We all go through phases where we want to switch up our style, and feel like we need a shopping haul to transform our tired wardrobes. Well, sometimes the best place to start that shopping trip is in your own closet! Right now, as we’re all dressing more casually in our daily routines, and a trip to your favorite boutique maybe isn’t an option, it’s the perfect time to rediscover your own wardrobe! Often, I find clients have many pieces hanging in their closets they’ve completely forgotten about, or some they’ve set aside for alterations and never followed through.

To help us all make better decisions about organizing our clothes and deciding which pieces we can / should give new life, I decided to consult with a couple of very talented professionals! First, a native Californian, Julia started Pinsky Project after 15 years in the fashion industry in New York City. Julia and her team offer comprehensive services to reorganize your home, work, and lifestyle—striving to help her clients refine their surroundings and enjoy more efficient, ordered, and all-round happy lives. I also reached out to my personal tailor, Marina Mezhiritsky of Marina’s Alterations on Melrose — Marina is a master tailor who will take on any challenge when it comes to altering high-end pieces. I wanted to get her take on the ways we can all rethink the pieces in our wardrobes, and which items we should consider freshening up with a facelift when shopping our own closets!

First, Julia confirms something I try to hit home with clients ALWAYS — the importance of purging items from your closet regularly:

“The number one rule of getting organized is making sure that everything you own has a home and is visible.  Start by discarding what you don't love.

It is important to get to know the client and their lifestyle in order to streamline the closet and make the most efficient use of the space.” 

Julia Pinsky

“Color coordinating always makes a huge impact.  It's also important to categorize by style / occasion to ensure that your weekend tees aren't mixed in with your ballgowns.  Hangers are often overlooked.. many times clients have mismatched hangers, which can be distracting.  When you have matching hangers, it brings cohesion to the closet and draws your attention to the clothing.”

Julia Pinsky

So many clients tell us “If I can’t see it in my closet, I forget I have it, and I won’t wear it!” When asked how we can keep track of the items in our closet that we can’t see, Julia offers the following solutions!:

“Custom labels for bins, baskets, and inside drawers always help keep everything in its designated place.  Photo labels are another great trick to identifying the contents in the containers.”

Julia Pinsky

 “Lighting is an essential upgrade to any closet.  The majority of closets usually have builder-grade overhead lighting that is either too harsh or simply not illuminating the inventory.  Strategic lighting under shelves, for example, will make a world of difference, visually.

Also, custom drawer inserts help keep intimates, jewelry, and other accessories super organized.  This way, your valuables will remain protected.”

Julia Pinsky

 And perhaps the most critical piece of advice:

“Once everything in your closet has a place, always return your items to its designated "home" after wearing.”

Julia Pinsky

Consistency really is key when it comes to keeping a clutter-free closet! You have to design a system that works for you, so that you can maintain it after the professionals leave. The same is true for purging, the more diligent you are about getting rid of the items you aren’t wearing, the more regularly you will find new pieces you’ve forgotten in your wardrobe and make use of them!

Now the question is, once you’ve found all these hidden treasures, what can you do with them?! This is where having a good tailor can completely transform your tired wardrobe. On deciding which pieces to save, Marina offers the following advice:

“It’s personal for everyone. Not everyone can wear the same stuff, so when you’re deciding what to tailor you have to think about how you want to wear it. Some things just don’t look good on people, and they should get rid of them! It’s not about what fits your body, because the fit can always be changed. It’s a question of ‘Does this look good on you?’”

Marina Mezhiritsky

In regards to materials, don’t fret if the designer pieces you want to freshen up are a delicate or unusual material. Sometimes, these may be the ones most worth saving!

“I’m a professional, I can alter anything. I’m good on anything. If I’m a chef, that doesn’t mean I just want to flip burgers, I want to create a dish. I like working on couture pieces, well-made clothing. In working with couture stuff, you see the way it’s made and you enjoy working with it!”

Marina Mezhiritsky

When asked which pieces aren’t worth the time or money to alter, she offers the following:

“Leather is often expensive to alter and very difficult to work with. Sometimes double the price…Also I don’t really do jeans. Jeans aren’t my specialty, and denim is difficult to work with. But there is a place in LA called Denim Revival and they’ll do anything to jeans!”

Marina Mezhiritsky

Making time to take stock of your closet and create a system for organizing will drastically improve the overall experience of putting together an outfit, and in the process you’re sure to discover a few forgotten favorites! With a few organizational tricks and simple closet upgrades, you too can feel like you’re shopping in your closet every day!