Make Your Clothes Fit… Without Dieting

Every fall we swap summer’s shorts and t-shirts for fall’s corduroys and sweaters. This is also a perfect opportunity to square away your closet. Here are some of our tips for making your fall wardrobe fit… without dieting!

You’ll need:

• 2-3 hours for a small closet; 3-4 hours for a larger closet or walk-in; Dresser, too? Add another 1-2 hours
• A vacuum
• Damp cloths
• Baskets or bags for sorting
• A table (nice to have)
• A hanging rod (nice to have)

GET STARTED!

• Start by emptying your closet. All of it must go!!! Place folded items on the table and hanging items on the rack.
• Find other homes for items that are not clothes. Put photo albums and books in a bookcase, seasonal decorations can be placed into labeled storage bins and housed elsewhere. Broken items should be tossed or recycled. Items that you no longer use but are still usable can be donated to your favorite charity. This will free up precious space for your wardrobe!
• Vacuum your closet thoroughly. Get into the nooks and crannies. This is probably the one time you are able to get into all the nooks and crannies. Take advantage of it! Wipe the rods with the damp cloth and inspect any hooks to make sure they aren’t rusting, and damaging your clothing.
• Now, start sorting your clothes into four categories:
  • Keep
  • Donate
  • Throw away
  • Repair
• Take the throw away pile to the trash bin. Place the items to be donated into the donation bin. Move the items to be repaired to the appropriate area. Put a date on the pile, because if you haven’t repaired them in six month’s time, chances are slim you ever will, and they should be donated.
• Collect all the hangers. If you have a rainbow of colors, separate the hangers by color. The goal is to use only one color hanger per person or per wardrobe. Perhaps use black for your fall/winter wardrobe, gray for transitional items and white for your summer wardrobe. Why? Using one color of hanger through a whole closet will make your closet look neater and more organized immediately!
• Now, turn your energy to the items that you wish to keep. Separate these into three categories:
  • Fall/Winter – Chunky sweaters, boots, woolens
  • Transitional – camisoles, t-shirts and other items that can be layered or worn alone
  • Spring/Summer – Shorts, lightweight cottons, etc
• Pack the Spring/Summer items in appropriate storage containers and store in a dark, cool and dry area. They are clothing so feel free to store them in the closet if you have the space.

Now, evaluate your space.

Count how many of each item you have. How many shirts, pants, sweaters, boots, shoes, etc. Map out your closet. Consider folding sweaters and placing on a shelf rather than stuffing them into a drawer or – gasp! – hanging them in the closet. Consider where your shoes should go. Back on the floor or in a shoe rack or shoe shelf.

If this step seems daunting or you determine that you really need a closet organizer, call one of the space designers at Closet Tailors. They’ll plan a space to fit your needs and will adjust to your seasonal wardrobe! If you have an impressive shoe collection, Closet Tailors can design a storage solution that will showcase it beautifully. If sweaters are your thing, we’ll design shelving that will allow you to see all your treasures. The more you see them, the more likely you are to wear them. Invaluable extras are available, too. Coordinate your outfit the night before and hang it from a valet rod. Store belts and ties on appropriate racks. Add tilt-out hamper bins for whites and darks, and make laundry day less of a chore.

Once you have the right storage solution in place, put your seasonal wardrobe back.
Enjoy the satisfaction of your perfectly organized closet!