You don't have to buy a whole new wardrobe to get a fresh new look. It's amazing what can be done with the clothes that are already in your closet and with a little creative thinking.
Closet Organization
First things first, clean out the closet. Get rid of things that you don't need or haven't worn.
If any clothes in your closet fit the following criteria, it's time to donate them to a local charity (don't forget, it's a tax write-off):
- It hasn't been worn in more than a year
- It's too small—face it, you might never be that size again
- It's out of style
- The price tag is still on it and it's been more than 6 months
If any of your clothes fit these criteria, don't toss them just yet:
- They're too big
- They have holes or rips
- They're missing buttons
- They have broken zippers
Once you've gotten rid of things that should no longer be in your closet, it's time to organize. Two closets come in handy. The one in your bedroom is for current season. Have another one in a spare room or the garage for clothes that are not in season. This will keep the clutter down.
To organize your closet, hang your clothes in the following order:
- By type of clothes: shirts together, pants together, skirts together, dresses together
- Shortest to longest: short sleeves to long sleeves, shorts to pants
- By color--light to dark: beige short sleeves, beige long sleeves, green shorts, green pants
Now that your closet is clean and organized, it will be much easier to find things and coordinate outfits.
Now it's time to give old clothes a makeover so that they become fresh again.
Clothing Repair
Here are some easy tips to make old clothes new again:
- Get pants hemmed that are too long
- Hand mend rips or tears if possible
- Replace missing buttons
- Replace (or have a professional replace) broken zippers
- Get leather or suede dry-cleaned
- Polish your shoes
- Shine and mend your jewelry
Learn to Sew
One of the best investments you can make with your time and money is to buy a sewing machine. You can buy one relatively cheap on eBay, at Costco or Target. Here are just a few ways you can make the most of sewing:
- Save money by hemming or mending your own clothes
- If you've lost weight (lucky you) and your clothes are too big, don't throw them out; take them in
- Buy fabric on sale and make your own clothes
Now that you have your current clothes looking new, the fun begins. Time to go shopping! The best way to keep your wardrobe looking current is to refresh your wardrobe once a year.
