by Eve Tierney

Created on: December 11, 2009   Last Updated: February 19, 2010

If getting dressed is an obnoxious chore fraught with frustration and despair rather than a moment of pleasure and excitement, there's a reason why: You're not organized. Here are some tips for making over your closet and creating a wonderful start to every day!

1.  Declutter. Get rid of any article of clothing that makes you feel fat, dowdy, or unglamorous. Life is too short to wear something that will make you feel like an unfabulous mess.  Likewise, don't buy anything you don't absolutely love, no matter how trendy the color, cut, style, heel, texture, etc. is at the moment.  It's good to try new things, but be sure you like what you're trying to pull off. If you don't feel a burning desire to wear the brand new item right away, it's probably not for you, and definitely shouldn't be in your closet!

2. Create a seasonal system. Store any clothes you will not be wearing for the season. Also, store anything you are keeping for sentimental reasons,  or items that will be coming back into fashion again. You can store them in a large box (or garment bags) and store it on your closet shelves, under the bed or in an attic. This way, your closet is always weather-appropriate.

3. Group your accessories together, for instance, all of your purses with purses, scarves with scarves, hats with hats, etc. There should be a designated shelf, box or some other area where your items that go together are. A box will keep your items from getting lint or dust on them.

4. Organize your clothing by color or style. Whichever system appeals to you is what you should use. It will be easier to dress this way because you will only grab complimentary items and not waste your life rummaging and getting annoyed.

5. Always try to keep your shoes in good repair. Ratty shoes are clutter, plain and simple. If you love a shoe and plan to wear the heck out of it, buy two so when one needs to go to the cobbler, you can wear the other. Your entire outfit truly revolves around your shoe. Many an outfit was made or destroyed by the shoe, and many a closet was ruined by a pile of unwearable shoes.

6. Take your dry-clean-only items to the dry cleaner. Don't let them hang in your closet or get crumpled in your hamper. Stop being lazy and go to the cleaners. Once they are clean again, you will have one more option to wear. If your cleaners is by your grocery store, you can knock down two chores in one trip!

7. Take any items that need repair or alteration to the tailor. Do not have anything in your closet you cannot wear right now. This deserves to be repeated: Do not have anything in your closet you cannot wear right now. If you can't wear it, you should not look at it because it will depress or annoy you.

8. Iron your clothes before you hang them. You don't have time to do it the day you want to wear it!  Have an ironing day once a week, or do it the night before-just do it before the day you wear it. Standing in your stockings with a toothbrush hanging out of your mouth as you scramble to iron is ridiculous.

9. Less is more. No, you don't need 7 items that somehow become 144 outfits when you mix and match, but less is often more, not only in style, but also organization. The less crap you have, the less mess your closet is in. As stated before, prune, store, and group together your items. Don't buy or keep anything you don't love. Think of the pleasure you feel when you have items you love, and multiply that by a whole closet. Feel the difference? That can be your everyday reality with a little organization and discipline!

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