A Closet Revamp!

• tidy and sort making everything visible

• decide what works for you and your lifestyle

• decide what fits, what you will happily wear

• try on, appraise and decide whether it's IN, OUT or needs work! 

• DON'T get rid of anything 'til you're very sure!

• DON'T spend longer than an hour or two over your closet revamp or you'll get completely fed up! There's always another time! 

It's easier if you know your best colors, but even if you don't take color into account, you can work wonders with what you've got!

If you're short of closet space decide how you can add space or streamline. A set of hangers adds instant appeal and a pretty hanging rail will allow you to sort out your outfits for the week. 

Taking everything OUT to work with is best but if that's too daunting do a section at a time. 

Invite a friend and MAKE IT FUN! 

Start to take clothes from the closet: 

• Put aside all clothes not currently worn everyday e.g. off-season, sportswear, vacation wear, occasionwear.
  

• Remove all damaged, faded or out of shape items.

• Remove anything that was a complete mistake or you hate.
  

• Put all accessories, scarves, belts etc to one side. 

• Sort through trousers and skirts and decide whether they fit and flatter you. If YES, hang back.   
  

• Do the same for jackets, sweaters and cardigans ready to co-ordinate with the bottoms. Separate any suits so as to make more outfits. If they fit and you're happy HANG.  

• Work logically through shirts, blouses, t-shirts, tanks etc. these are the important LINK items that tie the tops and bottoms together. Important items to SAVE.

• Hang everything in sets; skirts, pants, tops, jackets etc.

• From the clothes you have left, can you assemble complete outfits to last a week without doing laundry? If so, then you've got the beginnings of a capsule wardrobe. How many times you need to change depends of course on your lifestyle. 

• Try and repeat the exercise for a second week. If gaps are beginning to appear it will center your mind on where you need to consider adding a few additional items. Pieces like trousers and jeans are likely to be worn more than once while next-to-skin items are more likely to be just once. 

If your closet revamp has left it a bit bare, no worries, far better to have a few things that fit and flatter rather than a wardrobe full of clothes you never wear!

Now it's time to go forward and fill in the gaps with things that DO work! 

The gaps that emerged when you were trying to put outfits together shows you exactly what your 'right now' shopping list needs to include. This is often basics which allow you to link items together.