Happy & Healthy
DO THE CLOSET DETOX
In 8 easy (well, sort of) steps
Good. Let me start by saying that I always lose something (click here but for the proof). My Chanel sweater (an exclusive gift we once received for Christmas and is therefore not for sale anywhere), my Gucci heels that are last season (so also no longer available) but are still my favorites. My leather jacket (indeed, that I just received from my partner): I lose everything.
Most of the time it miraculously comes back to me, but it causes a lot of stress. That's why there needs to be Order and Structure in the closet. And it has suddenly become spring, so it's time for a closet detox and as it goes with all detoxes, the process is not fun, but afterwards…
1. Everything out
Yes, when I say everything, I mean everything. If you want to jump out the window in panic at the sight of all that clothing, you can also do it compartment by compartment. First your leggings section, then your hanging clothes, then your lingerie, and so on.
2. Scrubbing away
Estelle Cruijff used to have a different maid every day. All with their own specialty. One cleaned the windows, the other did the laundry. And every Wednesday someone came to scrub out the wardrobes. With green soap. We do that twice a year and you will see what dust you remove. A lovely task.
3. Toss, take, storage
Do you remember, Carrie moved in with Big (we thought so at the time, that was before the fool pressed his mustache at the altar) and had to declutter her walk-in closet. You're going to do that too. Make three piles. Or no, make it four. One pile is for clothes that you won't make anyone happy with. That pile you donate to the Salvation Army or to H&M who will recycle it all. You even get a discount voucher from 15% for it.
The second pile is the pile that friends or colleagues might be happy about. And if that's not the case, those items can still go to pile 1. Pile 3 is the ‘store’ pile. Here you place the things you don't need every day. Ski clothes, winter gear, and maybe even your evening dresses. Pile 4 is the mountain of clothes that you just want back in your closet.
4. Storing
This is an extremely dangerous stage. You are inclined to just throw everything in a bag and never look at it again. But then you might as well throw the clothes away immediately, because you'll forget about them. Store like with like and ensure sturdy storage boxes or garment bags. Add enough mothballs. Now you might think that stinks, but it really doesn't have to. At a good dry cleaner, you have wooden balls that spread a lovely scent and prevent your clothes from being nibbled by little creatures. Then comes the chapter ‘labeling’. Make sure you can clearly see what’s inside the box or garment bag from the outside. I always add a rating. ‘Really Nice Ski Clothes!’ ‘Worth unpacking!’ I do this because otherwise, I keep walking around it on my attic.
”Often you think you have nothing (but really nothing) to wear, you are going to prevent that now”
5. In the closet
Check each piece carefully. Is it clean, are all the buttons on it, does it fit, is the hem not hanging out? This way you know that everything in your closet is immediately wearable. That brings peace. Often you think you have nothing (but really nothing) to wear because you know that there is something wrong with many clothing items. You are going to prevent that now.
6. Folding
Straight stacks, where a ruler can be laid next to, that's what we like. Set up an ironing board in your room and fold all your shirts perfectly straight. It helps if you iron a little and if you are a bad folder, you can fold around a magazine or a piece of cardboard. This way you know that everything has the same size.
7. Like with like
You can of course organize your closet by color, but I personally find like with like easier. And within the like category, I then hang by color. So jackets with jackets, pants with pants, jeans with jeans, sweaters with sweaters, and I always work from light to dark.
8. Inspiration
Use the inside of your door as an inspiration wall. Hang photos of yourself in outfits you were happy with. Preferably in every situation. A nice casual look, the perfect office suit, the party style, and the wedding guest for example. This way you know what looks you can always fall back on. Additionally, you can hang examples of your style icons in those same categories: Olivia Palermo, Carine Roitfeld (click here but for the style lessons from Miss Roitfeld), Queen Máxima. This way you can sneak a peek at what their extra styling ingredients are and what you can learn from them.
It's a task, but really, you will be happy with it every day. Until it becomes a mess again in September. Then we start over.
