Starting fresh seems to be a common theme with every new year. Clearing out anything unnecessary, neglected or excessive can open up opportunity for things that are fulfilling, adored, and inspire joy. Our closets are no exception to this rule. Many of our customers have been inspired by Marie Kondo, author of The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up. She takes you through the emotional “letting go” of the unnecessary. If you’ve not read her book and want to jump in right away, we’ve compiled some of our favorite ways to jumpstart the process.
Get Excited!
If you haven't heard, we are huge Pintrest fans around here! We've perused some of our favorite blogs and found lots of pretty pictures to share with you. Consider it motivation for visual learners!https://www.pinterest.com/JADdesigns1/closet-inspiration/
Replace Worn Out Staples
Once you're feeling motivated, one of the easiest things to start with letting go of are those ratty t-shirts and holey leggings hanging together with a thread of elastic. Now here’s a little Jill honesty for you. The shirt that you’re hanging on to with the holes down the front, (that you think nobody sees because you always wear something over it)? We see the holes, and they are distracting us from the beautiful woman inside the shirt. The same goes with your leggings that are too comfy to part with. When your seat is thread bare, it makes a statement, (with an exclamation point). These are affordable items to replace with clean, unspotted, better fitting versions. As you clear these items, keep a list of the colors and styles you wear most often and replace those first.
http://www.jillalexanderdesigns.com/collections/basics
Be Your Own Best Friend
Your bestie would never lie to you, so begin with that honesty. As you survey your items, really consider the following things:
- How does it fit? Is it comfortable for the first hour, and then do you dash home to change on the day you wear it?
- When was the last time you wore it? One trick you can use is the reverse hanger method. At the beginning of the year, turn all of your hangers so that they hang on the backside of your pole. As you wear your items, return them to your closet hanging on the front of your pole. After a little while, you’ll begin to see the things you never wear. If you haven’t worn it in the last year, out it goes!
(Do not talk to me about the jeans that used to fit, and you’re using as motivation to lose weight. It’s not motivation, it’s punishment. When you accomplish a goal like losing a few pounds, reward yourself with something new, and from this decade).
Get Help!
If all else fails (or you're just in need of a final push), it's always best to rely on an expert. Hiring a stylist or an organizer can be scary, but, you’re not going to show them anything they haven’t seen before. One of our favorite local stylists, Tina Brown of Ilka Style in Santa Cruz, CA, listens to the needs of her customers and makes sensitive suggestions. Always ask for professional references when choosing a stylist as you want someone who you feel comfortable communicating with.
Be sure to share pics of before and after with us on Instagram, Facebook, Pintrest or Twitter.
We'd love to see what you come up with!