Filter, Freshen & Finalize

Filter:

Typically it is easier to spot what you DON’T like over what you do like. While cleaning out your closet, make sure to get rid of the no’s first to make this endeavor an easier one! A few things you should consider when throwing out are:

• Have I worn it in the past two years? Don’t keep something past its prime!
• Is it worn, damaged or unflattering? Make an upgrade!
• Does it pair well with at least 2-3 other pieces in my closet? If not, it’s not being worn, out with the old in with the new!

Freshen:

Once you have tossed the no’s it will be much easier to sort through the rest. We all have those pieces in our closet that we are unsure of, so turn your maybes into yes’s by following these simple steps:

• Invite your two best friends over, grab some refreshments, and make it a party! Who’s more honest than best friends?
• Freshen up your pieces by pairing them in NEW ways! Get inspiration from well-known blogs, magazines, and websites: imitation is the best form of flattery!
• If you can’t find a great way to wear it, toss it!

Finalize:

Once you have filtered through your maybes, added to the no pile, and hopefully recreated fun new looks- get organized!

• Get all of your clothes on the same hangers, our favorite are Velvet Slim Line Hangers- you’ll be amazed at the difference it makes!
• Coordinate by color and/or article (Pants, tops, dresses)
• Keep a photo book in your closet with ideas, inspiration and even photographs of some of your favorite go-to outfits. Don’t be afraid to snap a quick, full-length shot of yourself in an outfit you feel great in!

Très Chic Designs

Laurie Perez Photography
©LauriePerez.com

Beth DeLozier-HayesTrès Chic Designs

Beth DeLozier-Hayes, also known around town as "the closet whisperer," has been  creating streamlined, stylish, and smashing wardrobes since 2006.  Her company, Très Chic Designs (www.treschicdesignshouston.com), is known for its unique service of organizing Houstonian's closets, while at the same time assisting with image consulting, revitalizing your personal style, and adding glamorous decorative touches that make you giddy about getting dressed every morning.  Revered by clients for her upbeat, fun, and non-judgemental methods, Beth loves transforming closets into designer masterpieces. 

Ready to clean out your closet for a cause, and start fresh this new year? Instead of keeping excess in our closets, we can give somebody lovely a brand new outfit!  Here are some tips to get you started...

Love everything in your closet – seriously. If you don’t feel fabulous in it, you won’t wear it.  If you don’t wear it, it’s hiding all of the gorgeous pieces (from French Cuff) that you should be wearing.

No brainers first - pull out all of your favorite/reliable pieces first and set them aside. Then pull out all of the “definitely no” pieces that have collected dust from lack of wear, and add them to your donate pile.   

Star in your own fashion show - What to do with the undecided garments? Go shopping in your own closet of course!  Grab a friend to help you,  and as you try on your clothes ask yourself one question:  If I tried this on in a store today, would I still buy it?  If the answer is no, it’s time for them to go.

Clear out the guilt - Too small pieces, and  ill-fitting shopping-heat-of-the-moment-purchase items can become little guilt magnets when we come across them in our closet on a daily basis.  Identify these items, bid them adieu, and send the guilt packing along with them.

Relocate - if possible, keep only in season clothing and accessories in your closet. Relocate other miscellaneous items that may creep in (linens, towels, arts and crafts, your husbands action figure collectables, etc.)  Under the bed bags/bins, or spare closets are excellent spots to tuck away off-season clothing.

No More Wire Hangers! – gradually upgrade your hangers to wood, it will instantly transform your closet.  If wood hangers take up too much room, try the slim line velvet hangers, they also rock.

Maintain – keep a cute bag or basket inside or nearby your closet, so whenever you come across clothing you are ready to part with, it has a pretty place to hang out until your next donation day.

For a daily dose of Très Chic inspiration, you can find Beth on Facebook (facebook.com/TresChicDesigns), Twitter (twitter.com/TresChicDesign), and Pinterest (pinterest.com/treschicgal).  

For client's that enjoy keeping up with the local Houston fashion scene, you can discover upcoming event's by checking Beth's blog Houston's Weekly Chic daily (houstonsweeklychic.com).

CONTACT INFO

www.treschicdesignshouston.com
713.548.6221
info@tcdhouston.com

Rebecca Matthews Image & Style

 Rebecca Matthews & Emily Elliot
Image & Style

Rebecca Matthews and her associates at Image & Style have a passion for helping their clients meet their wardrobe needs in many ways.  They start by assessing your body type and telling you what colors and styles look best on you.  They will clean out your closet, make new outfits out of what you already own and make suggestions on what you need to add to your closet.  They are knowledgable and work quickly to make the process fun and efficient. She and her associates are busy every day working in local shopping areas to maximize their clients budget and lifestyle.  With over 20 years of experience in retail, they know how to make you look and feel your best.

Rebecca's Number 1 Tip: Build a wardrobe that works for your lifestyle by gathering items that can mix and match.  "You need pieces in your wardrobe that you can dress up, dress down, and can take you all around."

CONTACT INFO

Rebecca Matthews & Emily Elliot
713.444.0313
www.rebeccamatthews.com
info@rebeccamatthews.com

Cleary Thompson Image & Style Consultants

Cleary Thompson 

Image & Style Consultants
Accentuate the positive.  Discover your unique style.  Create a chic accessible wardrobe from closet chaos.  Nurture that sense of well-being that radiates from the inside out... 

These are a few of the objectives Cleary Thompson has for their clients.  They will help you navigate the arbitrary tides of fashion – with simplicity, elegance, and style.  

Closet Organization Tips

Tip 1: Clear It Out
Hold your own twice-a-year fashion show…one for Spring/Summer and Fall/Winter. Clear out the closet completely, then try on each piece of clothing in front of a full-length mirror.  Ask yourself…Does it fit?  Does it make me feel good about myself?  Is it figure flattering?  Does it need cleaning, mending or altering?  Separate pieces into four piles: Keep, Alter, Donate, and Toss.  Our golden rule of closet organizing: If you haven’t worn it in a year, toss it.  And, if it’s doesn’t fit you well, it’s time to get rid of it!

Tip 2: Pick the Right Hanger
Toss mismatched hangers.  Bulky hangers take up space and hangers from the dry cleaners are hard on your clothes. Try the velvet Slim Line Hangers.  You save up to 90% of storage space by using these hangers.  Toss plastic dry cleaning bags as well.  They don’t allow fabrics to breathe and trap cleaning chemicals in your clothing.

Tip 3: Hang It Up
Organize clothing by category – blouses, pants, skirts, dresses.  For example, group your shirts by sleeveless, short and long sleeve.  Then, organize by color within each group.  Once you’ve worn an item, turn the hanger the opposite way.  At the end of the season, you’ll be able to tell which clothing items you haven’t worn.  This will help with the seasonally closet clean out.  Put out-of-season clothing in a separate space by rotating your spring/summer clothes with your fall/winter clothes.

Tip 4: Shoes
Keep the shoes you wear all the time accessible on shelves if you have the room.  You can also hang shoe racks on the back of your closet door.  Store seasonal and special occasion shoes in easy-to-see clear plastic boxes on the top shelf of your closet.  You can attach a picture of the shoes to the front of the box for easy visibility.

Tip 5: Accessories
Clever pocket-filled shoe holders can be used for more than just footwear.  Use these pockets to store tights, leggings, socks and other small foldable extras.  Use clear double-sided hanging organizers to store jewelry.  Store bags, belts and scarves in plain sight on hooks or racks, which can be attached to the inside of your closet door.  Belt hangers with multiple hooks are also great for hanging camisoles or scarves.

Tip 6: Folded Items
Sort sweaters and t-shirts by color as well.  Always remove sweaters from hangers and fold them as hangers will ruin the shape of sweaters over time.  Place heavier items on the bottom of the pile and store lighter ones on top.  Store sweaters on shelves in small stacks or store them in sweater boxes with marked labels.

Tip 7: Eye Level
Keep items you wear frequently at eye level and items you rarely wear higher up top. Mount a hook outside your closet and use it to hang up your chosen outfit you select the night before.  This makes getting dressed in the morning easy!

CONTACT INFO

www.clearythompson.com
cfitz28@hotmail.com
hollyhortonthompson@gmail.com
832.229.8228

Roz Pactor Fashion & Marketing Consultant

 Roz Pactor

Fashion & Marketing Consultant

Roz is a fashion and marketing consultant and blogger based in Houston, Texas. With more than three decades of experience in fashion retailing that has spanned Foley's, Neiman Marcus and Bloomingdale's NYC, She has earned a reputation for delivering expertise, energy and enthusiasm to her roster of clients. Her sense of trend direction, merchandising and visual creativity proved to be very valuable in her previous role as Vice President-Fashion Director for Foley's Dept. Stores, and now in her consulting practice. Her blog, The Chic Sheet, provides a unique perspective on the world of fashion, dining and the arts and it is truly as she sees it, through HER RED GLASSES!

As for her tips, here are a few on closet-organization...

1. First, ensure that your closet is season-right, meaning all out of season items should be placed in another closet or if you have a large closet with plenty of room, should be moved to a less visible location so that you are looking, on a daily basis, at wearable clothes for the season you are in. 

2. Colorize your closet as that is how we see things, by color,  together within their category.

3. Clothes should be organized as you wear them on your body;  Tops over bottoms, full length space for dresses.

4. All extremes should be segregated within your closet, meaning....all special occassion together, work-out wear together.

5. Shoes, Accessories if within closet should be as visible as possible at all times.

CONTACT INFO

www.thechicsheet.com
roz@myredglasses.com
713.526.4325