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Capsules and closet organization

jazz69

Hi,
A few weeks ago I took a whole day to build capsules out of my entire wardrobe and put them back in my small closet( the german way- no closet but small armoire).... first I liked having different items hanging together as a cluster but after a couple of weeks I ' m annoyed... I used to have a nice organized closet with like items hanging together,colorcoded and all.... now I don't know what to do!? I feel like a days work would be wasted if I reorganize...any suggestions- how do you do it?Thanks for your ideas!

Dressing

17 replies

Latest reply was from jazz69

unfrumped

Veteran

I feel your pain. I tried some re-organizing by different types, and by colors exclusively, and it was fun for awhile but then got kind of out of sync with how I think. What works best is for me to have items by type/silhouette--tops that are worn out and long, tops short/boxy, tops for tucking (of course there is some overlap) and pants not as important, but usually by "slim" for "big tops" and regular, for tuck/no tuck, then skirts.

You might try a combination approach. Organize by type & color, but then pick an end of the closet rod, or even a hook somewhere, for several "outfits" you've selected for the coming week, where you have all the parts together. Or select one small capsule--2 bottoms, 4 tops, 2 toppers or some idea in which you're aiming to wear those items in different combiations--perhaps they are all the right weight and style for the weather and activities likely that week--and put it out with plans to wear those items in the coming week.

Marlene

Veteran

How you organize should be in concert with how you get dressed. Do you wear the same outfits all the time? Or are you a mix and match girl? Or something else all together? There is no one way to organize so you have to do it the way that works with how you operate naturally. For example, I get dressed by color...what color do I want to wear today? and then go to that section. So everything is sorted by color with all the options in that color grouped together.

I am also a jewelry maker and all my beads are organized like this as well. It just works for how I put things together.

rachylou

Veteran

What Marlene and unfrumped said. I have a combination-type of organizational system. Office clothes are together, bakery clothes are together, etc. Then within those sections, things are separated out by type and colours - tops one pile, bottoms the other. I do mostly shelf storage; hanging is blouses and coats and dresses.

L'Abeille

Veteran

If you want to keep the benefits of all the work you did on building the capsule combinations, you can print up the combinations in words, or as photos, and stick them on the inside of your armoire door for reference. That way you can keep stuff where it seems like it "ought" to be in your favoured system, but not lose all those ideas. Also, this way your pre-planned capsules won't close your mind to seeing new combinations you hadn't thought of before.

When I first learned about capsules, my understanding--or at least the way I proceeded--was to build each capsule around a print item (since I wear so few of those) and the capsule would consist of all the solid colour items I would wear it with. So the overlapping items (the neutral pants etc) were sort of hung between the print items and the single-capsule pieces. But there were still bits that didn't fit in properly. I did that for a while, and then my brain was used to thinking in capsules and I could go back to hanging the items the "logical" way.

Lisa

Veteran

I recently reorganized my closet by outfits and this works really well for me. But I like to repeat the same outfit combinations again and again. Previously I had sorted by type and I also tried by colors. For myself these did not work well because I had to think about outfit combinations too much. Also my current wardrobe is a bit diverse and does not mix and match very well. If my wardrobe mixed and matched well I think organizing by type would be lovely. And organized my color was most pleasing to the eye for me. If you want to rework your closet you can always just reorganize as you put things back instead of doing a massive overhaul.

Debra

Veteran

Hmmm this is tricky....currently my clothes are grouped by colour.
Blacks, whites, greys and then brights ( tops) i love how this looks but I do find myself hunting through all the black for a particular item.
I have been considering grouping by type......not sure I'll like how this looks though. Sorry I'm not very helpful here, but I feel your pain

Beth Ann

Veteran

Another vote for keeping photos within easy view!

Carole

Veteran

I have all my closet organized by like items and colors but then have a little section in the front where I've organized a small capsule to work with for a week or so. Gives me a chance to create some outfits from items I want to give more love to without rearranging the order in the rest of the closet. This has worked pretty well for me and when I get a little tired of the capsule I just put it all back and create a new capsule to work with.

Anonymous

I feel your pain because I too tried to organize my closet around capsules and my closet looked chaotic. I eventually gave up and re-organized by type (top, bottom) and then color. I feel much better facing order each morning as opposed to chaos.

For several months, I took pictures of each outfit I wore and evaluated my impression at the end of the day. Was it a success for work? Did it make me feel good while running errands? Did I feel frumpy? Was I comfortable?

I posted pictures of the outfits that made me feel wonderful and slowly got rid of the items/outfits that made me feel frumpy or less up to par.

Lyn D.

Veteran

My only suggestion is at least putting your jackets on the same hanger as toppers you know work with them.
This saves time and closet space.
Also keep cooler weather and warmer weather stuff in separate areas or ends of your hanging space, or long sleeved and short sleeved foldable items in separate drawers or piles.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I vote for photos to help you remember outfits and combinations. Either that, or short notes to yourself. I just hang my stuff by type and colour (i.e. shirts together, then skirts, then pants, then jackets).

Susie

Veteran

I like the idea of taking photos or making a list of the outfits that you've made, then organizing your items by what feels best for you. Mine are sorted by type, then color within each type.

Carla

Veteran

Closet is sorted by colour-white, grey, black, navy through cobalt, purple, yellow, red. Outfits get photographed.

gryffin

Veteran

Jazz- do you remember the famous Thomas Edison quote. He never failed he just learned 10,000 ways that didn't work to make a light bulb. We often learn more from what doesn't work than what does. So you did not waste time, you simply maed sure that this system did not work for you. I personally organize tops, pants, dress, then by sleevess, or length and in between lightest to darkest. I do keep a "Note" on my phone with outfits. I keep notes by the dominant element - jeans, black pants, leggings etc. I am very specific and often include variations I want to try. I do admire people who can do spreadsheets, photos but I don't have the time to put into that. Good luck. You will figure out what works best for you!!

deb

Veteran

Two weeks ago I reorganized my closed so it is color coordinated. The tops, pants and skirts are kept together, though. I used to have long sleeve, short sleeve, sleeveless tops, sweaters, cardigans and pullovers, pants by length, all separated. I am still getting used to them all together. I made up my mind to live this way for a year before I change it. It takes that long for me to adjust because I am stubborn.

cheryl

Veteran

I love capsules in theory but I just have too many clothes and they don't work for me.
I hang my clothes by type. Tanks, then short sleeve on one bar. 3/4 and long sleeves on another. Pants on another, etc. I tried sorting by color but that didn't seem to work for me although every once in a while I feel like color coding again because everything looks so pretty that way.
All of the work you did wasn't a waste though. It just helped you to see that isn't going to work for you. Photograph or make notes of the capsules and you will have that to refer back to.

jazz69

Thank you so much for all your input and ideas:))I will take notes or pics and organize it to my old ways of type and then color- my off season clothes are kept seperately.Hope to find time this weekend!