https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/question-for-those-that-organize-by-colour Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Sat, 18 Apr 2026 19:30:23 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/question-for-those-that-organize-by-colour/page/2#post-2214728 Sun, 08 Aug 2021 13:04:23 +0000 Helena 2214728@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thanks so much everyone! Such an interesting thread!</p> <p>FI - I think it might have to do with quantity of clothes and/or visibility too? Perhaps also types of clothes? I don't have a big or overly varied wardrobe particularly, and I have a pretty spacious closet, so even if I had no system at all, I think I'd be able to find what I'm looking for without much dilemma. Another one of those, might work for one but not for the other, situations </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/question-for-those-that-organize-by-colour/page/2#post-2214687 Sun, 08 Aug 2021 06:21:48 +0000 Minaminu 2214687@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Interesting thread! I only keep my seasonal clothes in the wardrobe due to space. The other seasonal clothes are stored in a vacuumed bag, ready to be used when the weather changes.</p> <p>I find it easier to order the clothes by category, starting from the left with the longest pieces (ie dresses, jumpsuit, coats) to the shortest at the end (tops, blouses..). Each category is then sorted by colour, my palette is limited to black, blue, white and some blush, so it looks pretty consistent! </p> <p>T-shirts and tops are stored in a muji drawer, also ordered by length and colour. </p> <p>If I have an appointment in the following day, I like to prepare 2 outfits in the evening before so that I am ready. It's a great help if I am running late! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/question-for-those-that-organize-by-colour/page/2#post-2214681 Sun, 08 Aug 2021 05:55:36 +0000 Stagiaire Fash 2214681@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Cat2, I can see it working if you wear columns of color *and only have one pair of each color*. If you have several tops and bottoms in the exact same shade, then you’re in the same conundrum as the rest of us, standing there with one item in hand, looking for something for the other half your body. Right? Am i missing something? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/question-for-those-that-organize-by-colour/page/2#post-2214611 Sat, 07 Aug 2021 19:05:49 +0000 cat2 2214611@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Lightbulb. Maybe by color works if you are a column of color person? I am not, and so sort by item. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/question-for-those-that-organize-by-colour/page/2#post-2214609 Sat, 07 Aug 2021 18:49:02 +0000 Sal 2214609@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I am similar to Lisa and Shevia. I have 2/3 of a longish rail plus a good size chest of drawers.</p> <p>On the rail is<br /> -scarves (on hangars)<br /> - jeans, pants and skirts<br /> - tops<br /> - toppers<br /> - coats<br /> - dresses<br /> - occasion wear</p> <p>They are roughly ordered by colour but not precisely. Space and access is not ideal.</p> <p>Out of season stuff is removed. </p> <p>I do want to change things but need a cycling addict that lives here to change a few things as bikes and cycling gear are everywhere!! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/question-for-those-that-organize-by-colour/page/2#post-2214513 Sat, 07 Aug 2021 05:25:43 +0000 Kate 2214513@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>FI, first I chose a bottom, based on the weather and what I plan to be doing that day. Colors of bottoms are way more varied in S/S, as is the type of bottom, since I have skirts, skorts, and shorts. Colors of the latter are neutrals as are the rest of my items, with the exception of a couple of extras in this season—a few pinkish coral items (midi skirt, sleeveless button-up, and cropped pants), and non-olive greens (two skirts). Mid-toned blues make up a significant portion of the color array in my S/S clothes though it does not appear in F/W, as does white. Summer is the only season I will wear optic white. The rest of the time, I prefer a sort of grayed white or canvas. I often do a column of color, which I love, across the seasons.</p> <p>In F/W, I only wear jeans or other pants; color palette for bottoms is a little less varied, but F/W is where I have my plaid pants. Probably 90% of my F/W pants are either black or mustard; olive, chestnut my few plaids make up the rest. If I don't do a column of color, I resort to certain color combinations that I enjoy, like mixing cool and warm olives (oops, column of color), olive and black, brown and black, copper and black, copper and mustard, chocolate &amp; chestnut, mustard &amp; black, mustard and brown, mustard and cranberry, cream and gray, cream &amp; black, olive and cream, and so forth. Because I look for items with texture or architectural shapes or details, I am never bored with dressing. It's easy and I have more variety than I know what to do with.</p> <p>In F/W, excitement comes with shoes/boots, toppers, scarves and bags. In S/S, to hell with excitement; I'm just trying to stay cool and decently covered enough for public viewing! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/question-for-those-that-organize-by-colour#post-2214314 Fri, 06 Aug 2021 13:05:48 +0000 Stagiaire Fash 2214314@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Please report back. I’ve only tried it once, for a 30-day capsule. Having a top &amp; bottom in the same (or similar) colors, as ST describes, slowed me down when I reached for one, because I had to figure out which it was. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/question-for-those-that-organize-by-colour#post-2214312 Fri, 06 Aug 2021 13:01:17 +0000 Helena 2214312@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>So fun to read about all the different strategies, how they impact how you get dressed, and how you work with the different spaces available!</p> <p>Like nemosmom, it makes me a little itchy to think about all the different lengths, etc. being mixed together with a colour-led organization but I can't resist trying it! If it doesn't work for me, I can always change it back and that's just more fun for me lol (maybe I need some better hobbies hah!) </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/question-for-those-that-organize-by-colour#post-2214294 Fri, 06 Aug 2021 11:31:03 +0000 Staysfit 2214294@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I organize by item type and color. &nbsp;My tops go from long sleeve pullover crew, long sleeve pullover v neck, long sleeve button down, then I do the same for short sleeve and sleeveless in every color of my wardrobe. &nbsp;I have sections for tops, toppers, and trousers/jeans. &nbsp;I put patterns where they fit most prominently….so if the overall look is blue, they go with the blues. &nbsp;Darker tones are before lighter tones. &nbsp;I have longer hanging for dresses and skirts which I organize by color and long sleeve before shirt before sleeveless. &nbsp;My sweaters are stacked on shelves by type and color also. &nbsp;Cardigans, pullovers, dresses, etc. &nbsp; </p> <p>My color order is vertical stripes, yellow, white, blush, pink, lavender, grey, light blue, blue-green, green , dark green, navy/ink, brown, eggplant, burgundy, fuschia, red. &nbsp;</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/question-for-those-that-organize-by-colour#post-2214282 Fri, 06 Aug 2021 10:08:55 +0000 Jaime 2214282@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I organize by type of item and then loosely by color - so all my hanging tops are together, dresses, jackets etc. Then I try to organize by color but sometimes do worns vs. unworn if that makes sense. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/question-for-those-that-organize-by-colour#post-2214275 Fri, 06 Aug 2021 09:11:50 +0000 Anonymous 2214275@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I duplicate colors across tops and bottoms often FI. I have a skirt and top in olive, burgundy, cinnamon, and of course black. My color scheme is quite tight and I have certain combinations, like burgundy + cinnamon, that I like especially. Plus, I know what I have cause my wardrobe isn't big. </p> <p>I think having my wardrobe organized this way affects my shopping because it keeps me from buying a bunch of outliers! </p> <p>I used to organize by type then color and it just looked cluttery to me, with several rainbows in a small space. Too much visual noise! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/question-for-those-that-organize-by-colour#post-2214260 Fri, 06 Aug 2021 07:45:12 +0000 Stagiaire Fash 2214260@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>May I ask a subquestion of those who organize by color? </p> <p>What is your process when it’s time to get dressed? That’s always my stumbling block when I think of this. I picture wanting to wear a certain skirt, and then seeing that it goes perfectly with…another skirt. No lie, when I put together travel capsules or dream about the perfect little coordinated wardrobe, or even if I’m just buying several mix n match pieces at once, I can get hung up on some pieces not going together, until I realize that they’d never be worn together, like two T-shirts. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/question-for-those-that-organize-by-colour#post-2214255 Fri, 06 Aug 2021 06:14:24 +0000 Kate 2214255@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>The structure of your closet, per Janet, does make a big difference. I don't have a walk-in closet, but two double-doored 6-foot closets side-by-side. The configuration has its pluses and minuses.</p> <p>The left side closet holds spring/summer clothes and shoes; right side, fall/winter clothes and shoes. The right side closet is much prettier, because, fall/winter clothes. That space is a festival of texture too, plus all my boots, and oxfords. They are grouped by color as well. Color from right to left: Browns, Whites, Grays, Blacks (only a few), a tiny slice of Cranberrry/Plum items, blues, olives. Color is the defining organizational tool: In each color category, clothing is mixed. The larger the category, like olive or brown, the greater the diversity of items. I don't have to worry about patterns, because I only have two patterned items, both in the brown section. One a window pane long jacket, the other a color blocked sweater—one of the few I hang. I only hang dress pants—jeans go in a lowboy in the bedroom at the foot of the bed, which also houses scarves, and my heaviest sweaters. Hanging are tops, light weight jackets, and cardis. My coats are in a separate closet in my office. That's my happy closet space, since I love outerwear.&nbsp; With just two F/W dresses and three midi skirts, I don't have to worry about hems dragging on the floor. That and the fact that my&nbsp; closet is also quite tall, lets me keep another low two-drawer dresser in there for my F/W sweaters, and I have shelving above the rail, as well as shoe storage to the right of the rail.</p> <p>I have less rail space on the S/S side, and more shelving. It works reasonably okay because I have fewer hang-up clothes for S/S than F/W and more need for shelving for tee shirts and cropped tops, plus all out-of-season purses. My purses are the only items that I switch out with the seasons. In-season purses are displayed on a beautiful shelf I bought 20+ years ago from a Spanish designer. I can grab whichever one I need and go.</p> <p>Ideally I would love to have more rail space on the S/S side, since hanging items do get squashed together, but that closet also houses towels for my bathroom plus bed linens. It's a problem for another day!</p> <p></p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/question-for-those-that-organize-by-colour#post-2214229 Fri, 06 Aug 2021 03:07:15 +0000 Anonymous 2214229@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>All seasons together divided by color except dresses, which have their own longer hanging area. &nbsp;They are divided by season right now, then by color, light colors first then gradually moving darker to black.<br />all my other-than-dresses blacks hang in one section arranged by tops first, then by weight. &nbsp;The first section has sleeveless pieces from lace to sheer to silk to rayon to cotton to wool. &nbsp;Next comes all the short sleeved tops arranged the san<br />me way by weight, then long sleeves, then a small group of prints that are mostly black, then toppers starting with vests, silk to winter quilted weights. Then jackets from sleeveless to short sleeved to long sleeved, flimsy to heavy ones. &nbsp;Then cardigans. &nbsp;Then a small section of print toppers with mostly black. &nbsp;Then bottoms, first pants from silk capries to full length velvet and wool and leather. &nbsp;Then skirts, summer weight first to only winter. &nbsp;I do this for each neutral. &nbsp;Other colors have their own section, arranged first by color,( light to dark) then by type and weight. &nbsp;If this does not make sense or is incomplete, ask questions. &nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/question-for-those-that-organize-by-colour#post-2214074 Thu, 05 Aug 2021 16:32:59 +0000 Jonesy 2214074@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I do a mix similar to what some other posters do: I sort by type of garment (e.g., all of my shirts/blouses hang together, all of my sweaters are folded on a shelf above the hanging tops, all of my work pants are hanging together, etc.) and then I sort by color, for the most part--though I am the strictest about this when it comes to my tops, probably because that's what I have the most of and so I feel compelled to keep them organized so I can keep track and find what I need when I need it.</p> <p>I mostly keep everything together in my main closet, season be damned, though I do switch out some summer and winter things like linen tops and blazers for work (using an "overflow" storage closet in an adjacent spare bedroom). I keep almost all of my clothes in my closet, with my half of a dresser reserved for socks, underwear, t-shirts, and exercise wear.</p> <p>Agreeing with Janet and others that the structure of one's closet dictates how everything will work and be organized, to a certain extent. I love my closet--it has lots of shelves, which really work for me for my loungewear (e.g., sweatshirts, lounge pants) and sweaters, in particular. I remember years ago there was a thread in which everyone shared pics of their closets, which I found quite illuminating! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/question-for-those-that-organize-by-colour#post-2214073 Thu, 05 Aug 2021 16:25:13 +0000 Anonymous 2214073@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Intriguing concept. I wonder if one organizes by color with all seasons mixed together if interesting outfits would blossom. Thanks for food for thought </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/question-for-those-that-organize-by-colour#post-2214069 Thu, 05 Aug 2021 16:07:57 +0000 nemosmom 2214069@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p><div>You read my mind, Helena!&nbsp; I am fascinated by color grouping, but got tripped up on the details - my brain can't accept the thought of grouping sleeve lengths and weights, much less mixing tops with bottoms...&nbsp; <br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Storage-wise, I have two narrow rails- a top and bottom (too short to hang something like a dress), but I have shelves. Top rail is all jackets, bottom rail is shirts, blouses, pants, skirts.&nbsp; Knits, tees, jeans, and shoes are on the shelves.</div><div><br /></div><div>Hooray to reorg as a sport!<br /></div> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/question-for-those-that-organize-by-colour#post-2214057 Thu, 05 Aug 2021 15:12:02 +0000 Laura (rhubarbgirl) 2214057@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I sort by type of garment and then color. I don’t keep my seasonal garments out all the time, but if I have something like sleeveless, short sleeved, and then long sleeved all out at once, I’ll sort by sleeve length and then by color. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/question-for-those-that-organize-by-colour#post-2214055 Thu, 05 Aug 2021 15:10:42 +0000 Helena 2214055@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thanks everyone for sharing your thoughts ... Carla, thanks for sharing the link to your post; such a helpful visual! </p> <p>Irina, high five for re-organizing as a hobby haha! :D</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/question-for-those-that-organize-by-colour#post-2214039 Thu, 05 Aug 2021 14:45:20 +0000 Anonymous 2214039@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I don’t sort by colour at all . I sort by garment type and then all my black stuff ( 80% of my wardrobe ) is together within each category but the rest is just a mix . Doesn’t bother me in the least . </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/question-for-those-that-organize-by-colour#post-2214034 Thu, 05 Aug 2021 14:35:20 +0000 cjh 2214034@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I agree with Janet that it’s not all cut and dried when your storage spaces are different. For myself, having small spaces, with wardrobe divided among two and a half closets, two dressers, two shelves, and a seasonal bin, plus another half closet and whole dresser for my workout gear, means the only place I sort by color is the main closet - which has only daily tops for the current season (since that one is shared by hubby.)<div><br /></div><div>Sorting by color pretty much loses any impact, so capsules are the way to go for me.</div> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/question-for-those-that-organize-by-colour#post-2214029 Thu, 05 Aug 2021 14:24:52 +0000 Carla 2214029@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Here is a post from earlier this year about my rainbow closet organization&nbsp;<a rel="nofollow" href="https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/evolution-of-a-closet">https://youlookfab.com/welookf.....f-a-closet</a>&nbsp;and here is a pic from this morning (sans stuff in laundry.) Prints are used as transitional items. &nbsp;Dresser drawer for t-shirts, sweaters, shorts, underwear, sports kit. Everything is out except seasonal outerwear which rotates between a main floor closet and basement storage. &nbsp; </p> <p>I have one long rail in a small walk-in closet, with a shoe shelf underneath and two shelves above that hold hats, bags, suitcase, kit bags.</p> <p>ETA - I’ve got my wardrobe items in Finds sorted into colour capsules as well.</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/question-for-those-that-organize-by-colour#post-2214026 Thu, 05 Aug 2021 14:16:30 +0000 rachylou 2214026@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>My clothes are divided by capsule, then type (top or pants or skirt), then colour </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/question-for-those-that-organize-by-colour#post-2214023 Thu, 05 Aug 2021 14:06:38 +0000 Irina 2214023@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p><b>Helena</b>, a reorg is my idea of fun, definitely. I do it often :)<br />To Janet’s point, yes, the configuration of a closet absolutely dictates the arrangement. Mine is small and with one, long rail. I keep clothes like long cardigans, dresses and pants separate from tops on one end of the closet. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/question-for-those-that-organize-by-colour#post-2214014 Thu, 05 Aug 2021 13:32:21 +0000 Helena 2214014@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thanks so much for the tips everyone!</p> <p>FI and Janet, I agree, I can see some practical considerations with this type of organization ... of course as you say Janet it very much depends on the configuration of the closet and the types of items, etc., too. And of course, everyone is different!</p> <p>For my part, I just want to try it for fun ... recognizing that "reorganize the closet" is not everyone's idea of fun! :D</p> <p>Nadya, I love it! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/question-for-those-that-organize-by-colour#post-2214011 Thu, 05 Aug 2021 13:25:00 +0000 Anonymous 2214011@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I have just 1 rail. TBH the dresses are awkward, especially since our stability balls are crammed in underneath :/ </p> <p>Annyyyttiimmee DHs PhD commitee....momma wants a new house.... </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/question-for-those-that-organize-by-colour#post-2214007 Thu, 05 Aug 2021 13:21:22 +0000 Janet 2214007@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I guess what I don’t get is this: </p> <p>I have a long hanging section for skirts and dresses and long jackets (long jackets and dresses get switched out seasonally since they are season-exclusive for me), and two shorter ones (upper and lower) that accommodate shorter garments — top rail is toppers (jackets, blazers, vests, organized by type and then color); bottom is all shirts and blouses (all seasons on one rail, organized by sleeve length, then knits vs wovens, then by color), plus maybe three pairs of pants. </p> <p>So, if you hang everything by color, do you have long and short items all hung together? Maybe a lot of this depends on closet configuration and wardrobe size. My system suits my space well, but maybe if you have one long rail and a smaller wardrobe, hanging everything by color works. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/question-for-those-that-organize-by-colour#post-2214006 Thu, 05 Aug 2021 13:18:13 +0000 Anonymous 2214006@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Side note- I used to keep colors by black, brown, ROYGBV...but the light colors looked awkward both after brown and after the rainbow. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/question-for-those-that-organize-by-colour#post-2214004 Thu, 05 Aug 2021 13:14:08 +0000 RobinF 2214004@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I have wondered about this too! I currently sort mine like you do and for the most part this works fine but it's so pretty to see a closet all organized by color!&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/question-for-those-that-organize-by-colour#post-2214001 Thu, 05 Aug 2021 13:07:38 +0000 Irina 2214001@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I keep only one season in my main closet. Dresses separately from tops as well as pants. All are hang from light to dark. I don’t split it by a type but I keep my WFH/casual clothes in a separate part of my closet. Jeans and sweaters are in a dresser. </p>