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Rearranging your ward - robe is a perfect distraction while you’re confined indoors during lockdown.
There’s no better feeling during these chaotic times than taking back some control of your life by making your home space more comfortable.
Organising your closet is an ideal project as you settle into your new work-from-home environment.
It’s easy to fall into the trap of staying in pyjamas all day behind your desk if you have to work remotely.
But it’s important to start the day like any other normal workday. Maintain a schedule. Get up, take a shower, get dressed and make yourself presentable – whether you’re working or not.
Starting the morning off right sets the tone for the rest of the day.
And a clean, organised wardrobe also does wonders for your sense of wellbeing.
But where to start? And what goes and what stays?
Make time to sort through your clothes and get your cupboard winter-ready with these easy tips.
5 easy steps to edit your closet
Step 1: Let's begin
Start small. We all have socks that’ve lost their partners along the way and we keep them in the hope that their mate shows up. So start by throwing away unmatched, worn socks. Put together the ones that match and are in a good condition. You can even arrange them according to colour. When you’re done, move on to underwear, and work your way up to other items.
TIP
Keep a sock bag to keep dirty socks separate from other laundry. Give each person in the household their own bag.
Step 2: Donation pile
Go through your cupboard and take out items you haven’t worn in a while or have no intention of wearing again. Be ruthless. Look out for duplicates. Do you really need 10 white shirts? If you haven’t worn something for a year, it’s time to purge. Sort everything into two piles. Your favourite items go onto the “keep” pile.
Clothes that you haven’t worn for a long time go onto the “donation” pile. Since you can’t leave your house and drop off donations immediately, start a donation box and add items you don’t need anymore. You can box it up and stash it out of the way. When things return to normal, make it a priority to deliver it to a charity of your choice. Doing something nice for someone else makes us feel good during times of uncertainty.
Step 3: Closet hero
Work with the clothes you love wearing and build a wardrobe around them. If you’re into tracksuit bottoms at the moment, pair them with a presentable or smart T-shirt or knit so you can still be comfy yet stylish.
Try not to wear the same pants a few days in a row. Make a change. Swop to jeans or comfortable pants and pair them with a golf T-shirt. Bring in some colour to brighten your look. Hang these wardrobe heroes together to make it easy for you to style.
Step 4: Work-from-home outfits
Start with what you have. Take 10 of your favourite items out of your closet and make them the basis of your look. Build outfits around them. Your favourite jeans can be paired with a cosy knit or a quirky T-shirt.
If you’re opting for a dress, team it with a chunky cardigan for a cool at-home look. Try to plan an outfit for each day. That way you prepare yourself mentally for the day ahead. Dress to lift your mood.
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Clothing that you wear most, such as tops and jeans, should be the most accessible in your closet.
Step 5: Brighten it up
Bring bright colours where you can see them easily. Colour generally brings about positivity and light. Group similar colours together.
Do the same with the rest of your wardrobe.
It would be smart to group items such as dresses, pants and shirts together.
Tuck off-season items in the back of your cupboard if you don’t have enough storage space. Take your time with this process. There’s no need to rush and cause unnecessary anxiety.
Take it one day at a time. We have time now to do things we didn’t have time for before. Remember, we’ll go back to showing up and dressing up.
TIP
Grouping your items by categories makes it easier to know exactly what you have and where it is in your closet. Arrange them by style, length and colour.
