Step 1 : Clean your closet

Multiple studies have revealed a 20% to 80% principle! That means we only use 20% of the clothes our closet contains! 20%!!!! From my experience as personal shopper I would say that 20% is rather optimistic! So 80% of the stuff your armoire contains block the view for the look of your dreams! Time to get rid of it! I embraced this step by step system after reading the amazing book “You are what you wear” from Dr. Jennifer Baumgartner – a book that reveals the psychological reason for different shopping habits – and until now it proofed it’s efficiency. The clou is to be radical! Keep your goal in focus and get rid of all your inherited waste!I put first to clear out the wardrobe, because I detected that cleaning up can be relieving and makes it easier to imagine new life and look perspectives.   Let’s get started: – First of all, find yourself a clean place to put your clothes on. For example your bed or the floor after you have put some light sheets on it. – Now empty your whole closet! Except underwear, workout clothes, shoes, accessories, socks, pyjamas – we will go through this later. – Separate your clothes in two categories: tops (incl. dresses) and bottoms (incl. jumpsuits) – Focus first on one of these categories – Get two big trash bags, boxes or the like. One for throwaways and one for giveaways. – Start to muck out. Throw away any piece that is stained, outdated or ripped. Give away any piece that doesn’t fit properly – and be hard to please! Put the things you keep back on your clean space, not back in your closet. – Repeat this procedure with the other category. – Look if things are matching. Look at the two different categories, do they work together in colours, fabrics, fit and style? Give away any item that doesn’t fit in the general theme of your wardrobe. Check if you have the necessary basics like a perfect fitting blue jeans, a white blouse, a little black dress … if not put them on a to buy list. – Now get your underwear etc. Again throw away stained, ripped or not fitting pieces. – Check the functionality of your underwear with your clothes. Do you have a lots of tube tops you need a strapless bra – don’t have one? Wright it on the list. You have lots of tight pants and leggings but only lots of granny undies put thongs or seemless underwear on your list. – Now check your sport wear, night clothes, socks, lounge wear etc. Throw away the… you know how it works. – Last but not least get your accessories, your shoes, scarves, bags, hats, jewellery etc. put them on to your clothes to have a look on the whole picture. Do they work with your remaining wardrobe in colour and style? Are they quality peaces? Are they worn out or outdated? – Now you have checked and cleaned your whole closet once. To really get rid of all the clutter you should go through every thing again. Repeat all the steps. If it’s to hard for you,  you may need a break. So take a walk or take one or two days off from this project to gain objectivity. Or ask a fashionable friend for help – then it’s way more fun. I know it can be hard to part with thing. Especially when they are related to memories, but don’t stick with clothes just because your ex-boyfriend gave it to you or it was a birthday present and so on. Your closet should only contain clothes that you love, so you start every day by open a door to a place full of enthusiasm, love, joy, inspiration and support.   On Friday we will see how your closet can support you to achieve your goals. Au revoir! Johara xoxo