How to Arrange your Wardrobe to Improve your Style. I’m a lover of aesthetics – I have a deep appreciation for beauty and design in all its forms, whether it’s fashion, architecture, or just the simple details of daily life. So, I understand why people like to organise their wardrobes ‘aesthetically’.

Harmony

Looking at a colour-coded wardrobe, neatly hung in a length gradient? Visually stunning. There’s something deeply satisfying about the harmony and balance it creates – it’s calming, reassuring.

BUT…

To truly understand your style and elevate it, you need to arrange your wardrobe like a stylist.

This process was something I developed during Covid. With little outside influence, I was able to shut out the noise and focus on what I had in my wardrobe – and, more importantly, why.

I put my whole wardrobe on trial, assessing each piece one by one. Every day, I’d choose a different item to wear to see what felt effortless and stylish, and what felt like a struggle.

If I loved how something made me feel and I found myself reaching for it often, it went on the left side of my rail. Over time, this natural selection process left me with a wardrobe where my favourite, most-worn items were on the left, and the less-worn ones sat on the right.

The key here is the wearing part. You can’t really understand how something fits into your life by just looking at it on a hanger. It’s only by putting it on and living in it that you can know whether you truly love and need it.

After wearing each piece for a day, you’ll be able to answer the three most important questions when deciding whether something stays or goes:

1. Do I love it?
2. Does it function?
3. Is it versatile?

Yes, this process can be emotional. It might bring up feelings of regret or frustration. But, more importantly, it’s an opportunity for you to educate yourself about your personal style and identify patterns so you can avoid making the same mistakes in the future.

By arranging your wardrobe this way, you’ll have a much clearer understanding of the role each item plays in your style. You’ll also know where to invest your money and when it’s not worth it.

Here’s how to arrange your wardrobe to improve your style:

• Items hung by type: All tops together, all trousers together, etc.
• Wearables on the left: The items you love, wear often, and form the foundation of your style.
• Now-and-agains on the right: The items that help you create specific moods or vibes that you crave every now and then.

This exercise is enlightening because it helps you understand your style. It reveals the wearables you rely on daily, and the pieces you love but only wear occasionally. Plus, it helps you recognise the emotional ties we have to clothes (because, let’s be honest, love can be fickle!).

Taking the time to dress with intention every day allows you to let go of items that no longer align with your style or function, from a place of knowledge and understanding – not from a rash, regretful cleanse.

Here’s how to get started:

1. Arrange your rails from most worn to least worn.
2. Tomorrow, choose an outfit using some of your least-worn items.
3. Photograph the look.
4. After a day of wear, ask yourself: Does that item get three strong “yes” answers to the questions above?
5. When the item comes back from the wash, hang it on the left if it passes the test. Rinse and repeat.

Let me know how it goes!

P.S. We’re experts at helping clients move past emotional blockages in their wardrobe that keep them from dressing with ease and excitement. If you’re curious about what’s possible for you, book your complimentary consultation here.