How to Organize your Wardrobe

Check out this extremely helpful post (to finally organize your wardrobe- once & for all!) from our fabulous Australian distributor Adele Blair. 

12 Steps to Organizing your Wardrobe

Never have anything to wear?  Do you have a wardrobe overflowing with clothes dating back to 1976 but don’t know how to start getting it organized and move it into the 21st Century? 

Try these 12 Steps to Organizing Your Wardrobe.

Step 1         Set aside 4 hours (minimum) to do this project with no interruptions. Put on some very comfy clothes and have a full length mirror handy.

Step 2     Make sure you have some strong garbage bags (for items to throw out or donate to charity), some good quality coat hangers (no wire ones).

Flip Tip:

Use large green garbage bags for rubbish and perhaps white garbage bags for donation, will help you at the end of the project know which bags are which!

Step 3         Set a goal of how much you want to reduce your wardrobe by, for example 50%.  This goal will keep you focussed and know what you are aiming for.  Keep reminding yourself of your goal like a mantra throughout the project.

Step 4     Take everything out of your wardrobe, cupboard, drawers, boxes and put them onto your bed.

Step 5     Pick up the first item you see (we are doing this one thing at a time), you are not to let go of this item until you have made a clear decision on it.  How to decide?

·         How does it make you feel when you see it?

·         How does it make you feel when you put it on?

·         Does it fit?

·         Does it really suit my body shape?

·         Is it worn out or need repair?

·         Do I have a similar item that I like better?

·         Have I worn it in the last 12 months?

·         Does it suit my current lifestyle?

Flip Tip:

My dear friends at Penny’s Boutique in Brisbane have what they call the “Smile Test”; if you put something on and it makes you smile, then chances are you should keep it!!

Step 6     Move the item to one of the following categories

·         Keep

·         Throw away – Garbage Bag

·         Donate - Garbage Bag

·         Mend – into a shopping/carry bag

·         Dry Cleaning – into a separate shopping/carry bag

Flip Tip:

Mending – make sure the item is worth mending? Is the garment still in good condition?  Would it be cheaper to replace it? Or even have it replicated by a dressmaker?

Step 7         For items you want to keep, carefully hang them on a good quality hanger and place in your wardrobe with the hanger facing inwards, ie the hook goes around the back of the pole.

Flip Tip

In 12 months see how many hangers are still facing this way, that will let you know what garments you haven’t worn in the last year and can be reconsidered for inclusion in your next year’s wardrobe

Step 8     Repeat this process until all items have been sorted into the categories and neatly hung in your wardrobe or folded in your shelves/drawers..

Step 9     Hang all your clothes in groups, for example, all your tops together, all your trousers, skirts, dresses together so they can be easily found when getting ready each day.  This will also give you an overview of what items you have, you may find you have 5 black T-Shirts when you thought you only had one, equally you will be able to spot any gaps in your wardrobe; you may have donated all your black trousers and need to buy another pair.

Step 10            Remove items for donation, rubbish, mending or dry cleaning immediately.  Sooner removed, sooner forgotten!  And for the mending and dry cleaning, sooner returned so you can enjoy wearing them again!

Flip Tip

To fold a top like a pro, you must get a FlipFOLD, it goes without waying!.  The only way to quickly fold all your clothing, to uniform size in less than 5 seconds every time

Step 11     Make a list of items that you need to replace (ie the gaps in your wardrobe) and keep it in your handbag/wallet for when you are out shopping, you never know when you might spot the item on sale.  Also you can refer to the list when you are tempted to buy clothing – stick to the list items first!

Flip Tip

When considering an item for charity, ask you self “would you ask a friend to pay you $5 for it”, if the answer is no then it should be thrown out.  Don’t use charity as a dumping ground, remember people who ask for charity also have dignity.

Step 12     Reward yourself with a new item for your wardrobe – remember don’t buy anything you already have, and if you do buy something you already have, make sure you remove the old item and either donate or throw away!

Flip Tip

Repeat this same process for your shoes, underwear and accessories! Your wardrobe will be organized in no time

Adele Blair

Fellow FlipChick!

www.flipfold.com.au

Happy Folding! 

The FlipFold Team