What's In Your Closet? My Own Wardrobe Makeover

How's your closet feeling these days? Mine is feeling a lot leaner and meaner, thanks to the work of Image Consultant Katie Karppala. If you remember back to last fall, Katie was a guest on my radio show.  During our hour together, we chatted about image and how your wardrobe is a reflection of your perception of your current self. We also talked about more important and pressing matters, like how to dress to make your thighs look smaller. Hey, I tackle the tough issues, people!

A few weeks ago, Katie came to my house and after swearing her to secrecy about the decidedly UN-designer decor in my bedroom, I let her into my master closet to work her magic...

Three hours later, I had these three bags of clothing (about 25 items - see pic below right) for my local Freecycle group and a closet organized not by color, as it had previously been, but by CLUSTER. Katie "clusters" clothing items that can be mixed-and-matched to wear together. Just as I teach my clients to store items together that they'll use together, you can do the same thing with your clothes.  It's just so dang logical and kind of like a 21st century grown-up Garanimals concept.

Here is a pic of my closet with its new cluster organization. (Yes, I keep my dress shoes above my head) You can see the clusters are separated by white plastic rings so I can see where one cluster stops and the next one begins. I was skeptical at first about keeping jackets, pants and shirts all mixed together, but I have to admit, clustering the items into outfits has made dressing much faster and simpler for me.

Here is a shot of Katie patiently slogging through my clothes and another of one of the clusters Katie put together with the mannequin, before the cluster went back into the closet.
 

 

During this process, Katie also pointed out that I didn't really have enough clothing to completely cluster my wardrobe. Not a big surprise, as I'm not really a clothes horse. When I fill in my wardrobe with a handful of key pieces, I'll have enough to cluster the rest. Here's what I'm missing:

A black summer weight jacket
A grey jacket
A patterned jacket
Casual black pants
Cream color pants
A great pair of blue jeans
A few stretchy v-neck tanks

Since Katie came over and clustered my clothes, I find dressing is a lot faster and easier, and I am more confident when putting outfits together. Thanks Katie for all your help! Now if I could just get Nordstrom to hook me up with those missing pieces I'd be good to go! 

Comments

[Amie Ragan, www.psychologyofclutter.com]

That looks like it was fun. My wardrobe is in such shambles these days I'm afraid she'd say, "Good Will wouldn't even want this stuff. You need to go on TLC's What Not To Wear." Does Katie have a web site?

Amie

[Monica Ricci]

Katie doesn't yet have a web site, unfortunately. Thanks for your comment!
~Monica

[Lorie Marrero]

Hi Monica,

Well, I would be completely remiss if I did not say something here about our product, the Simple Division® Garment Organizers. They don't spin around on the rod, and they provide a horizontal labeling surface so you can use label tape on them (hard to label the round things). You can get them on our website and soon to be in a major favorite retail store (announcement coming shortly!).

Sorry for the shameless plug, but I just wish everyone knew that our product works better than the round ones!

Thanks! - Lorie

[Monica Ricci]

Well Lorie, we know now! Thanks for letting my readers know about your product!
~Monica

[Suzan Satterfield]

Hi Monica - Love the new blog. Very clean design and user-friendly! Would you mind sending me Katie's contact info (or posting it if she doesn't mind). I may give myself a wardrobe makeover for my birthday. Unfortunately, I AM a clothes horse. But only great bargains...

[brianne]

Hi! Do you know where I can apply for a business makeover show? My parent's own an insurance company and it needs some major organization makeover!!LOL!

[anita bourgoyne]

I am interested in becoming a wardrobe consultant.Please if you have any information that would help me please send it.

[Monica Ricci]

Brianna, there are no business makeover shows that I am aware of, I'm sorry to say. Anita, I wish I could help you, but I'm sure if you Google it, you can find a million resources on how to study or take classes to become a wardrobe consultant. Thanks for your comments.
~Monica

[Te]

I am wondering if you have any thoughts about how one would go about organizing using clustering and make it so that their closet still looks neat and orderly and there are clear divisions between the various clusters.

Also, what do u do with items (like a white shirt for instance) that would work in several clusters?

[Monica Ricci]

Te, you can use Lorie's dividers to make clear divisions between the clusters. And you're right, very often not everything will go in just one cluster. I have a section of my closet that is simply solid color tops that might go with several things. I have that section organized by color family.
Good question and thanks for your comment.
~Monica