Organize your Wardrobe

Most people let their wardrobe fill up then spill over into spare cupboards, spare rooms or onto empty shelves. It’s a gradual process that can take years but eventually you realize that your clothes are taking over the house and something needs to be done about it. It might be you who finally thinks ‘enough is enough’, or it might your irate partner or housemate, who has been putting up with the spread of clothes for too long. One day they finally snap and it’s definitely time to sort out the problem.

• Clear out

The first stage is to have a proper clear out and get rid of all those old or ill-fitting clothes that – realistically – you’re never going to wear again. Once you’ve honed down your wardrobe to a more manageable selection of clothes that you still like and that still fit, it’s time to get really organized. You’ll need to be strict with yourself and try and avoid the best shopping deals for the foreseeable future – at least until you’ve made enough space to fit in new purchases.

• Seasonal favorites and workwear

It’s up to you how you decide to organize your wardrobe. If you have lots of seasonal garments, then it makes sense to arrange your clothes by season. You can store bulkier jumpers and winter coats in suction bags that can be stored away neatly on top of the closet or under the bed.

If you have to look smart for the office you might decide to arrange your wardrobe into work and social sections. That way you can quickly find your smarter and more formal work clothes when you’re getting ready in the morning. Then, when the weekend arrives, you can completely ignore the work section and stick to the more casual clothes in the closet.

• Color and style

Women’s fashion is constantly changing and every season sees a new set of key colors and styles hit the shops. This makes it difficult to keep a slim wardrobe, as there’s always something new to buy, to add to your clothing collection. However, you should be strict with yourself and limit your buying to items of clothing that you’re going to get a lot of wear out of, or that you genuinely need. You can arrange your wardrobe according to color and matching shades. This is a good way to choose outfits: you might have certain tops and trousers that look particularly good together. If so, why not hang them together on the same clothes hanger. This is a good way to remind yourself about good combinations – it doesn’t mean you only have to wear a certain pair of trousers with a certain top; it just gives you an instant solution if you’re in a hurry.

At the end of the day, the more organized your wardrobe is, the more quickly you can locate outfits and get ready in the morning. However you arrange your clothes, make sure the system works for you, your job and your social life.