2 Steps to Organizing Your Clothes for Fall
One of the joys of being organized is that it is easy for me to get dressed in the morning – a valuable skill when I need to get everyone off to school and be on time to an early appointment with a client. As summer turns into fall and my wardrobe needs change, I make it a point to sort through and rotate my clothes. This seasonal reorganization enables me to find the clothes I need more easily, helps keep clutter at bay, and makes more room in my closet (just in case I “happen to find myself” in the vicinity of Anthropologie.)
While rotating your wardrobe may seem like a daunting task, especially if it has been a while since you have cleaned out your closet, the results are definitely worth the time spent. Here is a simple, two-step guide for getting the job done right:
Step 1: Remove and Edit
Empty your closets and dressers of all the clothes you wear during the spring and summer. You’ll probably be surprised by what’s been hiding in the far corners and on hard to reach shelves. Sort the clothes into four piles: keep, donate, toss, and maybe. Be selective. And honest. Chances are if you have not worn a pair of shorts all summer, you are not going to want to wear it next summer, either. Donate anything that is not flattering, that you no longer like, or is out of date. Toss anything stained, stretched out, or broken, including old undergarments and socks. Throw away wire hangers, and plastic ones that have lost their shape. Once all your clothes are sorted revisit the maybe pile.
Canvas hanging bags are much preferred over plastic ones as they will allow your clothes to breathe while keeping them free of dust.
Wash, fold, and place the clothes you have decided to keep in lidded containers. Store items that should be kept hung up, like dresses and skirts, in a hanging garment bag.
Label these containers and place them in an out of the way spot, like a high closet shelf, under your bed, or in the back of your closet.
Step 2: Replace and Organize
Empty your storage containers and closets of all your fall and winter clothes. Put any clothes you no longer like or want in the donate pile. Look over boots, shoes, and coats to see if they need repair or waterproofing.
Before placing fall and winter items in drawers and on hangars think about your lifestyle. If you spend most of your week in office attire, slacks and blouses deserve prime real estate. Go to the gym regularly? All of your workout clothes should be centrally placed, too. Want to go to the gym regularly but never really get there? Relegate the sports bras to a lower shelf or bin. Simply put, place the most-used items in the most accessible places and the less-used items below or above.
Once you have prioritized your wardrobe, group clothes by type (pants, tops, dresses) and hang with the hanger facing out. As you wear an item, if you love it, rehang it facing in. Any item left at the end of a season facing the wrong way should be donated or consigned.
When placing sweaters and sweatshirts, try not to stack them more than 3 or 4 high, or they will fall over and be hard to retrieve. Shelf dividers can be used to keep stacks extra neat.
If this task still sounds overwhelming, hire a pro. Working with a professional organizer will make your project more efficient, focused, and productive than if you had to do it on your own.
Once you are done, make sure to sit back and savor your achievement.