Ok, I'm going for it. I am declaring here on YLF that I am actually going to clean/purge my closet - and, I am going to (reluctantly) show you why I really need your help!

All day today I have not been able to get the picture of Angie's closet out of my head - I want something like that soooooo bad - and I have wanted something like that for a long time, but I have never been able to get there - not even close (as you will see in attached pics.)

The reason that I am posting these terribly embarrasing pics is that I am hoping that (after you stop laughing, or shaking your head in dismay!) that you will be able to give me some tips on where and how to begin.

I thought I'd get started on *trying* to do this a couple of weeks ago, but I just pulled a bunch of stuff out, got overwhlemed, threw some of the stuff back in and just left the other stuff on the floor . . . or whatever. I just couldn't deal with it - and so that is where it has stayed - until NOW.

A little background info: What you see in the pics is the closet of a woman who has gone through drastic changes in the last 5-6 years of her life. I used to be the CEO of a large non-profit company that involved lots of traveling, meetings, etc. For several years after I gave up that job, I still shopped for "work" - thinking that I would eventually get back into that line of work - but I didn't, and I'm pretty sure that I won't. So, my wardrobe is really confused - with a mix of business appropriate wear, casual wear, and everything in-between.

Also, I've moved from a 3000 sq. ft. house with a HUGE walk-in closet to a 1000 sq. ft. condo (that I hate - not the size, but the condo itself) with an 8 foot sliding door closet with one rod and one shelf. The last 22 months I've been on a pretty strict SYC, due to financial reasons. I've allowed myself the occasional minor purchase with birthday money/cards - but that's it. So, most of what you see in the pics are clothes/shoes/bags that I've had at least for 2 years.

I think I've hit "bottom" when it comes to closet "organization" - the only way is up, right?

Here's a description of these pics:

1, 2, 3 - the three different sections of the closet. There are 3 sliding doors - I can only have 2 of them open at a time -the doors often "fall" off of the rollers and I can't get them completely open or completely shut. (Our landlord doesn't really care about those kinds of things.)

4, 5, 6 - the "floor area" of the 3 different sections. 'Nuf said.

7 - the pile that has not been moved since my disastrous start several weeks ago - the cats have had a heyday playing hide-and-seek in it,

8 - my hat-rack, full of hats and handbags,

9 - my camera tripod with excess hat hanging on it, along with a laundry basket full of scarfs

10, 11, and 12 - the 3 drawers from my dresser,

13 - more shoes and plastic bins behind my bedroom door,

14 - items sitting out in the hallway that either need to be tailored or donated

15 - a section of Mr. Marley's closet that contains a few of my "extras."

This is a plea for help. What should I do? How should I begin????? These pics will probably not stay on here for very long, because I'm not really "in" to embarrasing myself on purpose!

Thank you for your help!