Closet ADD

by Jill Swanson

When it comes to dressing with out stressing, do you feel more put-out than put-together? Do you stand dazed as you ponder a closet full of clothes yet ‘nothing to wear?’  Perhaps your closet suffering from Attention Deficit Disorder.  This is a common condition I see in my practice as an image stylist and I have dealt with it personally, not only the closet sense, but also mentally and organizationally throughout my own life. 

The reality is that closet chaos (ADD or not) happens to many of us at one time or another – especially after a busy holiday season!

 Consider this statistic:

The average woman wears 10% of the clothes in her closet 90% of the time.

In an effort to help the millions of other sisters facing this disease and wanting a fresh start to the new year, I have developed a simple antidote to quickly and efficiently organize the distressed closet.

• PRIORITIZE

Set aside one “project day” to re-organize your closet. Think about your personal wardrobe needs.  What is your daily “uniform?” Jeans and a t-shirt, dress pants and a blouse or a sweat suit? Are you content with that dress code?  Has it changed with your body’s changes over the last 5+ years? 

Assess your overall closet contents, what are you storing?  Clothes, shoes, and accessories? Or is it a permanent resting ground for clutter? Some closets are used as storage units for unfinished projects or heirloom collections filled with relics of sentimental value.  Ladies, reclaim your wardrobe’s rightful space! 

• MINIMIZE

 Swing open those closet doors and prepare to divide and conquer. Everything is a matter of simple categorization so toss everything into one of the following four piles: Finders, keepers, losers, weepers.  

• Finders: Remnants that hang dormant until we find something to make them work before they can be utilized (i.e. “someday when I find the right pair of slacks for this sweater, I’ll wear it.”)

• Keepers: Clothes and accessories we love to wear …often.  They are the jewels that generate compliments or make us feel fabulous – that prime “10 percent.”

• Losers: The cursed objects we wish we’d never bought or those that make us feel or look miserable.  For example: the washed-out peach blouse that I bought for my floral skirt (yes, I still make occasional mistakes).

• Weepers: Tokens of love – things we’ll never use, but would be ashamed to discard: the outfit from a sister’s wedding, or the designer suit “invested” in generations back.  

• ORGANIZE

NOW, let’s bring this project to completion! 

Set a date for the Finders.  Alter, accessorize or lose weight by the deadline

–if it isn’t met, get rid of it!  Choose a new home for the Losers (the Salvation Army, a mission donation or a women’s shelter). Store the weepers in a trunk upstairs and out of your closet where they can be visited once a year. And finally, return the Keepers to the closet.

Place clothing on hangers with the hooks facing outward.  Once you’ve worn something, flip the hanger in the correct direction (so the open end is away from you).  At the end of the season, you will know what you wore and what you can get rid of next year.

While closet organizing can prove to be a challenging task at best, the concept of maintenance seems impossible. Yet with these simple techniques and tips, this wardrobe therapy will certainly curb symptoms of Closet A.D.D.   

 The closet is not a place to fear, but a tranquil retreat where we can discover fun and fashionable facets of our personality, and re-dress our attitude!

Jill Swanson is an Image Coach, ADHD survivor, and reformed clutter bug, whose God given purpose is to help women make the most of what they’ve got, effortlessly every day, so they can get on with life! For more help visit: www.jillswanson.com or grab a copy of Jill’s book, “Simply Stylish, Look Great Spend Less.” You will often find Jill serving on Sunday mornings at the Welcome Desk at Calvary.