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"54:365 Closet Space." Photo by katykash. From the Flickr Creative Commons.

Now that we have done a few mental exercises thinking about our clothes, (i.e. thinking about whether our closets are “interview ready” and how many clothes we really need) it is time to start actually getting our hands dirty and sort through the closets.

August is a good month for closet cleaning. Some of us may be just about to splurge on clothes for the new season or school year. Closet cleaning doesn’t have to be a time consuming project. You can do it a little at a time until it is finished. Below, I have outlined my closet clearing process to help you get started.

A closet can seem a completely overwhelming space. Often, the closet is packed full and the sheer number of items to address is intimidating. Going through clothes can also trigger emotions about body image, money spent, memories or personal aspirations. But take a deep breath and realize that it is all “just” clothes.

On a first pass through the closet, it is helpful to just rearrange the hangers to group like with like. If you have some clothes in a dresser or on shelves and others in a closet, you might want to temporarily hang all of them up so they are easier to sort. What should your sorting categories be? Below are some suggestions:

For a Man’s Closet:

Formal wear (tuxedo, dinner jacket, etc.)

Business wear

1. Suits
2. Jackets
3. Dress slacks
4. Dress shirts
5. Polo/collared shirts
6. Ties

Casual Wear – Cold Weather

1. Jeans
2. Casual Pants
3. Long-sleeve shirts
4. Turtlenecks
5. Sweaters
6. Sweatshirts/Hoodies

Casual Wear – Warm Weather

1. Short-sleeve shirts
2. Tank Tops
3. Shorts

Exercise Clothes

1. Track suits
2. Shorts (bike shorts, running shorts, etc.)
3. Tops (team jerseys, cooling shirts, etc.)
4. Swimwear
5. Other

Sleepwear

1. Pajamas
2. Robes

Accessories

1. Belts
2. Suspenders
3. Hats
4. Other

Shoes

1. Dress Shoes
2. Loafers
3. Boots
4. Sneakers
5. Thongs/Tevas/Sandals
6. Slippers

For a Woman’s Closet:

Formal wear

1. Evening gowns
2. Jackets/pants
3. Silk blouses

Business wear

1. Suits
2. Dress slacks
3. Dress shirts/blouses
4. Skirts
5. Dresses

Casual Wear – Cold Weather

1. Jeans
2. Casual Pants
3. Long-sleeve shirts
4. Turtlenecks
5. Sweaters
6. Sweatshirts/Hoodies
7. Skirts
8. Dresses

Casual Wear – Warm Weather

1. Shorts
2. Short-sleeved shirts
3. Tank tops
4. Skirts
5. Dresses

Exercise Clothes

1. Track suits
2. Bottoms (yoga pants, bike shorts, running shorts, tennis skirts, etc.)
3. Tops (jogging bras/tanks, leotards, team jerseys, cooling shirts, etc.)
4. Swimwear
5. Other

Sleepwear

1. Pajamas
2. Nightgowns
3. Robes

Accessories

1. Belts
2. Scarves
3. Hats
4. Other

Shoes

1. High Heels – Formal Wear
2. High Heels – Business Wear
3. Flat Dress Shoes
4. Boots
5. Sandals
6. Thongs/Tevas
7. Slippers

Once you have all the like clothes and shoes together, the hard part comes in. Now it is time to scrutinize your closet and figure out what should stay and what should go. For this part, you will need a large garbage sack or box, this Ruly Closet Sorting Worksheet and a writing instrument.

Take a look at how many clothes you have in each category. You will discover where your shopping weaknesses are. If you have too many of something, start to discard. What should go? Check out my list below.

8 Sources of Closet Clutter

1. Closet Wallflowers.

First, look at things that you haven’t worn in a long time. Perhaps they were buried in the closet and now that you have found them you want to wear them again. Most of the time, however, if you haven’t worn it yet, you probably never will! Start a charity donation sack or box and toss the unworn items in. If you start seeing a pattern in things you buy but don’t wear, make a note on your worksheet so you won’t be tempted to buy the same things again in the future.

If you aren’t sure what is getting worn, one time-tested organizing tip is to turn the hangers of all your clothes so that the hanger faces backwards on the rod. When you wear something and are returning it to the closet after washing, hang it back up in the forward direction. At the end of the year, you can quickly see what you have not worn.

2. Duplicates

If you wear a lot of the same item, such as white turtlenecks, blue dress shirts, etc., it might make sense to have more than one of each item. If you prefer variety, don’t stock up on multiples of the same thing. Choose one item in the best condition and put the rest in the charity box. Write down on your worksheet the types of clothes you are acquiring too much of.

3. Ill-fitting Clothes

Clothing that doesn’t fit correctly will never look good on you no matter what you do to it. Clothes that are too small, too tight, too big, too low-cut, etc. should be selected for donation. If you really love something in this pile, write it down on your clothing shopping list. You deserve to find something that is flattering.

If you have had a change in weight and hope that you can squeeze back into something you wore years ago, ask yourself honestly whether after all the effort it will take to diet and exercise into a smaller size, if the first thing you want to put on your new slender body is old clothes from 5 years ago. If you want to save one outfit as your “test” to see if you really are the same size, go ahead but give the rest away.

4. Raggedy Clothes

Favorite clothes can develop holes or stains over time. Some could do with a little repair – a lost button, a small patch, etc. At some point, they are no longer worth wearing. If you can’t bear to part with something until you have a replacement, write down what you need to purchase on your worksheet. When you do get a new item, make sure to get rid of the old one.

5. Emotional Clothes

Clothes are very personal items. Some clothes trigger strong emotional connections for us and are hard to get rid of, even when we don’t really want them around.

You may be the lucky recipient of clothes from other people. Sometimes these gifts are wonderful and much appreciated. Other times they are not exactly to your taste. If you don’t like something, put it in the donation box, even if it belonged to someone you love dearly. Your loved one is not embodied in those old clothes. If it helps you to part with the clothes, put them on, have someone take photos of you wearing them, and then give them away.

Other clothes that are emotional are maternity clothes and baby clothes. If you don’t plan to have any more children, it is time to let these clothes go. We have all heard horror stories of the mothers who save every item of clothing their children wore. I have also met people who were these children and are now grown with children of their own. It is a huge burden on their lives to deal with all of grandma’s saved stuff. They don’t want to dress their children in clothes from 30 years ago. They want to make their own choices as parents and all that old stuff is holding them back. Saving a few treasured outfits, like a christening dress, makes sense. A whole closet full is too much!

There is a grieving process associated with closing one chapter of your life, particularly one that may have been a very happy time, and moving on to the future. If you are struggling, consider whether there is another outlet for your memories. A beautiful photo album of your little one wearing those treasured clothes is probably more meaningful to you than the clothes themselves. Or use the clothes as a springboard to write down the memories you are remembering. Consider writing a letter to your son or daughter to open when he or she becomes a parent, sharing these precious memories. Now that is something your child will truly treasure!

As a last resort, if you really just can’t bear to part with your emotional clothes, put them in a storage box and get them out of your closet. Sometimes just getting some physical distance from them is all you need to realize it is OK to let them go.

6. Money Clothes

How many of us are holding on to an item of clothing simply because it cost a lot of money and while we liked it once, we don’t care for it anymore, but we are still trying to get our money’s worth from it? Holding on to these clothes does us no favors. You don’t need a constant reminder of that mistake every time you open your closet. The money has been spent. If you don’t like what you bought now, it is not going to get any better sitting in the closet. Take a cue from business, acknowledge the mistake, write off your loss quickly and more forward.

Similarly, even if something was a real bargain, if you don’t like it any more or you don’t need 20 of them, let them go. There is another bargain out there for you to discover.

7. Clothes With Limited Purpose

Sometimes we purchase an outfit in the hopes that we will have an occasion to wear it in some exciting place or to remind us of some exciting place we have been once in the past. The après-ski outfit, the cruise dress, the island sarong, etc. You have basically two choices with these clothes. Donate them and make your peace that if you are ever in that situation again, you will buy a new outfit, or, start wearing the outfit in your everyday life. I did the latter with some clothes we purchased in Hawaii a few years back and I can’t tell you how fun it has been. People see the Hawaiian print dress and smile. It reminds them of their own visits to Hawaii and helps remind me of how much fun we had on our vacation too.

Writing this, however, reminds me of my favorite moment from the movie “Notting Hill.”

8. Incomplete Outfits

Women’s closets in particular can accumulate little gems that look great but the closet lacks some basic pieces to go with them to make them wearable. For example: the sheer shirt that needs a plain silk tank to go underneath; the printed dress that needs a solid belt, the sweater that would look great with a jean skirt, etc. We hold onto these clothes thinking one day we will acquire the missing items but we never do. Take a hard look at these clothes. Do you still like them enough to spend money to complete the outfit? If no, donate the item. If yes, write down the clothes that you need to purchase on your worksheet.

I hope this post helps get you started tackling your own closet. Please share in the comments your own closet organizing strategies. What are you keeping too much of? What do you need?

"Mrs. W.E. Kuhn looking through her closet." (1938). Photo from the Cushing Memorial Library & Archives, Texas A&M University. From the Flickr Creative Commons.

Unless you live in a nudist colony, clothes are an essential part of your everyday life. Most people have a closet jam packed with clothes, shoes and accessories and find themselves wishing for more closet space. Most people are also drowning in a sea of laundry and dreading the task of washing, folding and hanging all those worn clothes yet again. The act of getting dressed can feel like a monumental chore some days and if we are honest with ourselves, it is! Aside from going au naturale, what can you do about it?

Some people have been experimenting with minimalist closets–limiting their clothing choices to just a few pieces or even a single standard uniform. There is less anxiety over what to wear and less to wash. Clothing minimalists also claim to experience a freeing of mental energy. Taking away the burden of worrying what you look like each day allows you to invest that energy into other projects.

We have all heard the story about Albert Einstein’s closet consisting of multiple copies of the same outfit. (According to this site, it turns out that might not be exactly true.) In college, however, I encountered several professors in the sciences who seemed to adopt this approach to clothing. One professor wore khaki pants and a white shirt every single day. Another wore the same brightly patterned sweater every single class. They were brilliant men and we never knew if the clothing choices were due to the fact that they were so immersed in their work they didn’t notice what they were wearing or whether the university was not paying them sufficiently to allow them to go shopping!

You also see clothing minimalism in the art world. Alex Martin is one example. For one whole year (July 7, 2005 through July 7, 2006), she wore the same little brown dress and documented her experience in an online journal. She called the project “a one-woman show against fashion.” Below is a video from the Seattle Channel describing her experience.

After the little brown dress project, Alex Martin went on the following year to wear only clothing from her closet, sewing and refashioning the pieces as she went along.  She called it a “fashion detox” or a “slow fashion movement.”

I hear you thinking, “Well, this is all very interesting but these people do not live in the “real” world I live in where I have to wear different clothes every day or I will be shunned by my social circle.” Would clothing minimalism work for “real” people?

The New York Times reported that recently a group of people from around the world decided to try exactly that experiment. The project was called “Six Items or Less: A Global Experiment Examining the Power of What We Don’t Wear” and the participants agreed to choose only six items to wear for one month. Below is a video from the New York Times showing the results for one participant and here you can read reflections upon completing the project from one of the Six Items or Less founders.

As a mental exercise for getting ready to purge my own closet I am currently performing my own experiment on clothing minimalism that I will report to you on later. However, I throw down to you another Ruly Challenge.

The Challenge: Adopt some form of clothing minimalism this month. Decide for yourself what form it will take and how long it will last. You could go on a “shopping diet” and not purchase any new clothes, wear one “uniform” outfit for a period of time, restrict yourself to a few items of clothing or find new ways to wear clothes you have owned for a long period of time.

What do you think of clothing minimalism? Will you accept the Ruly Challenge? Please share in the comments.

"Safe clothes for women workers. Illustrating what the well-dressed women in search of a war job should NOT wear, pretty Eunice Kimball, Bendix Aviation worker, pauses at the entrance to the plant employment office where potential workers are interviewed. Though clothes may not make the woman, they ARE an indication of qualifications for a job, and Eunice's sweater, high-heeled and open-toed slippers, jewelry and loose hair-do are not improving her chances of employment. To contrast the inappropriateness of her costume, note trimly-dressed Alice Tripp, Bendix guard. Bendix Aviation Plant, Brooklyn, New York." Photo by Ann Rosener for the Office of War Information (1943).

It’s the start of another month at Ruly and this month we are continuing our organizational progress by focusing on clothing and closets. The closet is an organizing challenge for many people. The simple act of getting dressed is a challenge for many people!

Clothing is an expression of who we are and whether we like it or not, our clothes tell people volumes about us before we utter a single word. Fashion is both a celebration of individual style and a sad commentary on how superficial and judgmental society can be. This month at Ruly, we are not just going to focus on the simple aspects of tossing old clothes and sorting sweaters into piles but also the reasoning behind the organization. What clothes are in your closet now? What clothes should be in your closet? What do you need to know to scrutinize your own closet and use your clothing as a tool to influence your own success?

We will start off the month looking at one of the critical clothing situations–how your clothes can make you money! Your closet as a money maker? You bet! We are talking about the all-critical job interview clothing situation. In the job interview, your clothing matters immensely. The right outfit can land you the job and the wrong outfit takes you out of the running.

How much time is a hiring manager really going to spend looking at your appearance over your credentials and experience? Sadly, a lot! In a Newsweek survey of 202 corporate hiring managers, 57% of hiring managers expressed doubt as to whether an unattractive but qualified candidate would be hired for a position. Looks were the third most important attribute to the hiring managers, just behind experience and confidence.

What is considered unattractive to an employer? Unfortunately, two of the biggest negatives are things that are hard to change. Looking much older than your potential co-workers was a negative factor for 84% of the hiring managers. Being overweight was a negative for two-thirds of the hiring managers. Is this discriminatory? Yes! Is this reality? Unfortunately, yes.

The “beauty premium” as it has been named by economists indicates that attractive people have advantages throughout their lives. They get more attention as children and young adults and earn more money throughout their lives.

The New York Times reported on a study that showed that beautiful people are more self-confident and that their confidence seems to show up both in person and over the telephone. The study suggests that confidence is what is most attractive to employers.

So, when you are going in for a job interview, your primary goals (after showing your experience and qualifications of course) are to look attractive and be confident. What does it mean to look attractive for a job interview? There is obviously going to be a lot of variation from one person to the next but there are a surprising number of fashion don’ts out there.

The following list of fashion items (compiled from numerous job interviewing sites and my own experience) are offensive to at least some hiring managers. I don’t necessarily agree with every item on this list but if I was going into a job interview situation in today’s competitive market, I would avoid as many of these items as I could. And yes, ladies, our list is naturally twice as long as the mens!

Clothing items that offend some hiring managers:

Men
turtlenecks
pink, lavender or any feminine colors
bow ties
ties with identifiable prints or logos
black suits
light colored suits
leather jackets
tight pants
jeans
shorts
white socks
scuffed briefcases
scuffed shoes
slip-on shoes (especially those with tassels)
face jewelry (nose ring, lip ring, eyebrow ring, etc.)
earrings
any jewelry other than a watch or class ring
tattoos
cologne
long hair
facial hair of any kind
ignoring instructions to dress in business casual clothes
too much black worn near the face

Women
short skirts
shorts (including shorts suits)
dresses that are clingy or have plunging necklines
pants of any description, including jeans, leggings and capri pants
black suits
light colored suits
cleavage revealing tops
strapless tops
tops with spaghetti straps
leather jackets
perfume
jewelry that makes noise
oversized jewelry
ankle bracelets
face jewelry (nose ring, lip ring, eyebrow ring, etc.)
more than one earring in each ear
hair longer than shoulder length worn down
tattoos
“No one wants to see your feet.” (sandals, open-toed shoes, backless shoes, flip flops)
heels higher than 2 1/2 inches
wild nail polish (i.e. any color other than “nude” or beige”)
wild lipstick (i.e. any color other than a natural pink)
brightly colored or printed purses
oversized handbags
ignoring instructions to dress in business casual clothes
too much black worn near the face

Sources:

• “Dress for success on your next job interview,” Laura T. Coffey, The Today Show, March 10, 2010.
• “Exposed: Women’s Dress Code Secrets,” Jennifer Swift, The Hill, April 20, 2010.
• “Big Blunders Job Hunters Make,” Sarah E. Needleman, The Wall Street Journal, June 28, 2010
• “The New Power Suit for Summer,” Christina Binkley, The Wall Street Journal, June 30, 2010.
• “Business Attire,” Penn State Erie: The Behrend College.

So what is left to wear? Men have two standard “uniforms”:

Suggested male interview attire

Formal dress: dark navy or dark gray suit with a white collared shirt and a tie with an understated pattern; black leather lace-up shoes and black leather belt

Casual dress: khaki dress pants, white or blue collared shirt with a white undershirt, leather belt and leather lace-up shoes in dark brown or black

As one Wall Street Journal reader put it:

“The best way to dress for the office is to dress like you’re going to a funeral, but then put on a more conservative tie.”

–Commenter Brian McNeill on “The New Power Suit for Summer” by Christina Binkley, The Wall Street Journal, June 30, 2010

"Four Business Men," Photo by PinkMoose. From the Flickr Creative Commons.

"Men in Suits," Photo by mrsclaireirving. From the Flickr Creative Commons.

"Tokyo Subway," Photo by katclay. From the Flickr Creative Commons.

Women, how about us? As in all women’s fashion, this is a little tricky. While there are some female equivalent “uniforms,” described below, you have to be careful that you pick something that is also attractive on you. If you look terrible in gray or navy, it might be just as risky to wear an unattractive color as to wear the slightly more controversial black suit. Women also have to strike a very delicate balance to look powerful but not masculine and attractive but not sexy in order not to offend most hiring managers.

Suggested female interview attire

Formal attire: Dark navy or dark gray, knee-length skirted suit. The tough part: a fashion-appropriate shirt underneath in a neutral color. Some say a collared shirt but this can be hard for many women to pull off. Some women I have seen wear more of a shell blouse. Choose something that frames your face well. Nude colored pantyhose and black leather shoes that don’t show your feet and make your legs look their best. For most women a heeled shoe is the most attractive. Some interview sites caution that you should be careful wearing heels if you are tall. If you look terrible in flats, though, I would risk a small heel. Subtle jewelry like a simple necklace or pair of earrings (in gold, silver or pearl) can give polish.

Casual attire: If casual, it gets even more challenging for women! You could try for a feminine version of the male look: a khaki knee-length skirt with collared white or blue shirt, white tank, hose and heels. A sweater set with a skirt or dress and sweater would also work. You might also be able to get away with khaki dress slacks depending on your figure and how conservative your potential employer is. Subtle jewelry like a simple necklace or pair of earrings (in gold, silver or pearl) can give polish.

May 6, 2009: UNDP Administrator Helen Clark mets Jeffrey Sachs, Special Advisor to United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon," Photo by United Nations Development Programme. From the Flickr Creative Commons.	"Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers, co-chair of the Congressional Military Family Caucus greets Deborah Mullen at the caucus kickoff." Photo by Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. From the Flickr Creative Commons.
"EPA Administrator and incoming Chesapeake Executive Council Chair Lisa Jackson," Photo by chesbayprogram. From the Flickr Creative Commons.	"Proof!" Photo by slettvet. From the Flickr Creative Commons.

So, now that you know what a hiring manager wants you to wear to a job interview, it is time for a Ruly Challenge:

The Challenge: Review your closet and determine whether you have at least one outfit appropriate for a job interview, in both a formal and casual dress style. If not, make a list of what you need to purchase and make plans to acquire the items in the near future. You might go shopping, add them to your wishlist, etc.

Even if you think you will never need to interview in your life (lucky you!) these dressing guidelines apply to any situation where you are aiming to impress a wide variety of people. You are not dressing for fashion here but to please the median taste.

Fortunately, once you get the job, you can add a little more personality into your clothing choices. I think we would all go crazy dressing “interview appropriate” every single day.

Please share in the comments your favorite interview attire as well as any mistakes we should all avoid. Is your closet interview ready?