By Elizabeth Wheless
Ever find yourself staring at your closet, feeling like you have nothing to wear? Or perhaps you feel like you constantly gravitate towards the same five items? In the spirit of spring cleaning, lets discuss ways to refresh your closet and infuse it with excitement this spring!
Shopping; a therapeutic, but expensive hobby. In the spirit of refreshing your wardrobe, think about shopping from your own closet. Instead of simply cleaning out the clutter, make a fun shopping day out of organization. Look for pieces that you haven’t worn in awhile or try to style outfits in ways you haven’t in the past. Create a few outfit options for each piece of clothing and consider taking polaroids or making an album on your phone of outfit pictures for future inspiration. Remember that the pieces you own filled you with excitement when you first purchased them, so shopping in your own wardrobe is about simply reigniting your enthusiasm for these pieces.
Organization is key. Not only is an organized closet aesthetically pleasing, but by having all of your items in a certain place you can be more efficient while getting dressed or putting looks together. Take the afternoon to organize your closet – this could be by color or category. Organization and closet shopping don’t have to be a solo activity! Invite your most stylish friends to bounce ideas off of, and maybe even do a clothing swap.
A tip is to transition your closet with the seasons, so can enjoy the feeling of a fresh wardrobe every few months. Keep your staples, but store either your winter or summer items in the back or a separate space when they aren’t in season. Although it can be a pain, try everything on. It’s important to have clothes that are flattering and make you feel confident. As you organize, consider giving back by donating items that no longer fit to a local clothing drive, or even earn a few extra dollars by selling them.
One of my favorite tricks for organizing or planning outfits is a rolling clothing rack. I have a few racks from Amazon that fold down when you aren’t using them, making them super convenient to store. Having a styling rack allows you to see your pieces together and also provides extra hanging storage. I have found them most useful when packing for trips or when planning my outfits for a busy week of events.
I am currently reading Wear it Well: Reclaim your Closet & Discover the Joy of Getting Dressed by Allison Bornstein, which talks about personal style and provides a guide to refreshing your wardrobe. This and other styling resources, like the app WearTracker, are great first steps if you don’t know how to start your organization journey. Take your closet refresh as a time to be mindful of your future purchases and whether or not they will complement your current pieces. You don’t need to hop on every trend or keep buying random items simply because you saw it on social media. The most important thing to keep in mind is staying true to your personal style and what makes you feel confident. Happy spring cleaning!
Cover graphic by Elizabeth Wheless.
