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Rearranging my closet.... by outfits

Sarah A

Veteran

I've started a outfit tracking spreadsheet a few weeks ago, thanks to ??? I cant remember who here on the forum. But in my happiness factor column, I discovered that I havent really been liking what I have been wearing lately, more 7 and fewer than 9 or 10's. I feel primary culprit is that if i try to pick in the AM i have no time to adjust what doesnt work before having to run out the door. The night before I am usually tired and lacking motivation...

As such Sat, I spent 5 hours making 16 outfits (that hopefully will find a few FFBO's discovered) and hung each together as an outfit in my closet. Instead of just picking things I *thought* would work I actually tried them on and swapped out pieces to fix proportions etc.

I have usually been organized tops light to dark, pants light to dark, jackets light to dark, dresses light to dark kind of gal so this looks a bit messy to me, but I am hoping it will make "grab and go" easier and improve my outfit satisfaction. I am also hoping it gets me out of a blah dressing rut. I'll be interested if I wear what I planned or if ill decide more tweaking is needed. Ill be taking pics and plan to post in groups of 5 to evaluate how well this system change seems to work.

Do you ever switch your closet organization system? How do you pull through a style rut? Love to hear your ideas

Bonus pic 2: About the only outfit of the last week I have liked enough to take a pic of. Hem a bit short for my normal look but I felt the boot helped it from feeling to resort-wear for everyday life. By noon my legs were too hot in this weather though!

Happy Monday!

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27 replies

Latest reply was from

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

*applause*

I love hearing people mess around in their closets to come up with fun outfits. GREAT job trying them on to see if they meet your approval. That's key.

I have a few clients who hang ready-to-go outfits in their closets, and it really works for them. They are not concerned with mixing and matching their items.

texstyle

(website)

Veteran

I think it's a great idea and I sometimes do this too. Especially if I have to do something in particular - a meeting, a party, a presentation, etc. then I really want to know exactly what I'm wearing and how it's going to look. But even for regular days, it's nice to know ahead of time when something works. I have several FFBOs now but I'd like to have a closet where everything felt that easy.

AJ

Veteran

16 outfits, that's awesome! I look forward to your review post.

unfrumped

Veteran

Way to go! That sounds like it will really save time and trouble.

I've just rearranged some areas myself and made a "capsule" section to highlight some outfits I want to wear in the coming week or so.

I've also rearranged by color at times.

Even when I may later go back to other arrangements, taking a fresh look really helped me understand what I have, what I'm wearing.
Plus I have the same problem of misunderestimating my skills at mix-& matching on short notice and then not being happy with the outfit.

lyn*

(website)

Veteran

Awesome! It's so easy to grab and go if you know you are going to look fabulous :3

I have a few emergency outfits for when they call me in the middle of the night to get back to the hospital, but I really like this approach if it works for you!

Sarah A

Veteran

Thank you Angie! I love that some of your clients have non-mix outfits. And trying them on was very educational.... a key step in the process I have not spent enough time on before. I feel like I am on the right track.

Texstyle, yes. the whole session started with finding a topper to wear with a dress to a friends upcoming wedding. But then, I just kept going making more outfits. An easy fab closet? Sounds like the perfect goal!

AJ, yes 16! I am not sure if I will wear them all before i create new on the fly ones but I dont have too many unpaired bottoms left at this point.

Unfrumped, I like you capsule section idea. That's a good one! It is amazing how we change how we physically place things it opens our eyes to new ideas. I am glad im not the only one who overestimates her ability to just whip up a good mix and match look too...

Lyn*, I just remember this lovely visual you posted once of like 10 days of your outfits on your clothes rack. Your florals and dots looked so pretty and fun hanging there!

AnnieMouse

Veteran

Oh! YAY! Spreadasheet lovers unite! This makes me so happy that you were inspired to start one - though BOO on having 7s and not 9s - but yay, again, on figuring out as a result what makes you happiest. My biggest finding was that when I start to see the same things crop up over and over again in its column, it's my reminder to change it up

I love the idea of sorting your closet by outfit, and can't wait to hear how that works for you.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Great idea, Sarah -- I'll be very interested in finding out how this works for you! And you are so right -- trying on is absolutely key. It's surprising how different it can be on the body vs. laid out neatly on the bed or on the hangers.

deb

Veteran

Wow, this is a great idea. I might have to try this but I will need to get my OCD under control first. Did you include shoes and bags with the outfits?

TraceyLiz65

(website)

Veteran

Great job trying them on and switching out to get proportions right!
I have been doing 6-7 outfits in the front of my closet like this in case of busy days where creativity and mood dressing aren't possible. Spreadsheets are too organized and my ADD brain has no patience to do that or nor would I ever refer back to it... i do peruse blogging photos fo see how I've worn things or to switch things up a little. Organizing your closet in this manner is sure convienent and sounds like a fantastic solution! Kudos!

Right now, all my leather and faux leather jackets are hanging in their usual spaces with dresses underneath, as I dream of wearing them as soon as the weather cooperates...

Anonymous

Great idea!

Suz

(website)

Veteran

LOL, Deb. I sort of have the same problem. I have to arrange by colour and item or I would go nuts.

BUT...I do find that the capsule exercises are super helpful to me in getting me to TRY ON combos, and then I simply remember them.

Caro in Oz

Veteran

When I worked long hours I'd spend a couple of hours at the weekend to pick out 5 outfits for the week. I'd hang everything together including jewellery, bag & shoes. It saved so much time in the mornings

Generally though I like my clothes arranged by colour then style.

Anonymous

I definitely want to try this once the weather settles into fall (and I can judge how cold I'll be every day)!

Susie

Veteran

I love this idea! I would be happy if I could do one weeks ' worth!

I do have several new pieces for fall that I am excited about wearing. Maybe a good plan would be to make an outfit with each one- including trying them on!- so that I can be really happy with how I wear each piece.

Sarah A

Veteran

AnnieMouse -- Yippee for spreadsheets I am hoping seeing the same item a lot will motivate me to switch it up and not (the horror!) buy duplicates? I am trying to remember my style will likely move way on before I can wear out two of the same items.

Deb, Suz -- Yes, I did plan shoes for most of them... but I am not sure I can remember which shoes went where! And it's only been a day... this is why Suz's plan to try on and then remember the outfit leaves me with more forgotten than actually worn outfits. DH has suggested I color code my shoes and use colored stickers to assign them to the outfits hangar. And I might.... but goodness. I dont have THAT many shoes so certainly I figure this out And luckily I have a high tolerance for visual chaos in my closet. This does look like a hot mess! I will admit the varied hangar types bugs me though.

TraceyLiz --I love the idea of having a handful of outfits, 6 or 7 like you said, at the ready. then you dont feel like all your clothes are tied up in outfits but then if a day comes and you dont feel like thinking of something you dont have to. A great compromise system. Cant wait until you can showcase those leather jackets!

Caro -- I like the idea of color than style.... I had always subcategorized items before color. I bet it looks lovely to have the color consistent first. I love that you had all you looks ready for the week down to the last detail. A great way to make sure the details are right!

Thanks Ceit!

Gillian Pearl -- the weather might throw a wrench in my plan. I made a variety of less warm to warmer looks but I might not end up wearing some if this get unseasonably warm or cool. A week seems like a pretty good interval for a decent weather forecast!

Susie -- I am actually surprised how many i got. I also helped get some lesser worn items into rotation since the "usual" pairings were tied up in other outfits. Great idea to build something fab around your new pieces! You should totally give it a go I have two (t least!) fall items i struggle with styling so this was in part an exercise to try to get them into rotation.

Lyn D.

Veteran

I love closet organisation threads!
Sounds like you a doing a great job here.
I hang suitable jackets over tops or dresses I like to wear them with.
This saves space in my smallish closet. I colour-code the jackets and have dresses together at one end.

Lantana

Veteran

I enjoyed reading about your process Sarah and now I'm looking forward to your posts. I found fresh inspiration from ordering my clothes by item, rather than by colour. I have tried on combinations, including accessories, to make capsules which I have laid out on a white sheet to photograph, Polyvore style.
I've pinned these onto a secret Pinterest board and check them out almost daily, to remind myself of what I have at my fingertips. Penny

rachylou

Veteran

This is great. My first visual example of a closet done by outfits. How's it working second week in?

jayne

Veteran

Yeah! I am a outfit organizer! I have noooo imagination in the morning and much prefer my closet arranged by outfits. I cannot wait to hear how it goes (and excel is my secret love....what a fantastic product)

Lisa

Veteran

I also organize my closet by outfits. I don't find it as pleasing asthetically, but I do find it helps me get out the door really fast in the morning. I generally stick to my preplanned looks, but will sometime swap a top with another bottom if I want to try out a new combination. And some combinations I like so much I just keep repeating it over and over again.

Sarah A

Veteran

Well... how is is going thr second week in (to Rachy's point) ... I apparently dont like to wear preplanned looks all that much .... OR .... I mis-guessed the weather. Here is what I have worn... and I have repeated the jeans and striped blazer yesterday. So, I still have 13 pairings "made up" in the closet unworn and have been "mood dressing" most mornings. I dont know if I am just not excited about what I paired during my brainstorm session or ... ????

None of the skirt outfits have been worn. Most of the skirts are wool and just see too heavy for the warmish weather we had had as of late...

LynD - I like the pairing the toppers over the underlayers. Like I have one blouse I only wear with a certain jacket. Why should they not just live together ALL the time!

Penny -- love the secret pinboard idea. sometimes I seem to overlook what IS at my fingertips. The computer is nice for seeing it all at once. And, doing that i could organize my closet however but remember my fav looks. Great idea!

Jayne -- love that you love powerpoint I need to get my entries made from my photos currently. I seem to go strong for a bit then bog down... ETA: Ha! Powerpoint? Excel! you can see where my mind is today...

Lisa -- Apparently I like to repeat too Not sure how/why I am not seeming to stick with my preplanned looks...

Mary Beth (formerly LBD)

(website)

Veteran

I've tried pre-planned outfits in the past - only to find I didn't wear them! So I mainly do what you mention in the original post - I organize my closet by pants, dark-to-light, then colors, short sleeve tops, dark-to-light, then colors, etc.

I also do a spreadsheet of daily outfits, and what I was doing that day, so that if I need an outfit for 'birthday dinner with a friend', I can located it in the activity column, then look for a 10 in the happiness column right next to it. This has saved me a TON of time when I needed an oufit fast.

If an outfit isn't a 10, I note in parentheses why I felt it wasn't a 10 (problem with the fit? were the proportions off? maybe something looked worn-out or shabby. Have I gained a couple of pounds and just feel self-conscious about an outfit I previously liked?)

And then I note what I think would make the outfit a 10 the next time (different shoes? different topper? different cami underneath? different accessory?)

Lantana

Veteran

Chiming in again to say how useful I am finding this thread.
Sarah, I don't know what's happening in your part of the country but it is 15 here today and I am back in winter woollies.
It's a good thing I had not packed away my winter wardrobe, which was my previous habit. I got the idea of hanging all the seasons together from Deborah and it has helped me defeat the vagaries of spring weather.
I love that two items in your wardrobe have found True Love. May they be together forever.

karymk

Veteran

I love this idea of hanging the outfits together, jewelry and all. But what I do instead is photograph the outfits, then hang everything back in its rightful spot on the rack. Same principle really, but this allows you to repeat belts and accessories etc more easily. If you hang your gold hoops with one outfit for example, how do you use them again for another pre-made outfit?

For a woman on the go who needs to get dressed quickly and efficiently, your idea is tops.

cheryl

Veteran

How's it going? Have you preplanned any more outfits? I do this on occasion and then am never in the mood for the outfits I have created. I have no idea why though, lol.

Anonymous

I love this approach! I've also found morning isn't a great time to mess around in my closet and it NEVER happens at night, so having a few pre-picked outfits works for me, too.

In fact, last week I sat down with an Excel spreadsheet and forced myself to come up with new combinations to try. I was flabbergasted by how many outfits I can create with things I already own. It was humbling -- how many clothes do I really need, anyway?!