“The emotional attachment we have with our clothing doesn’t always work out. I believe it’s better to have loved one or two pieces that you wear over and over again, than to have many pieces you only thought you loved,” says Betsy, a resident of Maplewood. “Choose items that are well-made and versatile, fit your lifestyle and reflect the fresh, clean essence of who you really are.”
Betsy, a former Glamour Magazine fashion editor and founder of Mindful Style, helps clients pare down closets, mix and match what remains and, if needed, collect modern, classic “slow-fashion” clothes that won’t go out of style anytime soon.
“If you want to find more calm in your life, just organize your closet. It’s cathartic,” she says. “Streamlining your closet will ultimately help you take control over the way you look and feel, and it can help you be more efficient as you dress each morning.” And Betsy should know. She’s even styled the likes of Diana Ross, Robert DeNiro and Barbra Streisand.
She also encourages people to get off the fashion merry-go-round by choosing quality over quantity and making fewer inexpensive, “impulse” purchases. Betsy says that maintaining a more organized closet can help reinforce identity, increase confidence, and promote peace of mind.
But this sustainable-style advisor didn’t always subscribe to this less-is-more philosophy. In the 1980s, Betsy was a personal shopper at Bloomingdale’s, where she kept celebrities, wealthy socialites, high-powered executives and the wives of Wall Street moguls stylish and on-trend.
“Later, after I married and began a family, I kept up with other stay-at-home moms in my upscale suburb,” she says. “My closet was bursting with designer clothing, handbags and shoes. Then my perspective changed when we decided to move and I saw all I had accumulated. As I cleaned out my closet, I realized I was trying to define myself from the outside in. Exploring spirituality, I applied the concepts of mindfulness and detachment to my wardrobe. Today, I am mindful of trends, but not driven by them. Shopping now is pretty simple because I know what looks good and makes me feel good.”
Here’s Betsy’s no-fail, three-step plan to de-cluttering your closet:
1. Decide If It’s a Long-Term Match
Tackle one closet or drawer at a time and decide within seconds if each piece is a yes (keep it), no (bag it) or maybe (put the pile to the side).
2. Be Prepared to “Break Up”
When you have time, take out your “maybe” pile and decide if it’s time to break up with your old flames. If you’re ready to move on, donate those things to a charity or consign them.
3. Have a Weekend Fling
Do your own one-hour fitting on a laidback Saturday or Sunday morning. Choose five outfits with shoes and accessories for the next week to help make workday mornings less stressful.
Next time you fall madly in love with a piece of clothing, think about all the clothes that are taking up too much space in your life right now. This Valentine’s Day, clear it out, clean it up and make room for something that makes you fall head over heels. Or just call Betsy and let her work a little wardrobe magic.