I’ve been slightly obsessed with organizing my closet/wardrobe for over the past two years. Through some deliberate organizing and purging, I’ve successfully been able to create two (working) seasonal capsule wardrobes: spring/summer and fall/winter. The best part? The capsules are working!!!
Streamlining my closet has been a game changer. So much, that now I rarely find myself saying, “I don’t have a thing to wear!”
Due to my obsession with my closet and the goal of minimizing what I own, I knew I wanted to read a book that I had picked up recently from a sharing library. The book is called “I Don’t Have A Thing Wear – The Psychology of your Closet” by Judie Taggart and Jackie Walker (affiliate link).
In reading this book I learned why organizing one’s wardrobe can be so overwhelming. Why you and I, can all too often find ourselves standing in front of our closest with feelings of frustration. Why we can easily look like this poor lady on the cover. Bless her.
I’m going to highlight a few of my personal takeaways from this book, in hopes that these tidbits will encourage you as you organize your own wardrobe. These are great tips!
Takeaway #1 – Determine your Circle of Life
They suggest listing all of your different life activities (things like work, exercise, social, home etc.) and noting the amount of hours per week that you spend on each activity. Then taking that list and drawing a circle on a piece of paper. Using your different activities, divide them into percentages (like slices of a pie) and drawn your circle of your life. (For example: 30% exercise, 40% work, 20% social, 10% home/casual.) Look at what your true clothing needs are based on your percentages of real life living. Then use this as a tool to plan how you shop and how you maintain what you keep in your wardrobe.
Takeaway #2 – Ditch your “Someday” Clothes
Life is full of changes, from geography changes to job changes to weight changes. Often you forget to change with the change. You hang on to things that you think you’ll possibly need again, “someday.” While there are probably some things you should actually hold on to, I’m sure there are many items that you really need to part with, once and for all. Be honest with yourself. Or get a good friend who will be really honest with you. Dress for your life – today.
Takeaway #3 – Discover your Fashion Personality
This is fun! I had never really thought much about my fashion personality, it sounds so fancy. But I think it’s important and also very interesting. When you really know what you like to wear and what you feel good wearing, you’ll exude confidence. When your inside matches up with your outside, you’ll experience more harmony.
Here (according to the book) are the seven dominant types of fashion personalities, and most women will have a combination of two types.
- The Classic – Timeless, Conservative, Preppy
- The Natural – Direct, Unpretentious, Low-Maintenance
- The Modernist – Updated, Sleek, Sophisticated
- The Romantic – Traditional, Nostalgic, Ladylike
- Fashion Trend Tracker – on the Cutting Edge
- Mood Dresser – Bohemian, Creative, Artistic
- Dramatic Women – Ready for Their Close-up
I’m obviously the Fashion Trend Tracker, ha! In truth, I’m probably a combination of Natural and Modernist.
How can you take these three takeaways and incorporate them in your wardrobe today? Does your closet reflect your fashion personality? How about the percentages, do your life percentages match your clothing percentages? And finally, are you dressing for your life today and not the “someday?”
Happy Organizing!!!
