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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.
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.
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.
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
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
We recently moved from our country home of 35 years to a smaller home in town. I used your principles to pack my whole house. Our new home has only our WOW possessions which fit in our smaller space. Thank you Marie-Anne!
Need to get started. Too late today but first thing tomorrow. Have a blessed day.
I hope you can see this.
I am writing to you, whilst on a short vacation, from a game lodge on the border of the National Kruger Park in South Africa. It is 30 degrees Celsius here-wow!
Thank you for these tips, especially painting the closet white and monotone hangers-definitely on my to-do list when I get home!
Sunny and warm regards,
Petra
You are like a lovely friend who lives up the road who keeps me inspired and reminds me how to stay chic and elegant. Above all you make things fun and provide a wonderful service to so many women around the world.
Many thanks,
Julia