If you’re like most of my clients, you have some things in your closet that you wear a ton. Your favorite jeans, an easy fall weekend jacket, your trusty run-around sneakers, etc. And then there are things that you barely wear. Not wearing some of these items makes total sense – like a cocktail dress that you pull out 1-2 times a year. Or a quilted jacket that you only wear skiing. Or your tropical vacation sundress. But then there are things that could easily make sense for your everyday, that you’re still not grabbing.
The general statistic is that most people wear 20% of their wardrobe the majority of the time. Which means that 80% of your wardrobe goes unworn on a regular basis. Which honestly seems like a lot – especially if everything fits, you’ve chosen things intentionally and you actually like what you have (and if you don’t like what you have, read my tips for a productive closet clean out).
So, how can you wear more than 20% of your wardrobe? And get more use out of the things you want to wear more? Here are 5 quick tips (that you can start implementing today).
PUT THEM SOMEWHERE NEW
I’ve been in a lot of closets (over 300 at last count). And when I’m doing a closet audit with a client, we’ll often find pieces that they wish they wore more. Sometimes it’s that you need an outfit idea – and other times you just forgot about it. If you need an outfit idea, I have two suggestions. First, look for inspiration to see how other people are wearing it (Pinterest, bloggers, social media, etc.). Second, don’t overthink it – for example, most any blazer/jacket/cardigan can work over a t-shirt and jeans (click here for 10 t-shirt and jeans outfits for fall).
If there are styles that you just forgot about – or you need a gentle nudge to wear – put them somewhere new. And the best place to put them is next to things you’re already wearing (of a similar function). Here’s what I mean.
You may intellectually know that you can wear a plaid blazer over a bunch of different outfits. But you never actually do it. So, instead of storing your plaid blazer with suiting pieces from your old job, hang it next to the jackets you wear every day. Put it right next to your denim jacket and suede moto jacket. That way, you’ll see it when you’re looking for a casual jacket – which means that you’re much more likely to wear it. (Check this out for three plaid blazer outfit ideas).
Another example is from a recent client. She wanted a denim skirt, so we bought her a denim skirt a few months ago. And last week she told me that she’s only worn it once. So, I told her to hang her denim skirt next to her jeans (instead of hanging it with her other skirts). That way, she’s much more likely to consider it as an option to jeans - as opposed to only on days that she’s deliberately going for a skirt.
PUT THEM SOMEWHERE VISIBLE
The old adage goes, “out of sight, out of mind.” So, conversely that’s, “in sight, in mind.” And that’s what you can do with styles you want to wear more. Put them somewhere you can’t miss them.
The best place is a very visible spot in or near your closet. This may be a valet bar in your closet (a bar/rod that sticks out perpendicular to the shelves/hangbar). Or a hook on the back of your bedroom door. Or a coatrack. Or simply create a small section that you see when you first open your closet door.
Place things here that you want to wear more. Like your latest purchases. Or the dressy top you love (but keep forgetting about when girls’ night rolls around). Or the items that you realize you didn’t wear enough last fall. And then rotate these things regularly, so that on a monthly (or bi-monthly) basis, you’re updating what’s in your ‘high visibility’ area.
TURN YOUR HANGERS
Every once in a while, I’ll work with a client who isn’t totally sure what she’s wearing vs. not wearing. So, we employ a simple strategy. Once you wear something and you’re putting it back in your closet, turn the hanger in the opposite direction. And then after a month or so, check out which hangers haven’t been turned.
You’ll suddenly see what you’re wearing all the time. And what you haven’t touched. And besides highlighting what you’re not wearing – this might indicate things that no longer deserve space in your closet. (Read this for 5 things you might want to toss from your closet.)
SEPARATE YOUR SECTIONS
Along the same lines of the last tip, you can create a section in your closet for things you’ve just worn. Place an empty hanger on the hangbar – and once you put something back (after wearing it or laundering it), place it in front of the empty hanger. And then for the next few weeks, commit to only wearing pieces that are behind the empty hanger.
This encourages you to wear what you’re not wearing - and one of two things may happen. You may realize that you actually like something (and it gets back into your regular rotation). Or you may discover why you haven’t been wearing it (poor fit, it needs a repair, etc.). Either way, you can decide what to do with it in a much more informed way.
PUT LAUNDRY AWAY STRATEGICALLY
Here’s a simple method that will encourage you to rotate through your wardrobe on a regular basis. When you do laundry, hang the freshly clean items at the back of the closet – thereby pushing what’s already there forward. For styles folded on shelves (or in drawers), put the clean ones at the bottom of the stack, so what’s already there literally rises to the top. And then the next time you’re getting dressed, what you haven’t worn lately will be in your face – either more forward in your closet or at the top of stacks.
Do you have any methods to ensure that you’re wearing more of what’s in your closet? Drop a note in the comments. And also let me know if you have questions or thoughts on any of these strategies.
If you need more guidance with your style (than simply rearranging what’s in your closet) - and you want a partner in the process, click here to get information on how I help clients create an intentional, mindful wardrobe. I’ll send you details about my process (including costs and timing).
Because isn’t it time you finally start to feel great in clothes?