Episode 207: A Simple System for Finding What You Need to Get Ready FAST

Release Date: January 2, 2025

In this episode of the HER Style Podcast, host Heather Riggs, a 17-year Certified Image Consultant and Color Specialist, delves into an effective system for organizing your wardrobe to streamline your morning routine. Addressing a listener named Krista's challenges, Heather provides actionable strategies to help listeners effortlessly find the right outfits and enhance their overall style confidence.

Listener's Challenge: Organizing a Complex Wardrobe

Krista reached out with a common dilemma: “Every time I go to pick out an outfit, when I look at all the jeans in my closet, I can't remember which jeans are what are they? Bootleg, wide leg, skinny, straight, cropped flare, and which shoes go with each.” (00:00)

Her struggle highlights the confusion that can arise from having a diverse and possibly maximalist wardrobe, making daily outfit selection time-consuming and stressful.

Heather's System for an Organized Closet

Heather introduces a simple yet effective system to categorize and organize clothing, focusing on sorting by type, length, and silhouette, ensuring that pieces are easily identifiable and accessible.

1. Sorting by Clothing Type and Length

• Categorize by Type: Begin by grouping similar items together, such as tops, dresses, skirts, and bottoms.

• Organize by Length: Within each category, arrange items by length. For example, hang camisoles, tank tops, short-sleeve shirts, long-sleeve blouses, and button-downs in order.

  “In my own wardrobe, I like to have all of my tops together and I will hang them up in my closet by sleeve length.” (01:49)

• Application to Jeans: For jeans, Heather suggests hanging them in order of length.

  “For you specifically, I would have all of your cropped jeans to the left and then your full-length jeans immediately following those to the right.” (04:00)

2. Sorting by Silhouette

• From Narrow to Wide: Arrange jeans and other bottoms from the most fitted (e.g., skinny) to the loosest silhouettes (e.g., wide-leg).

  “Instead of light to dark wash, you're going to hang them from narrow width to wide width.” (06:15)

3. Sorting by Color

• Color Coordination: Within each category and silhouette, sort items from light to dark or follow a rainbow order for aesthetic appeal.

  “I generally will go from light to dark in kind of rainbow order.” (03:30)

Optimizing Shoe Organization

Heather emphasizes that shoes should be organized similarly to clothing to complement the overall system.

• Sort by Heel Height and Color: Arrange shoes first by heel height (e.g., sandals, flats, sneakers) and then by color within each category.

  “Arrange your shoes first by heel height... within each of those categories, you could also sort them by color.” (09:45)

• Storage Solutions: Utilize clear plastic shoe boxes or dedicated shoe racks to keep frequently worn pairs accessible.

  “I love storing most of my shoes in clear plastic shoe boxes... You could also keep your original shoe boxes if that works better for you.” (10:30)

Maintaining the System

Heather advises that whether you choose to hang or fold your clothing, consistency is key to maintaining an organized closet.

• Hanging vs. Folding: While hanging allows for easier access and maintenance, folding can be effective if space is limited, provided you keep the system consistent.

  “I do think a hanging system is going to be a lot easier for you to maintain in the long run.” (07:50)

• Regular Updates: Regularly reassess and reorganize your wardrobe to accommodate new additions and remove items that no longer serve your style or needs.

Benefits of an Organized Wardrobe

Implementing Heather's system offers several advantages:

• Time Efficiency: Drastically reduces the time spent choosing outfits each morning.

  “You'll be able to get dressed way faster in the morning.” (05:50)

• Enhanced Clarity: Provides a clear overview of your wardrobe, making it easier to identify gaps and plan future purchases.

  “You'll be able to see everything very clearly.” (05:10)

• Increased Confidence: Streamlines your style choices, allowing you to dress with confidence and express your personal style effortlessly.

  “I want you to feel confident and effortlessly stylish in the year ahead.” (12:00)

Final Thoughts and Encouragement

Heather wraps up the episode by encouraging listeners to embrace their unique style and maintain an organized wardrobe to enhance daily life and personal confidence.

“2025 is finally here, friend. And I know you don't want to spend one more year struggling over what to buy, what to wear and how to put it all together.” (08:20)

She emphasizes that with a structured approach, anyone can transform their wardrobe into a functional and stylish asset that simplifies the dressing process.

Conclusion

Episode 207 of the HER Style Podcast offers a practical roadmap for women struggling with wardrobe organization. By categorizing clothes by type, length, and color, and extending this system to accessories like shoes, Heather Riggs provides listeners with the tools to create a streamlined and efficient closet. This not only saves time but also boosts confidence, enabling women to start each day with style and assurance.