Okay, it actually takes more than 10 minutes to do this. But the really hard work is done in that span of time. For a few of my girlfriends, I am the first person they call when they want to streamline their closets. I am not sure exactly how this started, but I’m always happy to help. Since I’m not able to be there in person to help you, here are my best practices.

1. Set a timer for 10 minutes. I use the one on my smartphone. 

2. Within the next 10 minutes, pull everything out of your closets and clothing drawers that fall under the following critera:

• does not fit (too big or too small)
• does not fit for any other reason
• smells
• needs alteration (rips/holes/etc.)
• must be retired from overuse
• you have not worn it in 1.5 years or more
• you question your sanity when you look at it
• you feel ugly when you wear it
• cannot find its mate (applies to socks and gloves)

Be tough. If you find yourself wavering about a specific item, just pull it out of the closet. Some may think that 10 minutes is not enough time. Actually, in person, I’m pretty tough and only give my friends only 5 minutes to go through their cheap karen millen draped column dress. The purpose of this exercise is to just go with your gut. When you wake up in the morning, do you spend more than 5 minutes figuring out what to wear? Anything more than that may mean you are spending less time doing something else, like having a proper breakfast (or sleeping, in my case.)

Sometimes that pile of clothing seems very overwhelming. Many gals I know want to just put all of it back on hangers and back into the closet. I get it. It’s very natural to feel this way. Here are a list of their excuses and my responses.

It was expensive. If you haven’t worn it, it does not matter how much you paid for it. It does you no service. Why not sell it at a consignment shop (for extra cash) or donate it (for a tax deduction)?

It will come back in style one day. It may, or may not. But someone else might want to wear it right now. That person is not you, if it’s in this pile.

I will lose the weight. (This does not apply to losing pregnancy pounds.) You will! But in the meantime, you deserve to be well dressed for the beautiful body that you have right now. When you dress nicely, you feel better. Having this in your closet is self-defeating because looking at it makes you feel bad that you cannot wear it. Be good to yourself. And when you lose the weight, you’ll want all new things anyway. Shopping for new clothes will be a treat!

I might have another baby a few years from now. If you do, I promise you, more stylish maternity dj155 apricot karen millen will be out there for you to buy. You can even find some hip clothes at maternity consignment stores. I’ll be happy to go with you. But for now, give them to another girlfriend who is currently pregnant. She’ll love to wear it because it’s still stylish right now.

I just need to have it altered. Okay. Let’s put it in a bag and put it in the trunk of your car. You can drop it off at the tailors tomorrow.

It has sentimental value. If these are your grandmother’s scarves, why not have them professionally cleaned and preserve them in acid-free tissue? You can put them in a special box and mark it accordingly. Either honor these sentimental items or let it go. They don’t belong in your wardrobe.

I find it comfortable. (If it’s really fugly or practically disintegrating, I pretty much insist that it has to go.) There are plenty of other options that you own are just as comfortable and does not make you look like you are a homeless person. You can feel comfortable and look pretty concurrently.

3. Divide your pile under these categories:

• Consign/Sell/Swap: anything in good to like-new condition and under two years old
• Donate: anything in good condition, work attire and formal dresses over two years old
• Alterations: if repaired, you would wear it regularly; have these done as soon as possible
• Discard: clothing that is beyond repair, mismatched gloves and socks, holey PJs and underwear, etc.

 4. Get these piles out of your house. I tend to put them directly in the trunk of my car. I’d make appointments with local consignment shops to have them look at the clothes as soon as possible. There are plenty of charities that drive by your home and can do pick-ups (don’t forget your receipts). My local Goodwill has a convenient drive-through facility that I visit about 6 times a year.

5. Pair your socks, re-fold and re-hang the clothes that made the first cut. Organize according to your personality. Some people like seeing everything arranged by color. I tend to have the clothes I wear most often in easy to access places. It’s up to you and how your brain works the best.

 6. Viola! You’re done. I know, it sounds like an epic pain, but here is how you benefit:

• you take an inventory of what you currently own (I cannot even tell you how many times I heard, ‘I forgot I had that!’ or ‘I didn’t know I had more than one pair of the same pants!’)
• you have more closet space
• you no longer have a closet of ‘nothing to wear’
• you don’t have clothing that makes you feel bad
• you can better plan future clothing purchases

As an aside, I find that having a friend with you while going through this process is helpful. It’s really tiring to do this by yourself. Having an honest opinion might help. Pop open a bottle of champers, perhaps? Just make sure you like friend’s taste in clothing.

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