hidden in the back, covered in dust. Dust will destroy your clothes. Take 15 minutes to wipe off your shelves, vacuum, throw away old hangers, and miscellaneous items.
Only put back your wardrobe.
I once found a toaster in a client’s closet that she’d forgotten she’d bought. Find another place for everything else (if you can). Remember to keep your Pinterest board close by so that you can continue to use it as a guide for what to keep and what to get rid of.
Look at what you have before you buy any organization tools.
Before you run to The Container Store, see what you have laying around your house. It’s helpful, as you go through the items you plan on keeping, to put them into piles to see how many you have. Have a pile of handbags, belts, sweaters, etc. Then, reuse and repurpose bins, hooks, and baskets to help store them.
This time around, I did end up at The Container Store and found some fantastic items that made big difference in my space. But I was super specific about exactly what I needed and didn’t waste money on unnecessary gadgets.
Are you following along in our private Facebook Group? If so, post some pictures of your space once you get it organized and share the inspiration!
Our Content is Inspired by Our Readers
Our readership inspires all of our posts and is not sponsored or paid for by brands or retailers.
Recommendations are based on my experience as a personal stylist View Post and wardrobe consultant for over a decade. I worked with busy, down-to-earth women who wanted to look chic and feel confident but were often confused by so much of retail.
Some links are affiliate links, which means if you purchase via our site, we receive a small commission.
We’re jumping into week two of our wardrobe challenge. A big thank you to everyone who has joined our private Facebook group, and took the time to post their Pinterest style boards and lifestyle breakdowns.
Today, at 2pm EST, I’m hosting a Facebook LIVE in the group to answer any questions you might have and get us set up for this weeks challenge!
There have already been some big take aways after week one, and they are just what I was hoping they would be!
If you are just joining us, or are running behind, don’t worry. You can go at your own pace, and still post your thoughts and interact in the comments in our group.
Be sure you finish each challenge before moving to the next. This week has two challenges, designed to help refine your style and make editing your wardrobe not so overwhelming.
Wardrobe Challenge Week 2: Pinpoint Your Style and Start Your Edit
Challenge #1: Edit Your Pinterest Board
This part of the challenge always creates the most conversation. You might be thinking that you need to pick a style and commit to it. We’re told we are either “classic”, “trendy” or “boho”. Like we have to pick a lane and stay there.
But the truth is we are all our own unique combination of everything.
For example, I use to think I was “preppy”. But I’m not, at all. I like elements of preppy style. I never pass up an opportunity to monogram something and a good chunk of my wardrobe is from J.Crew. But, I have a deep aversion to bright colors and prints, I much prefer saturated neutrals, and better fabrics.
After going through this very process for several years now, it’s clear that my style is classic and modern with a twist. That “twist” is usually an interesting detail, splurge worthy piece, or an unexpected personalized element – like a monogrammed bag, or bold accessory.
So to help you with this, go through you Pinterest Board and only keep the image you LOVE.
You must LOVE every pin. (I know! It’s hard.)
The Difference Between “Liking” and “Loving”
It’s not just what you like, but what you want to live your life in.
You can appreciate all different styles, but narrowing down to the ones you want to wear all the time is the point.
Doing so will help ensure your wardrobe mixes and matches and you always look like yourself.
Find Your Common Threads
Next, review your edited board and look for commonalities and consistencies. It might not be abundantly clear but stick with the challenge, it will start to show itself.
You can keep pictures of outfits not quite right for your body type; we’ll get to that later. Your board is pure inspiration.
Any style can work for any body type with proper adjustments.
What we’re looking for here is a theme.
Some a-ha’s you might have:
You pinned lots of jeans and pants but have a ton of skirts collecting dust in your closet.
Maybe you pinned a dozen monochromatic looks yet own a ton of patterned tops and skirts.
Does your board have scarves and accessory heavy looks, but you never incorporate them into your daily outfits?
These are the kind of revelations you might have when you finish this exercise – and it’s fantastic.
Challenge #2: A Quick Closet Edit
You can do this next step all at once or over a few days, it just depends on the volume in your closet.
Set up a workspace in or close to your closet. Designate three piles:
Keepers: For anything you know you love, use regularly and fit in your style.
Donations: Something in good condition that doesn’t work for you but could help someone else.
Undecided: Use this as a parking lot for items you’re on the fence about, or not ready to part with.
Having a rolling rack for this exercise makes it easier to stay organized. I use mine for the “keeper” pile.
While you’re in your closet, ask yourself these questions and try to come up with an answer:
Is your current wardrobe reflective of the style you love?
If not, what is your motivation for making purchases? (Sale price, impulse, need, etc.)
What do you have more of, basics or trends?
For example, my Pinterest board is mostly neutral and solid colors, yet we I first did this I had at least a dozen printed blouses and tops hanging in my closet. There was nothing wrong with them, except I don’t like a lot of patterns and I wasn’t wearing them.
So why do I keep buying them? In my case, I thought I needed variety. I was also using Stitch Fix at the time, and kept a lot of pieces they sent because they were okay and fit.
Once I completed the exercise, I permitted myself to let go of what didn’t fit into my style.
You may not have many things in your current wardrobe that reflects your current style. (If you do, you’re way ahead of most of us!)
It’s okay to feel frustrated. Take a deep breath and trust the process.
Going through these steps will allow you to discover what you like, understand why you make certain decisions when shopping and eventually fill your closet with items you can’t wait to wear.
The process of creating a cohesive wardrobe is not immediate. That’s why so many readers do this challenge every time we offer it. It takes time to curate your look, find the pieces that work best for you and, of course, work those purchases into your budget.
But after this challenge, you’ll be off to a great start.
Hold every piece up and ask yourself, does this get me to where I want to be?
If your answer is “yes,” put the item in your keeper pile or rolling rack.
If your answer is “no,” put it in your donation pile.
If you have no idea or don’t want to deal with it, put it in the undecided pile.
We’ll deal with those items next week. Do this quickly. The undecided pile is there to take away any pressure.
You will likely have to keep a few pieces that are just ok so you can get dressed in the morning. This is fine and expected. Put these in the undecided pile too. The most important part of this exercise is to see if or how much of what you are buying is reflective of your personal style.
Once finished, put the donations in a bag and right into your car. Get them out of the house! Hang and fold everything else.
Put your undecided pieces back in your closet, behind the pieces you love, so your favorite items are the first thing you see.
Don’t focus on organizing anything yet (you can guess where we’re going next week).
Repeat the same editing process with your shoes and accessories.
Ladies, today is the day you start to get your wardrobe in order!
Whether you work in or out of the home, have little kids at your ankles or grown adult children, are getting back in the workforce, or blissfully retired and focusing on your passions, you want to look and feel great during whatever your season of life.
This four-week series is designed to help real-life women, of all shapes and sizes, with any lifestyle, within just about any budget discover her true style, where to find it, and how to wear it
So, who am I?
If you are new to our site – Welcome!
I was a wardrobe stylist for the better part of my career. I started my first company Kristel Closets, Inc, in 2007, which, at its peak, had three offices and a team of stylists on the East Coast.
After more than a decade, I moved on to focus on building our online business. But the experience of working with thousands of clients continues to influence my fashion and style posts today.
I take great pride in being a practical voice of fashion reason on the internet. All of the advice I share, especially in this wardrobe challenge, is based on proven tips and techniques I created to help our clients define their personal style, purge and organize their closets, and build a wardrobe that feels like them.
I’m also heavily influenced by real life. I’m a working mom to three amazing little girls. I get how busy and overwhelming life can be, how time is limited, budgets are stretched, and “me time” feels like an indulgence.
I celebrated my 40th birthday in November, so I’m not looking to dress like a kid. Instead, I gravitate toward a sophisticated, classic style that works for my grown-up body and busy life.
I navigate life happier and more confidently when I look and feel my best. Sometimes just putting on a pretty outfit or painting your nails can make a crummy day a little better.
It’s About You
Women want to look stylish and feel beautiful. But not everyone can clearly define their personal style or understand how to pull a look together.
I encourage you to use the next four weeks to focus on YOU. When this challenge is over, my goal is for you to have a clearer understanding of what you like and what will work for you, so shopping and getting dressed is easier.
Here’s How the Wardrobe Challenge Works:
Every Friday post for the next four weeks (starting today!) I will share a series of challenges to help you build a better wardrobe.
Take your time with each challenge. It’s great to do them in a week, but don’t worry if you can’t.
Just be sure to finish each challenge, in order, before you move to the next.
These posts will live on this site for you to reference whenever you like, and each weekly post will be shared on all of our social media.
Just trust the process, commit to the journey, and do this for yourself!
Week 1: Finding Inspiration and Your Personal Style
Challenge #1
In the early years of Kristel Closets, I would arrive at an initial appointment, which took place in our client’s closet. We started by talking about her challenges, likes, and dislikes. Almost every client would have trouble describing her style.
It didn’t take long for me to realize that we needed a visual to articulate each client’s unique personal style.
So I created a series of pre-work for them to complete before our first appointment, designed to help the process move smoothly and efficiently.
I was always aware of the investment our private clients made when they chose to work with us, so this was a way to make sure we got on the same page as quickly as possible and spoke the same language.
Pull Inspiration Pictures
A big part of this pre-work was to pull inspiration pictures. I can tell you that the clients who took the time to complete this task had the most success.
Many of you are looking to streamline and simplify your wardrobe; others mentioned that they recognize style in others but have difficulty translating for themselves. And an overwhelming majority of participants say they have too much in their closets.
Without a clear understanding of your style, it will be a challenge to edit your wardrobe correctly.
By organizing inspiration pictures, we can create a filter that will help you purge your closet and shop better.
We recommend Pinterest to help organize these images, especially for this challenge. It’s a great place to search for and share ideas. Past participants have set up a board just for outfit inspiration.
If you’re not on Pinterest, no worries. You can use magazines or catalogs. I like InStyle and Oprah magazine for this exercise. You’ll need them for next week’s challenge. So pour yourself a glass of wine or have a cup of tea and pull as many pictures as you like but have at least 20.
For now, do not think about your body type, budget, or whether it’s appropriate for your life. You are just getting a sense of what you like.
Our lives are continually evolving, but our wardrobes tend to stay the same.
If you have changed jobs, got married or divorced, had a baby, had another baby, left the workforce, or are just getting back into it, retired, or any number of lifestyle changes, this exercise will help you get clear on your needs.
Define your Lifestyle
To get a visual of how and where you spend your time, create a Lifestyle Diagram. It’s easy; draw a circle on a piece of paper to use as a pie chart. Now, break down your life according to percentages totaling 100%.
Include work, activities, travel, date nights, anything you spend time doing. It’s essential to see how you are spending your time.
You might find you’re buying a lot for work, but have nothing to wear to your kid’s soccer game. When I first did this exercise, it was evident I didn’t have enough options for social outings and date nights.
Tip!: We have had some participants take this very seriously! They went so far as to create an Excel spreadsheet and pie chart to capture their percentages. Do what works for you! Of course, a spreadsheet makes my Type-A heart happy.
Here’s a sample:
Again, post your charts in our Facebook group for everyone to see! It’s always fun to see the categories we forget about.
Complete both of these challenges before you start the next round of challenges.
I’m looking forward to connecting with all of you and walking through this process together!
xx
Meg
Our readership inspires all of our posts and is not sponsored or paid for by brands or retailers.
Recommendations are based on my experience as a personal stylist and wardrobe consultant for over a decade. I worked with busy, down-to-earth women who wanted to look chic and feel confident but were often confused by so much of retail.
Some links are affiliate links, which means if you purchase via our site, we receive a small commission.
It’s that time of year when we come together and begin our Fall Wardrobe Challenge!
I host our FREE four-week Wardrobe Challenge every January, March, and September to get our readers ready for the new season.
Our Wardrobe Challenge has become the cornerstone of this site, creating a community of lovely women from all walks of life, bonded together by our love of classic style and our desire to look and feel our best.
The challenge is based entirely on the process I used to help my personal styling clients. I broke it down into a series of activities designed to help you (1) define your personal style, (2) edit and organize your wardrobe, and (3) begin to build a wardrobe of clothes you can’t wait to wear.
Because we are constantly evolving, this process is designed to be done seasonally. Each time you complete it you’ll have made a new discovery, and gain further clarity around your personal style. AND, you’ll force yourself to tidy up your closet 🙂
The Well Dressed Life Fall 2020 Wardrobe Challenge
Our Fall 2020 Wardrobe Challenge starts on Friday, September 18th.
Here’s what some of our participants have said, taken directly from our Private Facebook Group:
THANK YOU for leading us through this exercise! I had let myself fall into a sad routine of wearing the same things every week instead of actually making outfits with my capsule and accessories. After taking a look at my wardrobe, I realize that I am actually in good shape!
This has been great. The big eye opening moment was when I realized that my wardrobe didn’t look anything like my Pinterest boards. The result of shopping without a plan, looking to brighten myself up and the dreaded “it will do” purchases. Time for the heavily patterned tops to go and in comes the more classic neutrals as per my board.
Thank you for giving me a plan.
This process has been one worth doing. I feel like now that I am in my late 30’s and have two small children I need to get rid of that dress I went dancing in when I was 21 and heels I can’t even walk in anymore and trade up for a pair of Spanx leather leggings and cute top. I really appreciate your insight on how to pair items together and the links to purchase. Very helpful for the women who hates (and I mean HATES) to shop.
My aha! Was when I realized I had blouses from years past that I haven’t worn for ages. I kept them to wear with a pant style that has long since disappeared. I was keeping them just in case. Of what I don’t know, but there they were covering up items I wanted to wear and couldn’t find. I also found several short cap sleeve tees. They don’t not look well on me. Time to pass them on!
What You’ll Learn
If you follow the process, by the end of the four weeks you will:
Clearly understand your personal style and wardrobe needs.
Start your day with a functional and well-organized closet.
Have an outline of the pieces you’ll need to have a wardrobe you love.
The challenge starts on Friday, September 18, and lasts for four weeks.
Every Friday, a new set of challenges will be posted right here, on The Well Dressed Life, and in our Private Facebook group. Within the post, you will find two challenges to be completed before the next week.
We move quickly on purpose. It keeps you engage and helps you make decisions quickly. But if you get busy or distracted, you always have access to the information.
You may also consider picking up some new hangers so you have them on hand when we start to clean up your closet. I recommend these flocked slim hangers from Amazon.
And remember, if you’ve already participated, do it again! You’ll be AMAZED by how much you learn each time. Many readers do it religiously every season!
A Little About Me (in case you’re new!)
After college, I started my career as a women’s clothing retail buyer for large chains and private boutiques. Before I started my first company, my last job was as a buyer for the home-shopping powerhouse, QVC.
In 2007 I left that job to start Kristel Closets, Inc., an image consulting and private styling firm that operated three offices on the East Coast in Philadelphia, Northern New Jersey, and Washington, D.C.
Our company quickly became a leader in the industry, serving busy women who wanted to look and feel their best.
While our clients wanted to look modern, classic, and pulled together, they didn’t have the time or energy to do it themselves.
That’s where we stepped in.
I’ve personally helped thousands of clients navigate the often overwhelming world of fashion and retail, working within their style, with all sizes, body shapes, and budgets.
Three years ago, I stepped away from our 1:1 services to focus on building our online business. Connecting with other like-minded women has always been my absolute passion.
Today, this is my full-time job. I’m so grateful I’ve been able to continue to provide expert advice and insights in our daily posts and through these challenges.
I do not represent a company and am not sponsored by any brand or business. All of my recommendations are solely based on my knowledge and experience.
I’m a working mom to three girls, ages 13, 10, and almost 2. I use my experience as a buyer, personal stylist, and busy modern woman to frame my advice and recommendations.
It’s About You
Society puts an often unbearable pressure on women to look a certain way. Daily, we’re inundated with unrealistic images of what we’re “suppose” to look like, which not only chips away at our self-esteem but also provides zero guidance to help usual women shop and get dressed.
Turning 40 at the end of last year has helped me care less about what I’m “suppose” to be and more focused on who I am.
This challenge, and the contents of my site, come from a place of wanting you to feel confident and empowered as you are.
I encourage you to use the next four weeks to focus on YOU. Dive right in, ask questions, and get to know your fellow participates, who you’ll quickly discover are the friendliest and most supportive group of women.
My goal with this challenge is to give you a clear understanding of what you like and what will work for you so getting dressed becomes an expression of who you are and not a chore.
This is designed for all women, with all body types and budgets who appreciate modern, classic style and want a guide to get them there.
All I ask is that if you enjoy our content, please share it with your friends!
Tell me below: who is joining us, and if so, is this your first time or have you done it before?!
Let’s talk about how to clean out your closet. Really clean it out. Get in there, get it down to the barebones, and rebuild it with a wardrobe you love and want to wear every day.
It can feel like an overwhelming task, but, if you follow my steps (the same ones I used with private clients for years) it won’t be.
The best part is that once the work is done and you have a functional closet space that works for YOU, it is so much easier to keep it that way.
I do a deep clean and reorganizing twice a year. I take some time right after the holidays as a way to rest for the new year, and then again right now, mid summer.
And this summer, with the collective “pause” we are all experiencing, there is no better time to do it!
How to Clean Out Your Closet
The Challenge of A Messy Closet
When you can’t find your clothes, when things are everywhere, when you’re digging through boxes and drawers looking for an accessory, you waste so much time and energy.
The good news is, with a little bit of time you can easily get your closet in order.
Even if all you have is an hour, you can make serious improvement and immediately benefit from a more functional space.
Your Closet is the Nucleus of Your Life
If clothes are pouring out of your closet yet, you wake up with “nothing to wear” it’s time for a closet detox.
For me, when my personal items are a mess, it’s a indication that other things are out of wack. I’m usually over committed, and running on empty. When I spend the time getting back on track, I immediately feel better and more focused.
Below is what my usually tidy closet looked like right after last Christmas.
My Closet: Before
Before: My closet right after the holidays.
I’ve been in thousands of closets from my time as a personal stylist, so I’ve seen worse. But the holidays always do a number on my closet. I end up just dropping stuff and running out.
By the time my closet reaches this point I’m too busy and overwhelmed to care.
But once I can’t find my things, and start wasting time getting dressed I end up being annoyed before my day even started.
It was time to reevaluate my current system and get back on track.
How to Clean Out Your Closet
Create a Manageable System
Most of us have to work with the space that we have. Thankfully, by editing down to your must-haves and favorites, and investing in a few organizing tools, you can create an oasis of inspiration and practical functionality.
You can see some of my process in my own closet over in my Instagram stories.
In my experience, I’ve learned that most women’s closets are in decent shape. You need to go through everything with a dedicated eye, make quick decisions and organize your items into like categories, but you can do it in about an hour or two.
It’s amazing what an organized space can do for your mood and how you navigate your entire day when you start off less frazzled.
This closet clean out can be a refresher if you’ve already done the work in our Wardrobe Challenge or be the kick in the butt you need to dedicate more time to purging and organizing.
If you are planning on joining our Insider Membership (launching on Monday – I’m so excited) a quick clean out will help you build our capsule wardrobe.
A Little Prep Work Goes a Long Way
First, it’s helpful to be able to articulate your personal style. How else will you know what to keep and what to “toss”? The better you understand what you like, and the look you are trying to create, the easier it is to complete an edit. We talk more about that in How to Define Your Personal Style.
My rolling rack gets a lot of use. I keep it under my bed and pull it out whenever I pick up a big dry cleaning haul.
I use it when I pack for trips and find it extra helpful when tidying up my closet. You’ll be surprised how many times you use it once you have one.
I also like to have a few trash bag and my dry cleaning bag on hand so that I can work quickly.
If you plan on storing your out-of-season pieces elsewhere, be sure to have your bins ready as well. A simple plastic storage bin with some cedar inserts works well. I also like these under the bed storage bags.
Having an extra laundry basket to collect items that do not belong in your closet is helpful.
Be sure to have a space for all of your piles, including: keep (rolling rack), trash (trash bags), storage (bins), donate (basket), sell(basket), and clean and mend (dry cleaning bag).
Finally, have a notebook and pen hand, or the notes app opened on your phone, so you can jot down a quick shopping list as you notice items you need or pieces you have to replace.
How to Clean Out Your Closet
Start to Edit
Now you’re ready to edit!!
First, remove everything from your closet.
I just throw everything on my bed, and line shoes and bags around the room.
Then begin to edit, working as quickly as possible. Don’t give yourself too much time to think or you’ll talk yourself out of getting rid of anything.
You don’t need to relive the life history of every garment you’ve ever bought.
First, pull any pieces that are out of season and place them in either a pile or directly in their storage box.
Next, pull anything that is dated, damaged, or that you just don’t like anymore and sort into your piles accordingly. This is where we start to lose our minds.
What if it comes back in style?
It won’t, the idea of it might, but it will not be the exact same translation. All styles evolve. Holding on to dated clothes make you look dated, and you loose the opportunity to be chic and modern.
But I spent so much money on it!
Yes, you did. The money is spent whether the item lives in your closet or not, so donate it to someone who can get better use out of it.
I can wear it, I just need to loose 20 pounds.
I’m a big believer that all the items in our closet need to fit. Nothing is worse than waking up on then morning and going through all the clothes that are too small for you.
What a bummer.
So at a minimum, move these pieces to a different closet or pack them up until you reach or goal. But also, hold them to the same standard as you would if they did fit. Would you LOVE it if it fit properly? How much use would it get? Does it reflect your style.
A lot of times we use future fit as an excuse to hold on to a garment that doesn’t work for us for a number of other reasons.
Touch every piece of clothing
Keep moving through your pile. Touch everything, and immediately action each piece.
Once you are done, you should be left with a rack of only things you love.
Get Cleaning!
Care for your closet the same way you care for the other rooms in your home.
Before you place your keepers back in, clean it up. Wipe down the shelves and vacuum the floor, clean out the light fixture and sanitize the doorknob and any other surfaces.
You will be shocked and maybe a little grossed out by the amount of hidden dirt in your closet space.
Replace Your Hangers
Keep your space visually tidy by using the same hanger. I love velvet hangers. They save space and help you see everything you have.
Uniformed hangers are my #1 game changing tip for a more calm closet. It’s amazing what happens when your space is perfectly organized. You’ll be calmer and see more outfit options instantly.
If you have items in plastic dry cleaning bags, take a second to remove them and put them on new hangers. Plastic bags hold moisture and can damage your items if you let them stay in them for too long.
Properly put back the items you are keeping in your closet, neatly.
I organize closets by category (sleeveless, short sleeve, long sleeve, etc.) and then by color within each category. This way, my eye goes almost instinctively to what I need.
My Closet: After
My closet after: clean, simplified, organized
Before you run and buy new organizing tools do an inventory at home. Then see what your space needs.
Below is what I use to keep my small space high functioning:
3M Hooks: to keep favorite necklaces in view and untangled.
Stackable Jewelry Box: For all my other jewelry I purchased this customizable jewelry box – it’s fantastic!
Shoe Drawers: I love these. As you can see above these really utilize the shelf space I have. I’ve since added even more and it makes a huge difference.
Shelve Dividers: I use these to help separate my jeans and sweaters and keep them stacked neatly. I use to think they were a waste of money but they have made huge difference in keeping my space neat.
Purse Organizer*: This acrylic purse organize is perhaps my favorite purchase. For years I kept my clutches and smaller, occasion bags in a basket. But I edited them down to just my favorites and properly displayed them and now I am using them more frequently and can put them back where they belong without thinking about it.
* pictured is the six compartment organizer, which is currently sold out, so I linked to the three.
Keep the Edit Going
I keep a small basket tucked away for donations. Often I’ll try something on and realize I don’t like it anymore, or it doesn’t fit well, so I’ll drop it in the basket. Once it’s filled up, I sort it, send what I can sell to ThredUp and donate the rest.
A friendly reminder from my accountant: be sure to keep track of your donations for your end of year taxes!
Finish the Process
Before you finish, gather up any trash and dispose of it. If something needs to be dry cleaned or mended, add it to the proper pile and put it in your car.
Organize donations and pack them up neatly. Drop them off as soon as possible. Whatever you do, do not leave items hanging around or they will never get actioned and may end back up in your closet.
That’s it! In a few hours you will have turned your closet from chaos to inspiration!
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Our readership inspires all of our posts and is not sponsored or paid for by brands or retailers.
Recommendations are based on my experience as a personal stylist and wardrobe consultant for over a decade. I worked with busy, down-to-earth women who wanted to look chic and feel confident but were often confused by so much of retail.
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I can’t wait to unplug for a few days and turn my attention to my family. But once Christmas is over, I’m also looking forward to a few quiet days in the office to start rolling our the first phase of our 2020 initiative – focused on helping you build a classic, modern wardrobe.
But I could use your help!
Every piece of content I put out is based on a question, or comment that you share here, on Instagram, or in our Facebook group.
I would love to hear from you so I can keep moving in the right direction.
In the comments below, share with me any frustration you have when you are shopping, or trying to build a wardrobe.
Do you shop in stores, or online?
What are your go-to stores?
And, where have you been successful?
Anything you’d like to share will be a helpful in making sure our 2020 content is helpful for your everyday life.
Our Wardrobe Challenge starts on Friday, January 10th.
Wardrobe Challenge
I have been hosting some kind of Wardrobe Challenge for four years now. With each new year, I tweak it and build on what we did in the past.
This year will be no different.
To start, we’ll edit our wardrobes over a four week period. And, like every year, I’m doing this with you! We’ll be ruthless, and strategic. Plus, I’ve discovered some fantastic organizing tools that will transform any space!
Each challenge will be posted here, on The Well Dressed Life, every Friday starting on January 10th, with the last edit challenge going live on January 31st.
Where I’m changing things up is after our month of purging, editing, and defining our style, I’m going to work with you as a virtual stylist.
Every Friday in February I’ll post a style challenge. Maybe it’s wearing a piece you haven’t worn in a while, dressing up jeans for work, or incorporating a trendy accessory.
I’ll use IGTV (Instagram) and Facebook Lives to speak directly with you, answer your questions and give you advice and feedback.
I’m taking tomorrow “off” so I can finish getting ready for Christmas and organize Vivi’s first birthday party. But I’ll be back on Monday sharing some highlights of the year, and launching our Best of 2019 Week that will run from Tuesday until January 2nd.
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