When you open your closet, does your heart sink at what awaits you? Are your closet and wardrobe frankly stuck in the past and stuffed with too many clothes but nothing to wear? Is your style also stuck and in need of some refinement? If you nodded in agreement, you may well enjoy discovering the 10 surprisingly simple habits that will get your closet, your wardrobe and your style unstuck and refined. Just before we start, let's have a little think about why your closet is stuck. Why do you think this is so? Is this due to a busy life, are you retired, recently moved town or country, or separated/divorced/widowed? Your closet is full of your past life, of your past style and this is what is keeping you stuck. And because of this, you can't see the wood for the trees. It's proving difficult, nigh on impossible to dress well, because you can't see your good clothes, do you agree? This is taking us to our first habit: Decluttering. You need to purge your closet right now. Remove everything that is no longer you, that no longer speaks to you, no longer works for your current lifestyle, for who you are right now. Also remove all the things that no longer fit or suit you, that you no longer love. This may be scary but vital as you will not be able to move on with your style if you are stuck in the past. If you want drastic help with decluttering, check out The Purge Masterclass. Second Habit: Daily Audit Now that the big declutter has been done, continue to work on it every day. Do a daily audit of your closet and wardrobe and declutter as you go. Anything that should no longer be there, take it out: such as clothes, shoes, bags and other accessories you no longer love or wear, things that are for another season, from another life etc… This is how you will create a wardrobe that is more you, more in line with your current taste and lifestyle. Third Habit: Clean & Tidy Something that may seem very mundane and not that important is keeping a tidy closet. Give it a clean and a little dusting daily. Add flowers or plants, add pretty prints, special things that you love and inspire you. Make it pretty. Give it some love. This way, you will enjoy going to it every day. Fourth Habit: Change Your Hangers If your closet has hangers in various colours and style i.e some black, some white, some green, or in wire, plastic, wood or in satin all mixed together, your closet will look disorganised and in disarray. It will be difficult for your eyes to settle on your clothes and not see these hangers crying for attention. Simply change your hangers to one colour only. It doesn't really matter which colour you choose, but a light colour such as white will make your closet much brighter and pleasant. If the inside of your closet is white, choose white hangers so that they blend in the background, making your clothes stand out. Fifth Habit: Organise Your Clothes by Category If your clothes are scattered all over your closet with no rhyme or reason, how can you hope to ever find the pieces that you need? It will take time and will be stressful. However, if you organise them by category, you will know exactly where each item is and will be able to find it straight away. Rearrange your tops , shirts, sweaters, jackets etc so that they are together. Sixth Habit: Organise Your Clothes by Colour Now that your clothes are organised by category, organise by colour, from light to dark. It will be so easy to see what you’ve got at a glance when you want to create outfits! Do you want a pink shirt? Go to your shirts and pick the pink one. Simple. Seventh Habit: Clothes that Need Repair Remove from your closet clothes that need any repair, a hem taken up or button sewn up etc. Do not put them back in your closet until they are repaired, otherwise the next time you plan to wear them, you wont be able to. Eighth Habit: Shop Your Closet Before embarking on a shopping trip, have a good look inside your closet to check if you don't already have these items. Many times, people buy things they already have, and they end up with duplicates and triplicates of the same items. You may also be able to create great outfits with what you already have, and may not really need new pieces. Ninth Habit: Keep a Style Journal You will train your style eye, start asking questions about your style, and discover much about yourself and why you dress this way or that. Keep a style journal for your style journey, it will refine not only your style but your life, I promise you. Discover more about yourself, your closet & style with The Style Journal Masterclass + Ecourse Tenth Habit: Keep it loved Before you close the door to your closet, have a quick look for anything in disarray or that shouldn't be there. Pick things up, fold and rearrange others. Now you can close the door. Your closet is clean, tidy and loved. When you keep these daily habits, how do you think this will make you feel? A bientôt Marie-Anne x
11 Comments
Tessa Wyatt
10/24/2022 01:03:02 pm
Thank you so much for these tips Marieanne, most helpful. My issue is my shoe closet. I have loads of shoes that I either bought on a whim and have never worn, or old darlings like old tennis shoes that now look shabby and really need to go but remind me of happy times like holidays. I am determined now to be strong and go for it! Who needs shoes to have happy memories?!
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Anne West-Ellmers
10/24/2022 01:04:17 pm
Thank you, Marie-Anne! Your wonderful, practical advice has helped me transform my closet and simplified getting dressed each day. I crave color and have curated my wardrobe to include five basic neutral ones plus three coordinating "pops" in solids or prints for Spring/Summer and Fall/Winter. Now I'll only add a "new" color or piece to my closet if it plays well with what I already own thus allowing me to create outfits instead of buying them! Bespoke garments were not an option for me, so finding a tailor/seamstress was indispensable to having staple blazers, slacks, and coats adjusted to suit my proportions. A classic cut and style outlasts the whims of the fashion industry. I now work one day per week at a local clothing retailer for the comraderie (and the discount) and employ what I've learned from you to help my clients. Thank you for being such a good tutor!
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Soledad
10/24/2022 01:19:02 pm
I love a good list! This one is, as usual with Marie-Anne, a no-nonsense list of achievable things to do that can yield results quickly. The habit I'm going to implement from the list is the Daily Audit (I have decluttered already a while ago, after buying The Tidy Closet). I like that anything done daily seems so much more manageable than taking care of a big pile of clothes. It will become a nice habit to acquire, to feel in control.
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Dotty
10/24/2022 01:37:19 pm
I have been following you for many months now. Purging and decluttering my closet, shopping from my closet, and buying only WOW pieces has not only improved my self image but made me more relaxed in social situations.
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Vita Avanesian
10/24/2022 08:03:05 pm
I think I will feel great and refreshed!
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10/24/2022 08:55:26 pm
Thank you for these tips for organizing my closet. I need to purge my closet again. I do before each season, but a little behind this year.
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Beverly Davenport
10/25/2022 12:16:42 am
These are great suggestions and I follow most of them. Marie-Anne, I want to suggest that you think about elastic waist pants and skirts for women with waists approximately the same size as their hips (like me). If I buy pants to fit my waist they are way way way too large at my butt and my hips. I have found several brands that have wide elasticated waist bands that look just fine. Here's an example: https://www.landsend.com/products/womens-starfish-mid-rise-straight-leg-elastic-waist-pull-on-pants/id_219545?attributes=44959,8063&source=GS¤cy=USD&geo=US&skumv=3188620&promotion-code=GRASS&promotion-pin=0&cm_mmc=139971612&SC=pla_non-brand&CMPGN=11383290717&ADGRP=114185175249&KYW=&MT=&DV=c&PID=3188620&TRGT=pla-384312894941&gclid=CjwKCAjw79iaBhAJEiwAPYwoCK7SUMb7fMAx-XpP_JQTyiULzNzDPdjsDQZAD7ZCsvr9HO1bESXJuBoCTdsQAvD_BwE&gclid=CjwKCAjw79iaBhAJEiwAPYwoCK7SUMb7fMAx-XpP_JQTyiULzNzDPdjsDQZAD7ZCsvr9HO1bESXJuBoCTdsQAvD_BwE&CH=Google%20AdWords&_cclid=Google_CjwKCAjw79iaBhAJEiwAPYwoCK7SUMb7fMAx-XpP_JQTyiULzNzDPdjsDQZAD7ZCsvr9HO1bESXJuBoCTdsQAvD_BwE
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Angela E. Sanchez
10/25/2022 07:30:58 am
Another set of good useful tips....thank you so very much Marie-Anne. I am enjoying everyday. No more fear about what to wear. My closet is much tidier now and I continue to dispose of items that are no "Wow". Loving the style journal too.
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PETRA Theron
10/25/2022 11:42:25 am
Dear Marie-Anne,
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Christina Bristol
10/30/2022 09:39:02 pm
Thank you so much! This post reminded me of your video where you told us to keep a box in the closet to drop in the things we no longer want/need as soon as we see them. I appreciate your practicality!
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JULIA H WIGHT
5/25/2023 01:37:39 am
Dear Marie-Anne,
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