Edwin Fotheringham
Clothes tell the stories of our lives.
A double-breasted, ankle-length camel coat from one of my annual fall shopping excursions with my Grandma Lenora.
I dont like goodbyes, and I wasnt good at parting with clothes.
Credit:Edwin Fotheringham
What if that style comes back?
(It happens!)
I wasnt sure how to turn this into a neat, color-coordinated space.
Rachel took all my clothes out of my closet and held up each piece for me to decide “keep or “toss.".Credit:Amy Brightfield
Heres how she helped meconquer the clutter.
Rachel Rosenthallaunched her organizing firm,Rachel & Company,in 2007.
Serving over 5,000 clients like athletes, diplomats, and CEOs, Rachel has become a trusted expert.
She also coaches and empowers women entrepreneurs through retreats and speaking engagements.
Amy Brightfield
1.
Be Compassionate with Yourself
Giving things away andgetting organizedhave an emotional component that can be a stumbling block.
And when a project feels too overwhelming to tackle, it can seem like youve failed.
Getting organized is an ongoing tool to make things easier.
Sort Smart
As youre going through your clothes, ask: When was the last time I wore this?
Was it within the past year?
If not, why?
Do I love this piece?
Do I feel good wearing it?
Why was I holding on to all of it?
Think About Your Space and Habits
True organization isnt about everything being color-coordinated, Rosenthal says.
Its about creating systems that work for you.
Shoes covered the floor, so I couldnt stand inside the space and really see what I had.
Are you choosing what to keep, donate, or toss?
Are you grouping like items together?
Put Clothes Back with Purpose
Rosenthal helped me realize theres no one-size-fits-all way to arrange your clothes.
The key to a system that works is thinking about your routines and the way you put together outfits.
The clothes you wear most often should be the easiest to access.
That simple switch probably saves me 10 minutes of searchingand stressingdaily.
Im happy to report that my closet still looks like the after photo.
Did I get rid of everything I havent worn in the past year?
Sentimental reasons can be enough to keep something.
After eight hours with organizer Rachel Rosenthal, I had 20(!)
bags of unneeded clothes.
I gave them to Dress for Success, which helps women entering the workforce, and a local Goodwill.
