by Melody Lesser

Created on: April 05, 2007   Last Updated: April 16, 2007

"I have nothing to wear," is the lament heard round the world from women whose closets are brimming over with clothes. If you've uttered these words before yet find yourself staring daily at the crowded hole in the wall that is your closet, it's probably time to do some weeding.

Weeding out your closet can be a tedious task. It requires an open mind, brutal honesty and several large lawn and leaf bags. It also requires time, patience, a healthy ego and often, the opinion of a trusted friend or family member. A digital camera, a cache of hangers and as many clear plastic boxes as you have pairs of shoes will make the job easier as well.

Once your mind is set on the task and the above items are in order, it's time to begin. Start at the back of your closet. Often, the clothing that lurks within its recesses is likely to be too small or too dated. If that's the case, you won't even need to try these items on. Simply employ the twelve-month rule of closet cleaning. If an item hasn't been worn in the past year, discard it. This is no time for sentimentality. That green taffeta prom dress will not be coming back in style any time soon. Ditch it. This first step should go a long way towards weeding out your closet.

Step two is a bit trickier and requires not only a steely resolve but an unbiased eye and a strong ego. This is where your trusted friend or family member comes in. Try on every remaining article of clothing in your closet and assess yourself in the mirror. Have your friend judge each item on its fit and fashionability. Check for rips, pills, pulls, missing buttons and anything else that might deem the item as unwearable. If it fits, is fashionable and requires only minor repairs, put the item aside and be sure to have it fixed before returning it to your closet. If it's too small, out-of-date or beyond repair, throw it on the pile with the green taffeta prom dress. This is the clothing that you can donate or sell to a consignment shop, depending on each item's salability.

While you're trying on each article of clothing, now is a great time to make outfits of your separates. Keep only those items that go with something else. For example, if you own a blouse that doesn't go with anything in your wardrobe, get rid of it. If you haven't found a pair of pants or skirt to coordinate with it up until now, it's unlikely that you will. Give it away and let someone else match it up. Keep a written or photographic record of the clothes you own and of "what goes with

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