It's a new year, and one of my resolutions is to tackle my closet. It's overflowing with things I KNOW I don't wear. Where do I start?
Kimberley M. emailed us at expert@sweetspot.ca, and our organization expert Barbara Sidoruk, answered;
I know it sounds daunting, but the only way to begin to declutter your closet is to empty it. You must be ruthless otherwise the whole exercise is a waste of time.
- Begin by sorting your clothes into three piles: keepers, need to try it on and charity. If you haven’t worn it in 12 months and it has a light film of dust on it, it’s charity!
- If it doesn’t fit “right now”, don’t keep it.
- If you spent a fortune and it’s your favourite colour but it’s not flattering to your body shape, lose it.
- Hang like-things together and organize them by colour. I love the IKEA Komplement boxes, they fit perfectly in drawers and are great for organizing your socks, underwear and belts.
- Handbags should be stored on shelves, don’t hang them. Stuff them to keep their shape and put them in a cotton pillowcase. NEVER store a natural fiber in plastic (this includes leather) they need to breathe.
- From now on, always try it on before you buy it. You may think you’ll return it if it isn’t right, but you won’t. It will inevitably become part of your charity pile.
- Don’t buy it because it’s on sale, it’s only a bargain if you actually wear it.
- Live by the six month rule, if six months from today there are items you were hesitant about removing and you still haven’t worn them, donate them.
This article comes on the heels of a job. The client I worked with had close to 20 garbage bags of clothing for charity. When I spoke to the people at Goodwill they informed me that everyday they throw away 2,500 pounds of clothing that can’t be used, so be selective about what you donate.
Barbara has been a successful wardrobe stylist in the film industry for the last 20 years. Many of her clients look to her not only to update and refresh their wardrobes, but to organize the closets they hang in. Her company, Space came out of organizing closets and into the office, the basement and the entire home. She can be reached at barbara.sidoruk@sympatico.ca or 416-937-9708.
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