My Everyday Couture

I often didn’t understand how some women did it, stuff over a years worth of wardrobe in a small closet; because as far as my closet was concerned one more item and it was going to collapse in on itself.

With a little research and a couple of days of separating I was able to get my overwhelming wardrobe into a manageable and accessible closet that was inviting. With just a few changes you can have a wardrobe haven instead of that messy space where you keep your clothes.

1. Know What You Have

The one thing women do is shop and we buy without really thinking of the space in the closet; being too enamored with the piece the credit card is handed over and you have plus one item in your wardrobe. You get home only to find you have something similar and you’ve just added to the sardine style closet you have. Knowing what you have available in your wardrobe can save you money but also space. Buy pieces you know will last and can be re-worn different ways to avoid over filling the closet with nothing you really need.

2. Start a System

Having a system can make going through your wardrobe a lot easier and less time consuming. The way you organize your closet systematically can be done by style or by color. I, personally use by style starting with tube and tank tops, short sleeves, ¾ sleeve progressing to long sleeve. Doing it this way also separates your closet for the seasons as all the long sleeves will be in one area and tanks in another. Do this with your pants and bottoms starting with shorts and skirts progressing to full length pants. Using a color coordinated system can also make it super easy to find what you are in the mood for on a particular day. If you know you want to wear that red blouse with the sequence you know it is with the red section of the closet. Do this with your pants and skirts starting with white and khaki progressing to dark denim and black slacks.

3. Sort Your Shoes
Most women can confess that their shoe collection is the largest collection of collectibles they own, and yes shoes can be collectibles! The downside is there is two of everything so keeping things organized and kept together can be a challenge. First, get in the habit of taking your shoes off and putting them away. This avoids having any mess laying around your living space. Once you have this down have your shoes organized so that they are easy to see and easy to get to. One great way is using shoe bins to store your shoes. This not only protects your shoes from it’s environment the clear containers are stackable and translucent so you can see which shoes you are looking for. Organize your shoes by style starting with casual moving to formal. Keep the shoes you wear most at the top of your stack for easier access. These containers can be found for only $8 at The Container Store and are very much worth it!

4. Cycle Your Wardrobe

It happens to all of us, you get comfortable wearing the same pieces from your wardrobe that the rest of it stays sitting in the closet never to be seen again. This is a waste of cute clothes and money spent! Cycling through your wardrobe is an easy way to keep your clothes organized; it keeps you aware of what you have and lets you seem like such a fashionistas because you will not be wearing the same thing every week! Doing this is simple, once you have worn the item move it to the back of your section. Whether you have your closet organized by style or color put it at the back and move the rest forward so that you progress through all you have and your entire wardrobe gets put to use.

5. Plan for More

The shopping never ends and that is a fact. So always be prepared to bring new pieces into your closet. You can do this by doing a ‘closet cleansing’ every two months. Pull out the pieces you use the least and donate it! This opens up space in your closet for future purchases and gives clothes to those who can use it. Having a little available space does not mean you can just go shopping to fill the void but rather it means you have the space if you need it.