09 Mar Detox Your Closet & Prepare for Spring
Spring is here, and it’s the same old story: you have a closet full of clothes but nothing to wear. Spring cleaning is calling your name and will pester you until that dress you “just might wear one day” has been donated. It’s time for a proper closet cleanse! How do you tackle such an overwhelming task? Per usual, Front Door Fashion style experts are here to help.
A closet cleanse, while tedious, is a necessary chore for peace of mind and essential for building a wardrobe you’ll actually wear. Like the great Marie Kondo says, “The space in which we live should be for the person we are becoming now, not for the person we were in the past.” We believe the same is true for your clothes. With these three steps and a little help from your FDF Stylist, you’ll be well on your way to a closet that works for you.
1. Declutter & Get Organized
“Keep only those things that speak to your heart. Then take the plunge and discard all the rest.”
― Marie Kondō, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing
If you haven’t read the book The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, reading this pre-closet cleanse would be ideal as it’s a great way to jump-start your organization process. Take note from the queen of clean and keep only pieces that bring you joy! We start this process by pulling everything out of your closet and examining each piece. Ask yourself these five questions:
- Does it fit?
- How many times have I worn this in the last 12 months and will I wear it again?
- Do I feel confident when I wear this?
- Is this damaged, and if so, will I actually get it repaired?
- If I was shopping right now would I buy this?
If you answered positively to these questions, keep it! If the answers are negative, put it in the donation pile and move on knowing that someone less fortunate can actually use what you no longer need.
Once you have your kept items, it’s time for organization! The Container Store and Ikea are great places to find closet organization racks, shelves, and bins. Don’t have the time to shop for or install these yourself? Hire a professional organizer to install a closet organization system. Store away your out of season pieces in bins, and hang your most used and favorite items on hangers. Front Door Fashion recommends slim velvet hangers because they take up less room in the closet (allowing for more clothes!) and also prevent clothing from slipping off the hanger. When you are looking at the current season organized by category (blouses, jackets, dresses, skirts, pants), and by color within the category, it is much easier to see what you own and what you want to wear.
Image via The Container Store
2. Invest in Quality Essentials
Are you missing key pieces that could elevate your look? We’re referring to quality investment pieces that are fundamental in getting dressed. An investment piece is meant to last and grow with your wardrobe. It seems obvious, but it’s worth mentioning that investment pieces are worth investing in since these staples should last you years. These pieces aren’t going in and out of style, so finding quality here will more than pay for itself in the long run.
A. Premium Denim
The first place to invest is denim. Front Door Fashion frequently has clients who haven’t been taught the value of investment denim yet. Shelling out a little more for premium denim brands such as Citizens of Humanity or Parker Smith means having jeans that should last you many years. When adding investment denim into your wardrobe, it’s important to have variety. White denim, a light wash, and a mid wash are great options for spring. A dark wash or black denim is perfect for some business casual workplaces.
B. Quality Button Ups & Pencil Skirts
A quality button up that fits properly is a must for any woman. It’s a classic style that is always on trend. Dress it up with slacks or a skirt for a go-to work ensemble or create a casual look by pairing it with denim. Fit Tip: A button-up with stretch is great for a fitted look that won’t gape at the bust. A pencil skirt is another classic style that’s always in-style. An investment skirt, like the one here from Vince, won’t pill or fade and has a figure flattering wide elastic waistband that provides all-day comfort.
c. An All-Weather Jacket
How do you look stylish and chic when it’s pouring rain outside? Rain, sleet or shine, an all-weather classic jacket is the solution to your weather woes. We love this style from Tart with a built-in hood hidden in the zipper collar. For spring outerwear we love the white or navy options. For an edgier and more casual look, go for the camo jacket and pair with denim.
3. Stay Styled & up to Date
To avoid falling into the nothing-to-wear rut again, stay stylish with a coordinated color palette. A second option to organizing a closet by category is to group your wardrobe pieces by collection. A clothing “collection” is a core group of five to eight pieces that work together to form multiple outfits. A typical collection might contain a tweed blazer, a coordinating navy skirt, navy dress slacks, dark blue jeans, a T-shirt and an ivory blouse. Dress it up and you have a suit look with blazer, skirt and blouse. Dress it down with the T-shirt and jeans and toss the blazer over your shoulders for a casual outfit. All of these items have the same core colors and will mix and match with ease.
Front Door Fashion stylists create mix and match options within each box sent to our clients. Keep the outfit notes provided by your stylist and tape them or hang them in your closet so you have a cheat sheet when dressing. And, if you ever need to update your outfits your stylist is just a phone call away!
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