When I got the chance to speak to Catherine Sheppard, a stylist who has client base that spans from coast to coast, I was all ears. To many, including myself, the task of organizing a closet may be a daunting task. Every few months I “get in the mood” to tidy up my wardrobe and get rid of things that have been stagnant on the hangers for far too long. This usually results in taking everything off the shelves, drawers, and hangers and throwing them in to a pile. At exactly this point in the process, after seeing a giant heap of unfolded clothing in the middle of the floor, I am no longer inspired. Go figure.

The first step Catherine suggests is to get rid of any thing that weighs you down.  If there are pieces in your closet that you never wear and that don’t excite you to have, get rid of them. She doesn’t believe in a timeline of when you should get rid of something, because she believes in reinventing the clothes you have in your closet to create a completely new and stylish look, especially when on a budget. However, she thinks that some clothes on the lower end of the price spectrum tend to be seasonal and really only last a year or two, and that shouldn’t be held on to if no longer being worn. In general, she believes in keeping the things you love, and getting rid of the rest.

There are a few items that Catherine believes everyone should have in their wardrobe, and that are timeless pieces that you should hold on to. These include a nice collared shirt, great fitting jeans, and the ubiquitous LBD (little black dress). She believes everyone should have a nice medium sized handbag. This should be an investment piece (in relation to your budget, of course) because this is something that you will use forever. In addition she believes every woman should have a great set of heels. She is wary to suggest a color, but rather suggests a neutral color that fits in with your style and the rest of your wardrobe.

Once you have cleansed yourself of the items you never use, it is time to organize. Catherine doesn’t believe in organizing by outfit, because she doesn’t suggest people buy clothes that they only wear as an outfit. Instead she believes in buying items that are versatile and can be reinvented in a number of different ways. Organize your closet by type of clothing, so jeans with jeans, sweaters with sweaters, and so on.

Catherine also thinks its very important that everything is visible in your closet, so that you don’t forget about things. For some with small closets, this could seem nearly impossible. She gave me some great tips for those with minimal space. She believes in displaying your shoes and accessories, which can easily be done by buying shoe racks, adding shelves to put purses on and hooks to hang on walls for scarves, purses, belts, etc. All of these are ways to maximize space and allow visibility. If you have a small closet it’s also a good idea to pack up your clothes that are out of season and slide them out of sight (under the bed, for example). Only have things in your closet that you are able to wear. Also, if you have a dresser and a small closet space, fold anything you can. Jeans and tees as well as lounge wear is ideal for a dresser since they don’t wrinkle.

She also gave me a great idea of how to organize jewelry.  Statement jewelry is such a big trend, and often it doesn’t fit in your typical jewelry box. She dedicates a drawer in her dresser to her jewelry. She lays a cloth down to protect it, and places the jewelry in the drawer (organize pieces in drawer by type). She warns against keeping your jewelry out in the open because it causes it to tarnish, so keeping it in a drawer also gives your jewelry a longer life span.

For more information on Catherine Sheppard visit her website and read her amazing fashion blog for style inspiration and to keep up on the hottest trends.

To Go:

www.catherinesheppard.com

www.thelifestyled.com