my trick to an organized, streamlined closet

Last week I showed you how I helped my hub get his closet organized. Before I show you how I whipped my closet into shape, I want to share this little trick with you because it has made a world of difference in terms of helping me to not only get my closet organized but to keep it that way. This is something I've been doing for a few years now, and I can't believe I haven't always done this. It's such a simple thing, and yet it's a total game changer. This one thing has not only kept my closet looking orderly, but it has also helped me to fill my closet with pieces I truly love. Gone are the days when I would stare at my clothes and think, "I don't have anything to wear!" This trick has helped me to shop smarter, curate my personal style and keep my closet from becoming a chaotic mess.

What is this one little game changing trick? It's a clothing collection. Some people refer to them as wardrobe capsules, but I prefer to call them collections. A "capsule" feels very closed off….as in you create one and your done, but a collection is something you continue to grow as the seasons change and as your style evolves. At the heart of it you're creating a multitude of looks with just a few key pieces, but on the whole you're able to really see what you want/need to add to your wardrobe.

In spite of the multitudes of fashiongrammers you're following on instagram and the hundreds of emails your getting daily from every clothing retailer under the sun, creating a clothing collection helps you to be very selective about what you add to your closet. Because it's easy to say, "Oh my gosh, this ______ is only $15! I totally need ______!" But the truth is, if ________ isn't something you would have bought at full price you probably don't need it. And it will probably just end up junking up your closet making it harder for you to get dressed every day. On the contrary, by creating a clothing collection you can better decipher what you really want, so instead of being distracted by all the fashion images you're seeing everyday you can focus in on finding a great deal on that black velvet blazer you've been dying to add to your collection.

So, how does one go about creating a clothing collection? It's easy!

Well, just as in designing a room, I like to start with an inspiration piece. One piece that is totally "me", that I can build around. I have a few different clothing collections. I have one based around my favorite classic color combo - black and white. That collection is a staple and one that mixes and matches with other collections. I also have a couple of small seasonal collections. But as you all know my favorite color of all time is red, so the collection featured in this post is my fall, red & navy collection. I'm nothing if not a sucker for a plaid flannel shirt.

Once I've got my inspo, I start building around that.

I bring in pants, sweaters, skirts, dresses, jackets, outerwear and shoes. Most everything you see here I've had for a while. The only newer items are the long navy dress and the tan oxfords. Building a collection rather than buying random pieces makes it so much easier to put outfits together quickly. I'm also able to avoid being wooed by "what's on trend" at the moment. It makes it easier for me to see that as much I love the way this lilac floral skirt looks on other people, it isn't really "me" and doesn't work with anything I own.

You can do quite a bit with a few clothing pieces and a lot of shoe options. Here are 20 different looks using 2 shirts, 3 pairs of pants, 3 sweaters, 2 skirts, 1 dress, 2 blazers, 2 vests and 1 denim jacket……..and 6 pairs of shoes.

Shopping this way has really made a world of difference for me. My hub is happy it no longer takes me for-ev-er to get ready. I used to spend a decent chunk of my time just trying to figure out what in the world to wear, and with this clothing collection concept in place I no longer struggle to put outfits together. It's like Garanimals for adults. If you're in your twenties you probably have no idea what I'm talking about do you? Google Garanimals.

Here are few similar pieces I'm loving for fall! The rainboots are def calling my name.

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Happy Friday friends!

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