Nothing to wear?
I often wake up in that irritating conundrum. I open my closet doors and all I see are a minefield of choices. There are those items I like, those I love, those that don’t fit, and those that are either out because they are outdated or out because I have decided we don’t get on anymore.
As much as I want to blame my clothes or lack thereof, the “nothing to wear’ syndrome is more about me and my closet organisation than what is behind closed doors. It is so easy to forget what is inside, relegate older items to the back and ignore them on a regular basis. Really looking inside, I mean pulling aside the coat hangers and delving in can yield some fabulous finds.
I decided to “shop my closet”.
Years have passed and rather than streamline and arrange my wardrobe I have continued to wear the first pieces that come to hand.
The treasures I neglect surprise me. They may not be current but they stand the test of time. It occurred to me how much I was missing and how much better I could look, simply by “shopping” my own closet.
How To Shop The Closet
1. Empty. The first step is to empty out the wardrobes and drawers, in some kind of order, to see exactly what is hiding.
2. De-Clutter. Once everything is out (this is the stressful part) remove the pieces that really have done their time. There are always some items of clothing that will never be worn. I find it easy to create a “when in doubt” pile to leave until last. That is when ‘ruthless’ needs to kick in.
3. Divide and Classify. Sort clothing into similar sections. For example, I like all my sweaters to be together depending on sleeves and necklines; the same with tee shirts. Scarves I divide by shape, season and fabric. Give the “new” finds their rightful place, on the top of the pile. I like to classify my cupboards by colour; this might be a throwback to my years stocking shelves and arranging racks in fashion boutiques. Colour coding, especially folded items, makes dressing so much easier.
Arrange. Put everything back but not in the same way as before. Let the eye discover old pieces and make them fresh again. Hang the clothing in groups that work for lifestyle; weekend wear, formal wear and office outfits. Change shoes around, bring the heels to the front and put the flats together on one side.
Display. Put together outfits for inspiration; bring a portable rack into the bedroom or dressing room if possible and arrange coordinating outfits. The best looks come together by a process of elimination; trial and error, when time is not restricted is the easiest way.
Shopping the closet is a win/win in my mind and it is surprising how much we lose track of in our wardrobes. You may be very surprised what fabulousness turns up, xv.
images, the coveteur
