With the change of seasons we often find ourselves slammed with Closet ReStyles (formerly known as the Closet Clean-Up! Because it’s not just “cleaning up” that we do to your closet…we ReStyle what you already have!). And for good reason! It’s a perfect time to reevaluate what you have, what you wear, and what you love. We receive so many questions on how to clean out closets, so here is a little overview on how we do it.
Step 1: ORGANIZE
Before we start talking through any pieces with our clients, we organize the closets by category. We think about how we can best utilize the space in the closet and what makes the most sense when our client gets dressed in the mornings. Often we like to put tops and jackets on the top bar and pants and skirts on the bottom, so she can visually see the outfit when she opens her closet door. After we come up with a layout, we sort and organize each piece into its proper location. TIP: Group casual and dressy next to each other – you know we love versatility and casual can be dressed up with a blazer and statement necklace, while dressy can be dressed down with boyfriend jeans and sandals!
So, the top bar of the closet would look something like this:
Then we’d do the same on the bottom row:
Step 2: FILTER
Once everything is in its proper location, we can go through and talk about each piece. We will take each category OUT of the closet at this point so we can fully see each item, and we have our client try things on that she may be questioning. Here are some examples of why we might DONATE items:
*The item is worn (shows signs of pilling, has small holes or tears, etc)
*The fit is off (fits change throughout the years – a few years ago tops were longer and slimmer, now the length is going back up and they have more of a loose/boxy fit. What you loved a few years ago might feel strange today because the proportions are not current. Also: our bodies seem to change 😉 ).
*It doesn’t fit the client’s current lifestyle (how many of us have old items that we used to wear for a phase of life we were in – old suits, maternity clothes, college t-shirts, etc. It’s OK to let these items go!)
*The client doesn’t love it (we need to feel good in what we wear…and if you don’t feel good in it, it’s fine to let it go!)
Step 3: CREATE OUTFITS
If the item makes the cut, we will discuss ways to wear the piece. We’ll create casual outfits, dressy outfits, and photograph all combinations (on her phone!) so the client can easily reference ways to wear the item. Don’t forget to include accessories in these pictures! TIP: Hang up or store accessories IN YOUR CLOSET. This will remind you to wear them! (This actually goes for all clothes: the more you see in your closet, the more you will wear! Items hidden away in drawers will be forgotten!) Accessories take your outfit from casual to dressy, and can make or break your look! Once outfits have been created and photographed, they go back into the closet.
Step 4: SHOPPING LIST
As we place the items back into the closet, it will allow us to easily see what is needed to fill in any holes or trends that the client might be missing. Here’s how we determine what goes onto your shopping list:
*Is there a specific item you often wear/love? (Find a similar item in this season’s color or pattern!)
*Did we have to get rid of a lot of one category? (Replace them!)
*Is there a trend you haven’t tried yet but really like?
*Are there any basics that you need updated?
Our clients can then take these lists with them when they’re out shopping and know specifically what to look for. No impulse buys here – only things that will go with what she already has (in multiple ways!).
And that is our Closet ReStyle in a nutshell! Of course it takes us about 3 hours to complete with our clients. 🙂 Often having a second (and third) set of eyes look at your items is helpful when cleaning out your closets because we have no sentimental attachments to items and can give you ideas that you hadn’t thought of before.
So try cleaning out your closet using our tips above…and if you need our help, just let us know!