Over the years I’ve had many women come out of the closet, and admit they need help purging, organizing, and letting go of some of the hidden items they have in their closet. After a while it became very apparent to me that closet cleaning was the most personal service for clients. The clothes in every closet represent gifts, memories, and money spent – they act as remnants of a life that once was, and now is.
Although every closet is a little bit different, and every client is a little bit different, there are patterns. I’ve noticed 5 different types of closets, and therefore, 5 potential cleanup phases a closet needs to go through in order to be fully functional for a client.
1. Purging old pieces. I’ve spent hours with clients just tackling the purging of dated and worn-out clothes that they don’t even wear anymore. These pieces are just clutter in a closet that prevent you from getting to the good stuff!
2. Perfect Fit. Everything in a closet needs to be tried for fit at least twice a year. If something doesn’t fit it needs to be altered or let go. For those clients whose weight fluctuates often, I suggest taking the sizes that don’t fit out of their closet and storing them in marked containers. When their sizing changes they can easily do a swap.
3. Organize. The best way to organize a closet is first by item – ie. pants, skirts, blouses, etc. – and then by colour. This way a client can easily see what she has, and go straight to what she wants to wear.
4. Take Inventory – Once a closet is organized by item and colour, it is easy to take inventory and get rid of multiples of things. My general rule is that 5 of something is more than enough! For example, if a client has 7 black skirts it’s time to pare down and take at least two out of the closet. This is also the time I take inventory of the “holes” in a closet and make a shopping list of the items needed to complete a wardrobe.
5. Filling in – Shopping! Time to head out on a focused shopping trip for the pieces identified in phase 4 to create the fully functional wardrobe.
At any of these phases I suggest building outfits that work in my client’s lifestyle. I highly recommend every woman have a bunch of go-to outfits that make them feel great, and are already put together. It makes getting ready in a rush so much easier!
If you’re unsure what phase your closet is in, and therefore where to start, you can complete this online quiz, or give me a ring to help – 416.262.4116.
Until next time!
Wendy
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