Starting this thread for help while I clean out my wardrobe and decide what to let go. Now that both kids have moved out to college, I've taken over one daughter's bedroom to spread out and make space for this project. This will be an ongoing process over the next few weeks... well, I have until Thanksgiving.

I posted before about how my ultimate goal is to get most of my wardrobe to fit into my one closet, which is approx 5 feet long and not very tall (just enough space on a shelf to store tall boots -- they fit perfectly). About 2 feet of this closet space is tucked behind a wall. On one side, there's a foot recess that has shelving that we use for bathroom and other supplies. On the other side, I use the one foot hard-to-reach/hard-to-see space to store formal wear (cocktail dresses) because I can't bear to stuff them into a box; they need and deserve to hang. In other words, there is only about 3-4 feet max of usable, visible hanging space.

It seems like it'd be a lot of space, but having come from a walk in closet before I downsized my entire life, it's tiny as can be. I have long rotated my wardrobe each and every season, relying on office moving crates for storage. I have 6 of these:
http://www.dnvanlines.com/temp.....s/tote.jpg

They fit into an under-the-stair closet. This works fine except that I often find myself dragging the boxes out to locate an item I want. And of course the item is always in the last box. Grrr. And also I am getting really tired of the 4x a year seasonal rotation, which this past year, after a ruthless rotation, I cut down to only 2x a year. However, I think I can do even better and that is my goal!!

My goals are:

1) Get storage down to just two crates: one for seasonal "gear" (exercise stuff, and also Pj's). And the other for winter items in the summer, and summer items in the winter.

2) Make enough space that all the remaining items in my closet have room to breath. I am notorious for cramming as much as I can into the closet, and things get rumpled and the hangers get tangled. I recently did a pass on the closet and at this moment it's so nice to have some space in there. I think I can do even better.

3) Fit all my shoes (all four seasons) in my closet, where they can be seen. (I discovered I have a box of shoes under my bed. Not even sure what is in there, which tells me I should probably just toss them all without even looking at them....)

I have already moved all my purses to the back of the hall closet (which is quite close to my bedroom full length mirror, so way more convenient. I used to have the whole family's scarves, mittens, and gloves in a shoe hanger on the back of that door. Now that it is just the two of us, I am going to find some boxes to sort these out and put them all where my purses used to be, near the front door, in a cabinet.

I am not allowed to "cheat" and store anything in my girls' bedroom closets, as empty as they are right now. Both girls specifically asked me to not do this, so I will honor that -- until they move out permanently.

STATUS so far:

With first pass, two garbage bags ready to be donated!

QUESTIONS so far:

1) I have a ton of skirts, mostly summer/spring weight. At one point I preferred them over dresses for warm weather. I have already done one ruthless pass and got rid of a lot, but I think I may want to get rid of nearly all of these, save maybe one or two.

I also have a ton of "skirt-length" tops. I have already culled all the skirt length tops that have sleeves. I am debating what to do with the rest.

It seems to me that these skirt-length tops really only go with a specific skirt. So I have a lot of space being taken up by items that aren't very versatile, they make only one outfit, together.

We have such a short summer season here. Why do I have so much summer clothes? Cotton and knits do not last as long. So I keep buying so I can have something that looks fresh and not tired. The tops are synthetic but even then, they get arm pit stains. Many of these did not have stains when they went into the box. But they do now. So they are gone. What's more, none of these came out and into my closet this past year... some going on two years... so why am I holding on to them?? TOSS? Talk me into it...

2) I have a box filled solely with "things to wear if my weight goes up 10 lbs again." This includes some highly flattering dress slacks in classic cuts -- nothing that looks dated. Items that I found were the most difficult things to shop for when my weight was higher. But, it's been 4 or 5 years now since I lost the weight. Safe to assume that I can let go of these items?

NOTES TO SELF:

1) Purchase new smart wool leggings and top. This falls into gear category. The ones I have are all covered in lint. Even if I just wear them around the house on cold days, or under gear to exercise, might as well look good, right?

2) I have a midi-length black wool skirt!! I haven't worn it in eons. Not sure if it still fits, or what. Try on later and post for YLF critique.

OBSERVATION:

Wow, my tastes have totally changed over the years. I'm finding it VERY interesting the items that have not come out of the box this past year or two.