New Year’s Resolutions for Your Closet

Resolve to give your closet a makeover in 2010! Take 15 minutes each day or mark an afternoon off on your calendar to purge old outfits and past-their-prime styles.

Organization specialists will tell you to take everything out of your closet and divide it into four piles: "Keep," "Donate," "Throw Away," and "Belongs Somewhere Else." Make sure you put the “Donate” items in your car for a drop off and the “Throw Away” pile in the trash before sentiment creeps in. Get rid of items that do not fit properly, that need repairs (which you know you will never make), or pieces which ended up being the wrong color or fabric.

Organize your clothes by season and by type of item (dresses, skirts, tops, jackets, sweaters, pants), and hang everything backward, with the hangers reversed. The next time you wear something and put it away, turn the hanger in the proper direction. Anything still hanging on a reversed hanger after a year should be purged.

With the clothes and accessories you have left, judge the amount and type of storage items you need. Invest in good hangers, containers, rods, an organizer system, shelves, cabinets, shoe racks, and/or stackable sets of drawers.

And remember, the next time you shop, buy what you feel great in! Choose a few trendy items each season, but also select timeless, classic pieces. For instance, buy tops in the "now color" to pair with classic suits or pants. In addition, accessories can extend the life of your wardrobe and make an outfit look totally different.

Make certain you have outfits that are comfortable, stylish, and make you feel great!