Top 4 Steps to Organized Style
Effortless style begins with your style organization process. The better your closet looks, the better you will look.
1. Choose an Inspiration Method
Everyone needs a style inspiration board that suits their needs. For some that inspiration board is a bulletin board style pin up that hangs in their closet. Others choose a high tech version of an inspiration board like pinterest or polyvore. Your inspiration board will be where you keep outfits that you have crafted, created, or tagged for future use. I personally use a combination of all methods. I randomly clip outfits I like from magazines (which is what you see here) I laminate them, place a hole in the picture with a hole punch and then place a ring through the group of pictures and tack them on my inspiration board with a thumbtack. As I am getting dressed, I have several options to choose from when I put my look together for the day.

2. Edit, Edit, and Edit Some More
Most people think to edit their closet in January as part of their urge to purge in the New Year, but you should actually edit your wardrobe on a regular basis. Begin in January when the idea is fresh in your mind by making sure all your hangers are facing the same way. Then, as you wear each piece, turn the hanger in the opposite direction. At the end of the exercise, you will be able to see which pieces that you have yet to wear. Those pieces are the ones that should be either tossed or donated depending on their condition. After each season is over, you can make an effective decision about what you should and should not keep. If you went an entire season without finding a reason to wear it, the piece did not pass the must have test.
3. Create a Rotation Schedule
If you have a limited amount of space in your closet, then you may opt to create a rotation schedule where you store your off-season clothes in another location in an effort to leave more space in your closet for the current season.If you have more room in your closet, then not only can you see all of your options at once, but it also prevents damage caused by other hangers. If you choose to store your clothes then look for airtight containers that will keep moisture away from your clothes, protecting them from damage. If possible, store your off season clothes in a cedar lined container that will keep them away from unwanted pests that can cause damage.
4. Go Forth and Shop From Your List
Once you have built your inspiration board and edited your closet appropriately you are ready to shop for the missing pieces in your wardrobe. Use your inspiration board as the source for the pieces necessary to complete your looks. Once you have identified the items that you need, you are ready to shop.
Everyone wants to personify effortless style. That personification begins at your closet. When your closet is in order, your style is sure to follow.
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This entry was posted by lmccain1121 on January 20, 2013 at 10:00 am, and is filed under Bargain Shopping, Closet Organization, Fashion, Fashion Trends, Shopping, Style, Stylist. Follow any responses to this post through RSS 2.0.You can leave a response or trackback from your own site.








Ah, I just to have a personal style and I loved it. Then I opted to stay home w/little man for a bit and sweatpants and t-shirts have become the norm. Not something I’ll miss, but the comfort level is undeniable.
Thank you for the post!
Great post – I love the edit, edit, edit philosophy and try to adhere : > Thanks for sharing with Visible Monday.
I am pinning this:) I need to re-evaluate my whole wardrobe.
Cute! I just wished it was warm enough (around my neck of the woods) to wear it!
I’m a new follower from the Sunday Social link-up. If you would like to share this, pop in to my blog, we have the Creative Corner link-up on-going this week. We love to see you there!
Sandy
Cherished Handmade Treasures
COMPLETELY agree with it all…especially the constant edit of your closet…it gets out of control and overwhelming if you only do it once a year…I am usually every 2/3 months…
C
I am the same I have a constant nesting need which means I am in a constant state if edit
[...] of my goals is to get a mommy friendly stylish look going and Leslie at My Fashion Forward shares 4 Tips To An Organized Style and gives me or anyone looking to up their style element an easy place to [...]
I love the idea of an inspiration board for clothing. I tend to wear the same things over and over again.
Mine is laminated and hangs in my closet and then of course I am a pinterest freak
So true! I constantly go through my closet to see what I have going on in there and to reconnect with old pieces. I did a similar post about how to avoid wardrobe amnesia because often times we have want we want right there. It’s good to keep things fresh in your mind!
I am in constant edit mode everything has to be clean and organized for me to function
[...] Top 4 Steps to Organized Style [...]
Hi Leslie! Visiting from the SITS site. You’ve inspired me to put a little more thought into what I wear each day. I’m a hard-to-fit size so even if I do an inspiration board, finding the right clothes that look great on me isn’t always easy (and can be downright discouraging). But, it’s no excuse not to look great–especially when it’s so easy to just stay in comfy clothes since I work from home. Thanks for the great tips! I’m gonna share this with my teen daughters–they’ll like your inspiration board idea!
Stopping by from SITS! Love the idea of turning the hanger in the opposite direction after wearing the garment. Great post!
What great tips!! There are SO many pieces in my closet that are hanging but I never really use. I need to do some editing for sure! I love pinterest for outfit ideas!! When I am going somewhere special I usually go to my board of saved outfits for some inspiration.
Enjoy your SITS day!
Great post, I need to reorganize my closet desperately and try to update old pieces or get rid of them! visiting from SITS!
I have my clothes sorted by work and not work. I like your ideas of the pin ups. Thanks for the ideas. Enjoy your SITS Day.
{Melinda} This is great!
I have a teenage girl in my house and she is my fashion coordinator! She never hesitates to tell me what’s “cool”
What great ideas!!! I am always looking in my closet and can’t put the outfits together that I would like… thanks for the tips!! Happy SITS day!!
Your welcome, fashion is just about finding a look that speaks to you and replicating it
I am ALWAYS editing because my husband and I share a closet and we each have one little dresser.
I had to make my husband build me an extra closet…my shoes were out of control
I need to be better at getting rid of clothes I no longer wear. I have two bins under my bed that I can’t remember looking at in the past year!
I feel a purge coming on
Editing is so key, isn’t it? I need to work on that!
Editing aka an excuse to shop lol
I try to purge a few times every year, love your blog and I absolutely love Polyvore. I’ve created a few inspirational outfits myself.
Polyvore is my new bestie next to Pinterest
Great tips! I did a closet clean out towards the end of last year and found all sorts of stuff in there that I have never worn…shame on me! Definitely going to be doing it on a regular basis from now on! I like the hanger idea!
I am sometimes guilty of not wearing everything but I have cut that down by trying everything on
I find myself getting stuck in a rut a lot. I have my favorite outfits, and I usually end up wearing them again, and again, and again, and again. Perhaps a rotation schedule would be good for me. That way, I’m forced to try something different because my old favorites aren’t within easy reach.
I agree, I used to be the same way too but this journey has forced me to be different
wow..these are good tips and certainly easy to apply to everyday styles..thanks for putting them together
Visiting you from SITS.
Thanks, it is important to make fashion easy or it loses the fun element
I would have never thought to do this for my outfits, but it sounds like a super organized system. Thanks for sharing, and happy SITS day!
Thanks in addition to my passion for fashion, I am a little OCD
Great tips! I have an inspiration binder in my closet and it does really help to put pieces together. So true that the purging and cleaning is ongoing, in fact, my closet is due for this!
Yay glad to find another fashion junction
I love the rotation schedule idea!
Thanks, then each season its like I have a brand new wardrobe
This is so helpful! I love the idea of an inspiration board! I end up saving tons of magazines with ideas of outfits I like, but then I have so many that I either throw them out or forget what was in them. I can’t wait to create my own inspiration board and keep it in my closet! Happy SITS Day!
I love my inspiration board, anytime I feel stuck I flip thru it for instant inspiration
You lost me at organized. Though I secretly wish I could look as put together as some other women seem to.
[...] Organize your Style [...]