What's In Your Closet?

Welcome to our newest guest blogger, Ann Marie Stewart, who is all about minimalism! She’s been gracious enough to share some of her tips on how to clear that closet clutter!

"I had more clothes than I had closets, more cars than garage space, but no money." -Sammy Davis Jr.

When I was a kid, my closet was the place for all the things I had to dump in a hurry so that my room looked clean. I HATED it when my parents would force me to clean my closet. n cleaning, I would usually find that I didn't need all the things that were in there in the first place. 

When I became an adult (which I've found didn't really happen until my mid-30s) I decided once and for all that my closet was for clothes, period. Still, if I wasn't careful, other things that I needed to clean up would find their way into the sacred space.

This month, I've put together three posts (one old, two new) about closet spaces along with a list of what I specifically fill those spaces with. 

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Cleaning Out The Closet on National Gaudy Day

Is your closet a study in wardrobe history? Are you holding on to that sweater you were wearing when you met your partner? Or are you holding on to that skirt you regretfully bought, the one with the price tag still attached?

So many of the items we have in our homes are only there because we feel too guilty to get rid of them. However, by letting go of these items you are letting go of the negative emotions hanging around your space. There is actually a therapy element to cleaning out your closet.

Statistically speaking...

“The average American woman owns 30 outfits—one for every day of the month. In 1930, that figure was nine (Forbes).”

The average American family spends $1,700 on clothes annually (Forbes).

While the average American throws away 65 pounds of clothing per year (Huffington Post).

...and we regularly hear that only 20 percent of the clothes in the average person’s closet are worn on a regular basis.

4 Easy Tips To Clean Out Your Closet

ASK WHY

So the real question to ask yourself is WHY? Why haven’t you worn the item? Most of the time it is because there is a similar item we like better. So why own both if you only wear one? Other times it’s because we plan to lose weight so it will fit again. While this can be an arguable point, we find most people actually enjoy shopping for new clothes when they reach their goal weight. Here’s a big one. You really don’t want to see the pile of clothes that still have a price tag attached.

REMOVE THE UNWORN

Today is “Wear Something Gaudy Day” - and it is the perfect day to pillage through your closet and remove the gaudy stuff. Start by removing the items you haven’t worn in the last year. Feeling really frisky? Remove items you haven’t worn in the last six months.

DONATE

Make a donation bag, fill it, and immediately put it in your vehicle to drop off.

SORT WHAT REMAINS

Once you have removed the clutter from your closet, sort your clothes by type (dresses, long, short and sleeveless tops, pants, etc.). Store them together by type. Then sort each type by color using the ROYGBIV guide. Simple steps will make your house both functional and beautiful.

Pro tip: Turn your hangers around for the items you simply cannot make a decision about. If you haven’t worn it in the next 6 months then its out!

It is important to understand that this is a difficult process to do on your own. That’s why our teams are here to help. We understand how emotional and physical clutter work hand in hand, and the sooner you remove the things that no longer serve you the quicker you can get to what does.

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How To Organize the Handbags, Totes, & Clutches

Did you know there was a National Handbag Day?  Seriously, an entire day dedicated to handbags! I’ve never loved clothing like some women… but a pretty handbag? Why yes, thank you!

Because I’m not one to hang onto things, it’s a one-in, one-out rule for most things in my closet.  But handbags are different. They can make (or break) an outfit. (Ok, so maybe not my Chaos t-shirt and leggings look but ANY other outfit!) I tend to hang onto them probably longer than I should because I like classic styles. The few trendier, less expensive styles stay through a season or two.  I have a patent leather clutch that was my Grandmothers. It’s definitely one of my favorite items in my closet that will never leave.

To start organizing your handbags, be sure to have an honest talk with yourself.  Let’s be real, no matter how much you paid for that handbag, if you keep skipping over it, you know it needs to go. Stop obsessing about what you paid for it and keep moving forward.

Pro Tip: Donating handbags is great for your local community, but there are plenty of thrift stores that would love to buy your gently used designer bags.  Be sure to look into both options. The extra money could come in handy for that next bag you love.

How does one keep the handbags organized?  Well, let’s take a look at some options!

If you have a large closet with ampules of closet hanging space, and frequently change handbags, hanging them could be a great option.  It’s tidy, easy to use and keeps the handbags from having that nasty crease mark when they flop over. These hooks are from The Container Store and you can find them here.

If you have less closet space, an acrylic organizer might be a good fit like this one from The Container Store.  Here is a great example. The clutches and small purses can fit below while the larger satchels can live next to or on top of the organizer.  It would help keep the dust off the clutches as well. The openings could be labeled so that each clutch has its own space.

The way I store my handbags is with a shelf divider like this one from Target.

I stuff the larger, more flimsy handbags with tissue so they stand up and contain them between the shelf dividers.  My clutches are lined up in a small basket.

There is also the @Bed, Bath and Beyond “Park a Purse” Clutch and Purse divider that looks interesting.   Being able to stack the bags would be helpful in a small closet. I haven’t used one yet, but it has great reviews! You can find it here.

And lastly, if you are still struggling with storage, you can always look for ideas at your local boutiques.

This idea came from Edit by LBP in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

So you see, there are as many handbag organizing options as there are handbags themselves. I hope one of these ideas gets you inspired to evaluate and organize your handbag collection.  If you get stuck or need assistance, give us a call!

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