Transitioning from graduation to full-time job held a lot of changes and new possibilities. A big one? Wardrobe.

I’m not a frumpy person, I’m not the girl who wears baggy t-shirts all the time, but being an active person and a creature of comfort, my wardrobe was relatively simple. Same jewelry everyday, same sandals or boots, etc. Sure, I have some funky shoes, and the occasional saucy outfit, but it was pretty low-key. I have the creativity in me, and the desire, I just hardly ever wanted to spend the time, and/or money, on smaller accessories or specific clothing items. I tend to buy things that can be multi-functional: a necklace that goes with just about everything, nude wedges (which every female should have, in my opinion), or neutral colored cardigan. Not a bad thing, but still… wardrobe is something to have fun with, right?

Working closet, defined:

A closet that works for you so that you don’t stand in front of your closet and feel lost.  A working closet is one in which you can remix what you own into infinite cute outfits. A closet that doesn’t scream “go shopping now!” at you every time you walk in.

I’d like to think the sequence went (and is going) like this: purge, assess/organize, shop, remix.

What would have been a goal for the rest of the year got bumped up to “finish before you get married and move to a new house.” And let me be honest, my home closet is crazy. High school stuff now mixed in with all the drab I had in my college apartment? Snap. It’s busy, and not really in the best way.

Hardly being able to stand the clutter, I set to work purging it.

I tried on all the randoms that looked remotely like items I would want to keep. I made multiple piles: give-away, attempt to sell, keep, let Kendall look at, etc. So… I’d like to share my process, in case anyone needs inspiration or motivation to do such things to their closets.

How I Purged My Closet 

• Go through the closet with a fine-tooth comb. Take inventory of everything you own and start evaluating. Here are a couple guidelines to see if it’s worth keeping or it’s ready leave my closet.

• If it’s a genuine struggle to throw a few things out, start a “maybe” pile. Allot a box under the bed, or deep in the closet, for items you’re unsure about. If it an item still there in a month or so (meaning you haven’t missed it), then maybe donate it, sell it or swap it with a friend. If you pull something out and it fits, see if there’s anything to pair it with in your closet, then keep it. If it doesn’t, purge and move on.

• Next, take a look at the clothing you’ve decided to give away.  If you can’t wear them, someone will. Here we have trendy stores that take in gently used clothes and for either money or store credit for them. They only take what still looks nice, isn’t falling apart, and still in style. This is where I have deposited most of my purged goods, but I then donated the rest to either Goodwill or friends or friends’ friends. Donating creates a great cycle. See? Who knew that cleaning out your closet could do so much good?

• When you’re finished, go through your closet and start pairing items together without the unworn clutter clogging your creativity. Brainstorm and hang them in their own groups. This can make it easier to shop for items you’d like to add to your working closet.

Any closet purging tips you’d like to share?