reset and refresh with a closet cleanse | Style At A Certain Age

2. have i followed the ‘one year rule’? if i haven’t worn it in the past year, it’s time to let it go. (ruthless, i know.)

3. is this item damaged, e.g., moth holes, broken zippers, pilling, or missing buttons? or can it be repaired? having a great seamstress and shoe cobbler is a must.

if the answer is ‘no’ to any of the above questions, then it’s time to part ways. divide your clothes into three piles. sell, donate, and trash.

sell

the items that make it to your sell pile are the ones that are either currently in style or gently used. it could even be a pair of brand new to-die-for jeans that were bought with the goal of losing five pounds. sigh. but take heart.  these clothing items have the potential to make you a profit with little effort thanks to an emerging online marketplace for buying and selling clothes.

there are several marketplaces to choose from, all of which have a streamlined experience that makes it possible to list items, ship them out, and earn money or credit toward on-site purchases while sipping in your pajamas. how’s that for convenience? check out opens in a new windowthredUP.

charity

if by chance some of your unwanted items are still in good condition, consider donating them to a good cause. of course, Goodwill Industries and Salvation Army are always good reputable choices for your orphaned clothes. but there are other organizations that deserve and appreciate your contributions as well. personally, i love and support opens in a new windowDress for Success—a non-profit organization that addresses and fulfills the needs of low-income women who have left welfare and are interfacing with the challenges of the workforce.

but also consider local homeless shelters, specifically ones that cater to battered women.  blogger opens in a new windowThe Midlife Fashionista opened a non-profit in the greater Boston area called  opens in a new windowUncommon Threads.  its mission is to empower women. trust me on this:  it’s easier to let go of clothing when you know it is going to someone in need.

rubbish

now onto the hard part.  those items that can’t be repaired or have significant wear-and-tear must be tossed into the rubbish bin. i know it’s hard to say goodbye to your beloved LBD or your favorite graphic tee, but don’t let your emotions get the better of you. it must be thrown away. i repeat, the item must be thrown away.

it might take more than one try to get into the swing of downsizing your wardrobe, but the reward is a streamlined closet that makes getting dressed in the morning just that much easier, and maybe even fun. but you have to know what you own is working for you.  after the closet purge is completed, it’s time to organize what’s left. 

step 3

once your reset and refresh with a closet cleanse is complete, it’s time to organize the remainder.  

by category.

organize clothes by category—skirts, pants, sweaters, blouses, jeans—and arrange pieces by item and color so you can see exactly what you own. the same holds true for shoes. hang sleeveless dresses or shirts first, short sleeves second, and then long sleeves.

stack foldables.

jeans, sweaters, scarves, lingerie are all items that I fold then stack on the shelf. arrange opens in a new windowcedar strips or mothballs on your shelves to prevent moths from snacking on your cashmere or wool sweaters. jeans can be folded lengthwise and layered one on top of the other.  same for chinos and leather leggings too.

lingerie is organized by color, size, and type. these are folded and tucked inside opens in a new window lingerie storage units. place a opens in a new windowlinen sachet inside for a special treat.

upgrade your hangers.

who else remembers the movie line, “no wire hangers!” well, we don’t have to be quite as obsessed as Joan Crawford, but i would advise upgrading your closet hangers. it’s a simple style trick that will extend the life of your clothes. and it gives uniformity. whether you prefer thin opens in a new windowvelvet hangers or  opens in a new windowwood hangers, there is a hanger for you. don’t forget space-saving stackable opens in a new window skirt or opens in a new windowpant hangers. 

this post has been updated 2021