SEATTLE — Darcy’s 4 “-IZES" method
SIZE. You can’t wear something that doesn’t fit you. I recommend removing everything that is too small or too big. You don’t have to get rid of these items completely, but they shouldn’t be taking up daily space in your mind or your closet. Fold them into a bin or a box and store them someplace else or loan them to a friend for a while. Make a list of everything you’re removing and set a goal to replace them over time with new items that fit well.
PRIORITIZE. One of the most effective closet cleaning exercises is Ranking; pull out all items in a category (e.g. all your jeans, all your blazers, all your t-shirts), spread them out, and then line them up from favorite to least favorite. I usually encourage my clients to remove 25%-30% of their least favorite items.
OPTIMIZE. It’s helpful to arrange your closet so that the items you want to wear most frequently are the easiest to grab. We can have the best intentions, but usually our daily choices are based on convenience. Think carefully about your style goals for 2024 and set yourself up for success with organization. If you want to start wearing less workout clothing and more dresses, put your workout clothes on a higher shelf and bring your dresses to the front so they are top of mind.
REMERCHAND-IZE. Remerchandising is a retail term that basically means moving things around to look fresh. Some stores move their product around every day to inspire people to buy different things. I’m a huge proponent of doing this in our home closets. At least twice a year, take everything out and put it back in, in a new spot. It will not only remind you of pieces you forgot about and inspire new outfit ideas by letting you see your wardrobe in a new way, it will force you to consider each piece before you put it back in the closet. Ask yourself: “if I saw this in a store today, would I buy it?”
But don’t Criticize. As in: don’t get into a negativity spiral over clothes that are too small or regretful pieces you spent a lot of money on. Make the conscious effort to be kind to yourself in the spirit of moving forward into a new era. It’s ok to let go of things you no longer wear. I like to think about sending pieces off to have a second life.
ThredUp.com: ThredUp is the world’s largest online consignment and thrift store, providing users an easy way to refresh their closet while creating less waste. ThredUp incredibly processes 100K items a day, giving new life to millions of used clothes and offsetting the environmental and financial cost of fashion.
Darcy Camden // Founder & Chief Stylist
Styled Seattle: Your Personal Wardrobe Stylist
darcy@styledseattle.com // Call/text: 206.349.3401 // @darcycamden
Segment Producer Suzie Wiley. Watch New Day Northwest at 11 a.m. weekdays on KING 5 and streaming live on KING5.com. Contact New Day.