Show of hands, who has a huge closet with unlimited space? 
AND can always find what they’re looking for and look fabulous?
Well, if your hand is still up, this article may not be for you. For the rest of us, though… we with small closets and no build-out option, or who aren’t effortlessly stylish… this article is for you. (A caveat – I am not the person to give fashion advice.)
Today is the first day of Spring, and this is National Organize Your Closets Week. Let’s spend time in our closets so they will serve us well!
First, grab 2 garbage bags – one for wire hangers to go back to the cleaners, and one for actual rubbish – and fill them up! Next, bundle up the dirty laundry and get it out of your way.
If your space is limited and the closet is looking crowded, make some decisions. For example, yesterday I started swapping out cold weather clothes for some lighter fabrics and lighter colors. Let’s face it – we are probably ready to move into Spring, even if the weather isn’t ready!
“Three Months” is 1 Season. I kept repeating “Three Months.” Think about it – a season 
lasts three (ish) months. Here in Chicago, the weather can change 30 degrees in a few hours, but Spring is Spring. I have dark, heavy clothes that I won’t wear again until Fall, regardless of how cold the weather gets. If I need to make room in my closet, I can hang just the items I’ll wear in the next three months, storing colder weather clothes and really hot weather clothes on a high shelf or under the bed.
“Three Months” is 1 size. “Three Months” also works for sizes. I have clients with 
multiple sizes of clothes cluttering their closets. Again, ask the “three month” question. Do the math – a healthy weight loss strategy suggests losing a pound a week. In three months, that would be an amazing 12 pounds! 12 Pounds may move you up or down one size from your current size, but only one. If you want to keep your much-smaller clothes, go for it, but don’t store them in your closet if you don’t have room. And purge the too-big stuff, so you’re not tempted to backslide!
“Three Months” also works if stuff just isn’t working. I re-tried a few items that I didn’t wear at all this winter, and nope – I just don’t like them anymore. Gone, gone, gone.
Ok! With these decisions made, I bet your closet is feeling more spacious! Let’s set it up to work for us!
Think about your habits:
Start with what you use every day. My day- to-day clothes, sturdy pieces for working with clients and running around, are straightforward and conveniently stored (first thing I see when I open my closet). Think Levi’s and Land End. I know, not exciting. I told you not to take fashion advice from me. But they work.
What isn’t working? Where I stumble is getting ready for presentations and professional music events (did you know? I’m also a liturgical musician). Short of Garanimals for adults, I need to organize my closet to make the matching of neutral, professional skirts with a layer, a jacket or sweater and probably a scarf.
Solve the Problem. To help me put together outfits, I grouped my items by category (skirts and pants, jackets, sweaters, shells, etc.) then by color. I hung up my favorite drapey sweaters instead of folding them up so I can find them quicker. 
And I brought the Fabulous to the front to make them easier to see. Meaning: Fellas? Ties. Ladies? Scarves.
Finally, I’ve been pondering how to remember a great outfit when I manage to put one together, for reference when I am looking for inspiration. Smartphone? Print them? IPad? Still thinking about that one.
Spend some quality time in your closet this week, make some space and then make the closet work for you!
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