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Joy Kent is a clothing designer and custom tailor for professional women. Joy will work with you to help you achieve a personal and professional image that fits your body, personality and profession.

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Notes from Joy:
March 2007

It's Spring!! I love this time of year. It's the time of renewal - of the light, the leaves and the flowers, and for many of us, its time to renew our wardrobes. For me, it is also time for spring cleaning. There is something about spring that makes me want to organize all the aspects of my life. At this time of year I go through my files, my clothes, and my closets. I want to purge everything I do not need or use, especially clothes.

My annual need to get organized, plus the fact that I am in the process of setting up a new studio, inspired me to get in touch with a professional organizer to help me make the best use of my new space. Margaret Hiatt has not only helped me organize my studio, but she has given me lots of insight into how to organize in general. I learned so much that I asked her to write this month's feature article and share some tips for getting organized. I also share some of my own ideas for looking at your wardrobe and deciding what to keep and what to purge.

If you want to contribute to this newsletter , have questions, ideas or comments, please email me at joy@designwithjoy.com or call me at 503-313-6282.


WEIGHING WARDROBE OPTIONS
How I Clean Out My Closet

GETTING ORGANIZED
 
Everyone has their own approach to sorting clothes - this is mine. Though magazines often advise us to throw out anything you haven't worn in a year, I am not comfortable doing that. My approach works because it gives me the chance to really consider each piece, and decide the best way to handle it. It might work for you too.

1. Remove the clothes I do not wear.

2. Sort each group into piles.
• Do not fit
• Worn out
• Do not wear for reasons other than fit

3. Evaluate the does not fit pile.
Is the item too small or too big?
Is it completely outdated or does it still have style or fabric that I like?

• If it is too small I determine how small (5 pounds or 25 pounds too small?) I also consider how long I have been holding on to this item thinking I will lose the weight?

• If it has been several years and I am nowhere close to the right weight, I put it in the 'to go' pile.

• If I have been losing weight, and am getting close to my goal I will keep the clothes until the next spring and reevaluate it then.

If the clothes are too big, I consider if I want to have them altered. Clothes can be altered fairly easily if the difference is one to two sizes. Talk to your seamstress. If it can not be altered, I put it in the 'to go' pile. If the style simply will not work for me, I put that item in the 'to-go' pile too.

4. Take the worn out pile, and clothes that are too casual for work, to Goodwill

5. Take the pile of clothes in good condition to Dress for Success. *

Once I have determined what stays, and what works, the next step is to look for holes in my wardrobe: sweaters, blouses, pants, jackets, shoes …you get the idea. I then make a list and take it with me when I go shopping. And, because I can, I go to my sewing machine.

* The mission of Dress for Success is to promote the economic independence of disadvantaged women by providing professional attire, a network of support and the career development tools to help women thrive in work and in life.

So what went wrong? How did everything get so disorganized? Everything was going along ok but now it seems that the clutter in your home or office is overwhelming. Then the task of organizing the mess seems insurmountable. Where do you start? How do you start? The task seems so large that you don't even have the energy or will to get started.

The first thing to realize is that organizing is a skill; it isn't magic and there is no mysterious organizing gene. Since it is a skill, like any other, it can be taught. The basic tenet of organization is functionality. If a place or system is not functional, it is not organized, no matter how pretty it looks.

Whether you are looking at a huge organizing project or just want to tighten up a mostly working system the steps are the same.

1. Evaluate and Make a Plan. Define the area you want to work with. Think about what works or what doesn't work with the current system. Identify the function of the area.

2. Sort and Purge. Like things with like. Discard what is broken or no longer useful. Discard multiples and out of date items. Be careful to stay within the boundaries of your project. Don't get distracted by found items or other areas that are disorganized.

3. Assign and Containerize. Give everything a home and an appropriate container. Measure the space and the item before you buy anything.

4. Evaluate and Maintain. Now that the space looks great comes the step that is extremely important but often forgotten. Can the system be maintained? Does the space function as you envisioned in step 1?

If you are looking at a large organizing project don't start with the idea that you are going to organize everything overnight. Break your large project into smaller ones. Start with the junk drawer, a linen closet or the landing place for keys and coats. Working on a small project allows you to see the benefits of your work more quickly. With a small space under your belt you should then have confidence to work on larger or more complex projects.

Happy Organizing!
Margaret Hiatt

email Margaret
www.oncallorganizing.com/

Do you need help knowing if YOUR clothes are right for you?

Call me (503-313-6282) or email to set up some time to go through your clothes. Though this process can seem overwhelming alone, we can work together. When done yearly it usually takes an afternoon.

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