Closet Blues

I really can't clear out my closet. It's jammed, and I have nothing to wear.

Wardrobe management is as important as knowing what styles are best for you, maybe even more so. Management involves the intake of new items (that is, shopping for clothes, LOL), maintenance of current ones, and the difficult task of discarding the items that don't work for you. The Pres Method is a way to organize these tasks.

First, gather all your clothes that are in season right now. It's impossible to accurately evaluate items that are for next season, or even from the last. The sunlight just isn't right, and the feel of the cloth won't work for today's temperature. So move all out-of-season clothes to the back, and we'll deal with them another time, when their calendar date comes up.

Now you have a big pile of stuff. Look the pile over, and pull out any outfit that you absolutely want to zip-up-right-now-and-run-out-the-door. The ensemble that sings right out loud. I have the feeling that's not going to be a large quantity, but look those things over, and place any that need cleaning or repairs in a Cleaning and Repairs Pile. Deal with that pile when I am not around.

Next, pick the first item on the top of the remaining pile, and look it over. Make no attempt to find something passable. Just take the top thing. Do you want to wear it right now? Or, do you absolutely hate it and want to dump it immediately? If hate, put it in the donate bag and don't look back.

Most items will fall into the middle ground. You're not going to put them on and head for a stroll on the avenue (where all your old boyfriends are waiting to run into you; one on every corner.) But, you're not sure if it there isn't a little life left in them yet. You're a thrifty soul, and you don't want to discard anything that might be of practical use, of course. I understand.

Take the top item from the "maybe" pile, and prepare it for wearing the next time that you go out of the house. Find the right shoes, bag, etc. Then, wear it. Did you hear me? Wear it.

Why not? It's in season, right? The weather's good for it. And you have the parts needed for an ensemble, yes? So what's stopping you? Wear it for a full day.

One of two things will happen. The outfit may work beautifully, and three people will approach you (one a stranger) and tell you that you look great. You will walk with a spring in your step all day long. If this happens, take the item, and put it on a good hanger in your regular current wardrobe area. (Also, send me an email. This never has happened once in the history of the world, so it will be a first.)

On the other hand, if you spend the day pulling the front closed, the hem down, or just looking generally miserable, and someone asks you if you are getting a cold; then take it off when you enter your home, and fling it into the donate bag. After a day like that, you should be poised to give it a good fling.

Repeat this process with the next item on the pile, for as many days as it takes. The occasional piece can be worn with some clever usage under a shirt, or by arranging a scarf to hide the shoulders, but it won't be the norm. Most of the stuff will wind up in the bag.

You won't get a perfect wardrobe out of this (that's called shopping, and it's another part of the Pres Method) but your closet will be unjammed, and you'll have plenty of space to put things that you love to wear.