Beyond Words

I recently saw an online speaker say “The way your closet is organized is one of the biggest indicators of your current mind frame.” Hmmmmm. Let me think about that for a bit. Is that true for me and my closet? Is it true in general? Let’s open the door and have a look see.

My closet. I love it. And yes, if you know me at all you’re probably guessing it’s uber organized. And it is. I’ve organized it by short sleeve tops, long sleeve tops, dressy tops, dresses, golf clothes, fall/winter tops, hoodies, pants, leggings, vests and blazers, and longer wraps and sweaters. I also have drawers for undies and sweaters. My shoes? Cubbies and shelves. Above all of this is everything from purses, lots of ball caps and visors, small totes, luggage, bedding, gift wrapping items, and a whole slew of miscellaneous stuff. It’s all good, right?

Wrong.

I have too much of everything and I know it. It’s just hard to part with stuff I still like but probably don’t need or wear. As much as I hate to admit it, maybe I could stand a closet makeover. That’s where the Closet Curator can help and who ironically spoke recently at my neighborhood ladies organization monthly meeting.

Closet Curator

Natalie Frazier is a wardrobe stylist and organizer and offers personal styling services that include any and everything that relates to your closet and the clothes in it. Her goal is to show you how to define your personal style, refine your wardrobe, and love the way you look. Sounds like a career I should have considered considering I’m extremely organized and I love fashion. But I digress…

Meeting attendees learned all about Frazier’s “pile system” as she systematically goes trough a client’s wardrobe and then organizes what is left in a way that best suits the client and the space available, all-in hopes of making getting dressed easier. The results are an organized wardrobe that fits your lifestyle and goals; increased knowledge of your own style, shopping habits, and body shape; and a customized list of essentials currently missing in your wardrobe. Sign me up, right?!

If you open your closet full of clothes and often think “I have nothing to wear” or if you’re wondering if you’re in need of any or all of the above services, Frazier suggests asking yourself the following:

• Do you have a closet full of clothes but often feel like you have nothing to wear?
• Do you long to be excited about going to your closet and choosing an outfit?
• Do you want to get more use out the clothes you own?
• Do you want to spend less time shopping for clothes and outfits?
• Do you want to look and feel great and get more compliments on the outfits you wear?

I answer “yes” to some of those but not all. My problem is I have clothes that I know I’ll probably never wear but just can’t get myself to get rid of. Some of them are former work clothes that I still love but really don’t have a need for. Others are too many special occasion dresses, blouses, and pants that I rarely choose over other similar items or worse…buy new ones for that special occasion. I have clothes that’s too big or too small and others that just don’t make the cut when getting dressed but that I do really like. I guess I need to get out more so I can wear it all!

That’s not gonna happen.

Enter Courtney Carver. I discovered Carver years ago when I read her book “Soulful Simplicity.” It’s still one of my favorite reads of all time. Carver also helms the “Be More with Less” minimalist lifestyle blog that encourages living with less clutter, busyness, and stress in order to simplify your life so you can enjoy it more and ultimately discover joy in less. I love her ideas even though I find many of them difficult to implement.

I’m also very hesitant to implement her fashion challenge called “Project 333” that invites you to dress with 33 items or less for three months. My first reaction is “whaaaaaat?!”, but when I honestly think about it, since the lockdown, I pretty much wear the same things every day with the random “going out” or travel items brought into the picture. Still; the challenge feels very challenging.

Seeing as I love clothes and love organizing, Carver’s reminder that “less stuff equals less organizing” hits encouraging. But, as with all things, maybe it’s best to start small. Carver recently posted “Three Things to Remove from Your Closet” and I found her suggestions possibly do-able:

Clothes that don’t fit your body. Remove clothes that don’t fit your body; your body today. Be comfortable in your clothes!

Clothes that don’t fit your lifestyle. (Raising my hand on this one!) Maybe you bought them for a lifestyle you used to have or one you hoped to have. You aren’t wearing those items now and they’re just taking up space and attention. Let them go and enjoy the life you have now. (Amen!)

Clothes that make you feel sad or bad for any reason. If you paid too much for something but never wear it, that might make you feel guilty. If someone gifted you a hideous sweater and you love them but not the sweater, you may feel bad about not wearing it. Maybe someone gave you something but that someone is no longer a positive influence in your life or even worse, hurt you. Let it go.

Carver also offers a much more extensive list that I’m sure many of you will appreciate:

33 items to remove from your closet

1. That formal outfit (bridesmaid dress) you bought for one occasion promising to wear it over and over again.
2. Those super cute shoes that you can’t walk in.
3. Clothes with sentimental value that don’t fit. Take a picture.
4. Sentimental items that make you sad.
5. The warm coat you don’t wear. Someone needs it more than you.
6. Your ex-anyone’s anything.
7. Clothes you are saving for your children.
8. Aspirational items. AKA things you would never wear in your real life.
9. Items that need to go to the dry cleaner that never get to the dry cleaner.
10. Items that need to go to the tailor that never get to the tailor.
11. Clothes that don’t belong to you. Give them back.
12. Christmas sweaters that you don’t even wear to the Christmas sweater party anymore.
13. Things that other people bought for you but you wouldn’t enjoy wearing.
14. Pieces you can see through unintentionally.
15. Clothing or shoes that leave a mark or blister.
16. Anything you have to squeeze in to or items that make you want to change your body. Change your clothes instead.
17. Expensive things. Just because you spent a lot on it doesn’t mean you have to keep it forever.
18. Clothes you bought on vacation that you won’t wear where you live.
19. Anything with a stain that won’t come out.
20. Things with rips or holes that aren’t supposed to be there.
21. Extra purses and handbags.
22. Clothing that irritates your skin.
23. Things that don’t fit your body.
24. Things that don’t fit your lifestyle.
25. Sequins and sparkles if you prefer simple and subtle.
26. Simple and subtle if you prefer sequins and sparkles.
27. That shirt you bought in every color even though you always wear the black one.
28. Stuff with price tags still attached.
29. Clothes that make you feel bad for any reason.
30. Items you bought because they were “your color” and you hate that color.
31. Anything you haven’t worn in more than 3 years.
32. Something you feel guilty about letting go of. When you let go, the guilt will go with it.
33. Anything already in the donation bag. It’s time to let go.

I’m wondering if you see yourself in any of them as I do. Numbers 2, 5, 16, 18, 21, 23, 24, and 31 have my name all over them but don’t even think about me getting rid of number 25. I love sequins and glittery things but yes, I don’t wear all of them often. Still, hands off my sparkle.

In the end, I will try my hardest to purge and pile but will ultimately live by the wise words my daughter told me: “Wear what makes you feel pretty.” Well said my love; well said.