When you walk into your closet each morning to get dressed, what do you see: Blissful organization — or overwhelming mess? If it’s the latter, you should know that staring at the chaos hanging in your closet every single day is weighing you down. Whether you realize it or not, you’re beginning to absorb some of that chaos, and pretty soon you’ll feel as out of control and overwhelmed as your overstuffed closet looks.

 

 

The solution to this problem is a quick and easy closet makeover: one that gets rid of the clothes you don’t need, and brings in new items you’ll wear for years and years. Here’s how it works:

 

 

Step #1. Get rid of the clothes you never wear.

The first step is to go to your closet and get rid of anything you haven’t worn in two years. Once those items are out of the way, take a good, hard look at what’s left. Are there items with the tags still on? Consider tossing them or giving them to charity. Are there clothes that need to be mended? Put them in a pile and take them to your tailor today. Is there anything you purchased in the ‘90s? Get rid of it! As much as you may love these clothes for the memories you have with them, they’re crowding your space and not serving any real purpose, so they have to go.

 

Step #2. Make a list of everything you need.

Now that you’ve cleared out a good chunk of your clothes, assess what’s left and make a list of what you need. I like to use Pinterest for this step, but you can use pen and paper if that’s what you prefer. List out the clothes you’d like to have in your closet for everyday use. Here is a list of staples you might want to consider:

• Leather jacket
• Black blazer
• Jeans that always fit
• Black leggings
• Neutral cashmere sweaters
• High-quality long- and short-sleeve tees in different colors
• Silky date night top
• Little black dress
• Fun cocktail dress
• Comfortable and sexy black heels
• Black flats

 

Step #3. Get shopping!

Now that you’ve cleaned out your closet and created your list, it’s time for the fun part: Shopping! Head to the store today and get at least three new items from your list. Then make a plan to get the rest of the items in the coming weeks so your wardrobe is fully rounded out in no time.

 

A final note…

To prevent your closet from turning into an overwhelming mess again, commit to being more discerning about what you purchase and bring home. Don’t buy anything that you don’t absolutely love, and that doesn’t serve a need you have. For example, you may LOVE that sequined kimono you found on sale at Nordstrom’s, but that doesn’t mean you’ll ever find a time to wear it. Focus instead on buying things that you can wear a couple of times a month, and that are made well enough to last you for years to come.