Fall is here! Many may argue with us Floridians that we don’t have season changes, but based on my own personal wardrobe shift, I would certainly beg to differ. Without doubt, we have experienced some crisper mornings and I have been super thrilled to layer with my open stitched cardigans and even pull the scarf box out from the back of the closet.
Speaking of closets and cooler weather, isn’t it about time you get yours cleaned, organized and ready for the new season? This is perfect timing to make some space for your new holiday dresses, bouclésweaters and oh so cute boots! This month’s issue of AS*I*BE is focused on family so why not use this activity, which some may view as a burdensome task and turn it into a fun, family affair? That’s right! Closet organization can be fun and a way to spend a Saturday or Sunday with your family right in your home. Additionally, you can donate your unwanted items to a local charity (I will list some at the bottom of this article) and know you and your family are helping another family in need.
I know what you’re thinking, “yeah right, cleaning out your closet is fun?” I am here to tell you that yes, it can be! If approached with the right attitude and knowing the relief you will have parting with your less than “in-style” pieces, all the while supporting a local charity, you will absolutely enjoy this effort together as a family. And just think of the new space you will have for some new oh-so-cute winter clothing!
How to get started with this undertaking? I’m glad you asked. Freeway Fashion is here once again with some tips and guidelines for the AS*I*BE reader!
- Get together with your family and select a date you all agree on as your closet organization day. Block the entire morning and afternoon for this activity giving yourselves a set amount of time (i.e., four hours) as this will give you a time limit to follow and a bit of structure for the day. Be sure everyone commits!
- Start your closet organization day with an energy-boosting family breakfast: (Suggestions: Fresh fruit, yogurt and granola, scrambled egg-whites with turkey bacon or oatmeal with low fat milk and fresh blueberries)
- After breakfast, everyone breaks off into their own designated territories. Each person is given five boxes with the following labels: "Keep," "Donate," "Trash," "Maybe," and “Archive” then follow these rules below:
- Keep: Keep your essentials, the clothes that make you feel good, the clothes that have worked for you over and over--as long as they're in good condition, still fit, and don't look dated.
- Donate: If you're the same size and haven't worn something in a year or more (some recommend two years), plan to give it away--unless it's eveningwear. An evening outfit or separates that look and feel great can be worn for years.
- Trash: Throw out clothes that aren't fit to donate (If we’re being honest, you probably never should have purchased that piece in the first place.) Keep a few things for dirty jobs like gardening, painting.
- Maybe: This box is for the pants that are just a little too tight or the article of clothing you got on sale but still haven’t worn because the occasion hasn’t come around or perhaps you just never bothered to figure out what to wear with it. At the end of the day, seal this box and put it somewhere else, away from your closet. Anything you don't miss after four months should be given away.
- Archive: If you're not wearing an item but want to save it, it shouldn't be in your closet. After all, this is a closet--not a diary. Gather anything you want to save for sentimental reasons, such as your son’s or daughter’s sport uniform from the spring or summer seasons. This box is your time capsule. Make sure these clothes are clean, and pack them away in archival quality boxes with layers of tissue paper and cedar blocks or chips. Store the box in a cool, dry place to protect your clothes.
- After a couple of hours, take a break and spend some family lunchtime together. You will be amazed (more so slightly amused and quite possibly speechless if you have teenagers) at the stories you hear from what some of your family members have found burrowed deep in the corners of their closets.
- After lunch, get back to work until everyone is finished. Music playing is encouraged and someone (more than likely, mom) should be in charge to make “walk-throughs” to be sure everyone is on task and moving swiftly to meet your designated timeline for the day.
Once you've completed these steps, look over your keepers again and see how they coordinate with one another. If one piece doesn't fit with anything else, donate it. (Shopping to find things to go with it will recreate the problem you just finished solving--your wardrobe should be a coherent, cohesive unit. It's great to have pieces that express different aspects of your personality, but they still should all fit!).
Now make a list of things you need, like a new camisole for a favorite suit, or a new stylish boyfriend shirt to replace the out of date shorter button-down you just got rid of. Put the keepers back in your closet and revel in all your new space--and in being able to see your clothes. Trust me, you are going to immensely enjoy getting dressed the next day; it will be so much easier and faster. And guess what else? Now you get to go shopping as a family!
Happy cleaning, organizing, donating and shopping, AS*I*BE readers! And remember, if you aren’t up to doing this task alone, Freeway Fashion offers professional closet organization! Just send an email to consultant@freewayfashion.com.
A list of local charity organizations you can donate your unwanted articles of clothing to:
Ohana Foundation for Higher Education, www.ohanafoundationforhighereducation.org
Dress for Success Tampa Bay, www.dressforsuccess.org
The Salvation Army, www.salvationarmysouth.org
Goodwill, www.goodwill-suncoast.org
* Founder of Freeway Fashion, Laura Hunt is a Fashion Stylist, Image Consultant and Fashion News Reporter. She is also the Editor in Chief of Diva Drive, an online fashion news blog. To contact Laura, send an email to laura@freewayfashion.com.
