NEW YEAR'S CLOSET TIPS

COVER IMAGE COURTESY OF JAG_CZ/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

Did you know that by the second week in January more than 30% of people who made New Year’s resolutions have already abandoned them? Eek! If you resolved to take your closet from drab to fab in 2017, I’m here to help you succeed and maintain a beautiful place for your clothes and accessories all year long. Here are my five tips to creating a clean closet in the New Year.

1. PURGE

Nothing feels better than letting go of the old and welcoming in the new at the start of a fresh year. When it comes to your closet, letting go of the old and detaching from items that you share an emotional connection with isn’t always easy. So, there are a few questions I suggest you ask yourself: “Have I worn this in the last six months?” “Will I wear this in the next six months?” “Do I have at least three items I can wear it with?” “Is it flattering / does it make me feel good when I wear it?” If the answer to any of these is “no,” get rid of it. Chances are, you won’t even notice if it’s gone. And, the best part? It opens up room for new pieces!

In this clip from 'Million Dollar Closets' Lisa guides Whitney Port through the process of purging unused items from her wardrobe.

2. ORGANIZE

If the thought of organizing your closet feels overwhelming, work in sections to make it more manageable. Since many people resolve to workout more or focus on health in a New Year, I recommend starting with your exercise essentials to help you stay motivated to meet your goals. Organizing items by color creates a strong visual appeal and also allows for easy usability. After all, you want to break a sweat working out, not looking for your favorite pair of Lululemons.

3. TAILOR

Often we don’t wear pieces in our closet because we don’t love the way they fit. Well, guess what? There’s an easy fix and it’s called a tailor. Take all the those pieces you’ve had hanging around that need a nip, tuck, button, or hem and put them in a bag or hamper. By removing them from your closet rack, you’ll ensure they don’t sit around for another year going unworn. You can take the pieces that need to be altered at your leisure or have a seamstress come directly to you with services like Air Tailor.

4. CARE

How you care for your clothes is as important as how you wear them -- well, almost. To get longevity out of your most prized pieces I recommend investing in some storage essentials, like quality hangers, purse pillows, and shoe inserts. These will ensure your favorite items stay organized and looking their best...beyond mid-January.  

5. WEAR

Now that the hard part’s over, wear your clothes! Enjoy reviving those pieces you forgot you had and those that feel like new now that they’ve received a little TLC from the tailor. And, don’t be afraid to get creative with your outfits -- make a point to rock that jumpsuit or patterned shoe you hesitated to wear last year!  With these simple and effective closet organization hacks now in your (designer) toolbox, you can keep your closet looking perfectly pristine all year long.