As you stare into the depths of your closet, frustrated and overwhelmed, seeing racks of clothing and NOTHING you want to wear, you may be thinking to yourself:

  • Whoa. I need to go SHOPPING.
  • I must have terrible taste. How can I hate everything I own?
  • Naught but closet orphans in here. Sigh.

And yet, my guess would be that you've got loads of amazing duds, that your taste is spot-on, and that your items are just dying to be remixed. AND that all of these things would be crystal clear to you if you invested some time and energy in organizing your wardrobe. What? NO! I'm not kidding! No wait, LISTEN.

If you can't see it, you won't wear it

In an ideal world, we'd all have the amazing closet organization system from "Clueless," complete with video touchscreen and electronic inventory. In the real world, we must find ways to keep our clothing relatively visible or risk erasing its very existence from memory. Obviously, you can't keep every single piece in full view, but try to arrange your wardrobe so that you can see as much as possible. Or just a peek of each piece. Old standbys should be the ones tucked into the corners, while difficult and challenging pieces should stare you down daily until inspiration strikes.

If you don't know your inventory, you'll get stuck in a rut

It's not enough to keep your belongings in plain view. Familiarizing yourself with the contents of your closet is a practice VITAL to keeping your looks fresh and interesting. How can you try new combinations, add new accessories to tried-and-true ensembles, or prevent yourself from purchasing duplicates if you don't know what you own?

If you don't display your accessories, your outfits may lack cohesion

Shoes, jewelry, and accessories are the glue that hold your outfits together. They can add marvelous polish to an already-great ensemble, but they also have the magical ability to bridge gaps between seemingly unrelated or clashing pieces. I cannot TELL you how many times my outfits have been sparked by a scarf, belt, or shoe. And when scarves, belts, and shoes are hidden from view, they can't spark anything. Maybe you can't do belt racks and scarf hangers all over your bedroom, but could you do an earring tree or necklace display? Find a way to keep those accessories in your line of sight. They will help you craft new and unexpected outfits.

But my favorite organizational practice for keeping organized and maximizing your wardrobe? Keep and maintain an outfit list. You'll know what you've got on hand, force yourself to wear underutilized garments, and constantly appreciate what you've got. This practice will revolutionize how you dress, I swear.

When I begin working with a new makeover client, she inevitably tells me that she has so few things she loves, only a few go-to outfits, needs to go shopping for more options STAT. And after a couple of hours of pulling hidden gems from the closet corners, inventorying the lot, and unearthing some neglected accessories, she realizes she's got tons of great clothing and far more fab outfits than she realized. And I make sure she knows that keeping her belongings visible and organized will help her continue creating and wearing inspired new ensembles long after I've scampered off home.

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Do you consider your closet to be organized? Are you aware of your inventory? What are your wardrobe organization best practices?

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Sally McGraw is the author of Already Pretty, a daily blog about the intersection of style and body image.