Clothes closets are a joy to organize. I find little more
satisfying (as a fashion lover) than a brightly lit, clean and
organized closet. For me, heaven is when all the hangars match, the
clothes are organized by type and color, and dust bunnies and moths
are non-existent.

When you get dressed for work or a special occasion, how easily
do you put together an outfit that a) fits b) is clean c) has the
right shoes/coat/belt, etc. to match and d) makes you feel
fabulous? Getting your closet organized is half the battle. I don’t
care if you shop at Neiman Marcus or the Salvation Army (I love
both!) you can create your best closet and from that, your best
outfits.

This project should take from four to 12 hours. I had a client
with a walk-in closet and it took us 12 hours to get it in order
and updated. But a four-hour chunk should get most of you
there.

First, empty it out. Yes, everything. What doesn’t belong? If
the toaster is in there because it needs to be fixed or your gift
wrap supplies are tangled on the floor with your shoes, things have
to change. If possible, your bedroom closet must be for clothes
only.

Now, give it a good cleaning. You will need a vacuum or broom
and dust rags. Check out your hangars. Would it be possible to
recycle all the wire ones at your local dry-cleaners and purchase
matching hangers at Target or the Container Store? This will make a
tremendous difference to how your closet as well as your garments
look and feel.

Take a look at each item of clothing. If you see moth holes,
immediately order some moth tents at www.saferbrand.com. These are
the only things my clients and I have found that seem to work. I
also heard from a cashmere-loving source that periodically shaking
out or wearing the items disturbs the moth larvae lifecycle and
prevents moth holes. Otherwise, does it fit, does it flatter and do
you love it? If yes, call a knit shop and ask for a moth hole
repair referral. If not — get rid of it!

Next, the clothes that fit, flatter and suit your lifestyle,
should be hung up and grouped: shirts together, skirts together,
pants together, etc. If you can, group by color. When I want a
black blouse, it is much easier to look at the black section of the
blouses rather than through all the blouses.

As you are putting items back, make a note of things you need —
a new pair of black pumps, a brown belt for when you wear brown
shoes, a tie to match your new suit, etc. Also, don’t rehang
anything that needs mending or cleaning. Leave those out and handle
those errands as soon as possible so that you don’t end up trying
to wear that dirty black dress every time you need something for a
cocktail party. If it’s cleaned and pressed, it’s ready.