• faith
  • life
  • motherhood
  • books
  • family
  • home
  • food
  • travel
  • Nav Social Icons

  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • blog
  • about
  • Beautycounter
  • podcast
  • design
chelsea eubank

chelsea eubank

stories + graces of everyday life with God

  • about
  • podcast
  • Design
  • Shop
  • clean beauty
  • contact

Creating A Working Closet: Assess

08/14/2014 · In: home

tumblr_na2b6mdAdS1rh0waeo1_500

The closet is purged, right?  Or in the process of purging? Of course! What else were you doing over the weekend? (I say that teasingly, because my spare time to do room maintenance is scarce)

Step 1: Purge. Step 2 is assessing your closet’s needs. Not your needs, your closet’s. Your needs are simple: to be clothed. Your closet has a responsibility to clothe you every single day. Don’t hear this as needing to spend a ton of money on new clothes, this is just being smart. Learning what fits your personality best, what you feel confident in, and what is helpful for your daily tasks.

1. Take inventory of what you have. This could just mean figuratively or literally, however your brain works. I take a mental inventory of everything in my closet every once in a while; it’s a nice reminder of what I have. Items tend to get lost in the process of laundry, so believe it or not I often forget about particular items.

2. Make a list of closet needs. Let’s say you went through your closet and you discovered that you don’t have a black pencil skirt that fits any more, but a black skirt would work perfectly with what you already own; this would be a basic closet need. Create a list of items that would really tie your wardrobe together.  Everyone has their own list of primary basics, but mine includes:

black pencil skirt
khaki + brown linen pants
a handful of solid color cardigans
flats

This may sound ridiculous, but put that list in your purse, or type it in your phone’s notes — it helps give direction when you’re shopping. Misguided shopping leads to a random closet.

Make sure that everything on your need list fits into current wardrobe. Remember, you want a working closet — a closet that you can walk into and create an outfit by simply choosing a few items. If everything works together, then this is possible. (Working together doesn’t mean everything has to match. It just means that you don’t throw something random into your closet that you’d never wear but you bought because it was one sale.)

3. Now make a want list. Treat it like a splurge list. Maybe there’s a new trend I want to try or maybe I just want something that isn’t a direct need. That goes on this list. My current want list looks like this:

a bright colored high-waisted skirt
fall/winter wedges
oversized soft sweater

Once you acquire the basics, you will find that your wardrobe is easier to build upon.  I like to think of the want list like the frosting on a cupcake. “It’s the first thing you taste but the last thing you need.”

4. Set your two lists aside and step back into your closet. Since you’ve assessed what you want and need, now look at what you have. Put your mixing skills to work and start creating outfits.

5. Wear some of your experiment outfits that you put together. You’ll quickly figure out what you like and don’t like to put together.  Maybe you hate linen pants after all. Mark that off your list and figure out a new style. Maybe you love them and want more. Mainly get to know your closet and figure out what you expect from it. Soon you’ll be on your way to figuring out your style and telling your closet exactly what that is.

Best of luck on the assessing, organizing, and creating. Let me know what you come up with!

{image via tumblr}

By: Chelsea Eubank · In: home · Tagged: style

you’ll also love

life lately
jewelry highlight: fair trade winds
Week 10/52: Waffles, Fair Trade, and Spurgeon
Next Post >

A Quick Heart Spill…

Primary Sidebar

Search

I'm Chelsea... a wife, mom and friend passionate about cultivating a rich life with God.

This blog is equal parts family stories, faith reflections and creative delight.

I read a lot. I eat peanut butter every day. I like shopping secondhand. I love hosting people in our home.

Writing helps me pay attention, and paying attention keeps me grateful.

Glad you're here!

Series on the Blog

  • Reading and Listening
  • Current Read
  • Joy Triggers
  • Instagram Archives
  • Clothe Yourself With
  • Perspectives
  • Truth To Consider
  • grateful list
  • A Few Things

THE PODCAST

the email

archives

topics

abiding anna art & design beautycounter biblical truth birthdays body image books clothe yourself series crushing on current read faith family fear food goals God God's presence grace gratitude him holidays inspirational words Jesus joy triggers julia Kids learned life life with God love marriage me motherhood music photography prayer reading and listening recipes reflection simplicity social media spiritual growth travel wisdom

Footer

Listening

  • BEMA
  • Pray the Word
  • Church of the City
  • Elisabeth Elliot
  • Raising Boys and Girls

Reading

  • Jasmine Holmes
  • Henri Nouwen
  • Justin Earley
  • Helen Smallbone
  • Darrell Johnson

engaging the Church & kindling love for God one testimony at a time

Listen in as people just like you share about their life with God.

Check out my podcast!

Copyright © 2023 · Theme by 17th Avenue