How I Organize My Closet

Because sometimes, you need to find order amongst the chaos

Apr 16, 2025

Earlier this month, I set aside one full weekend devoted to one thing only: organizing my closet. I wear a lot of hats — author, speaker, writer, artist, antiques dealer. I thrive on chaos but there are times (especially lately) where I hit my breaking point. And at those moments, taking some time to streamline is key.

Marie Kondo, I am not. But I do find that even a tiny bit of order in my home can make my life feel a bit more calm overall.

On my weekend-long-organizational-extravaganza, I focused on a few key areas: getting rid of old clothes (both donating and recycling), de-cluttering by installing organization tools in my drawers and shelves, and trading up (I donated three old black t-shirts that were worn and faded, so I added a really great black t-shirt that is fitted, has a built-in bra, and carves out your waist like nothing else. I wear this thing once a week; it’s life-changing).

Two days after embarking on this organizational journey, I felt born anew. Honestly.

I’ve rounded up everything I did here, in the hopes that maybe it will help you get organized, too.

First, I went through every single thing in my closet and organized it into three piles:

Stuff to donate: All of this went directly into my car, and straight to the Goodwill donation center.
Stuff to recycle: Anything that was too damaged to recycle — socks with holes, old underwear, stained t-shirts — went in a Trashie bag. I love these bags because you can throw up to 15 pounds of clothing in them, scan a code, show it to UPS and then it’s shipped out of your life forever and recycled properly instead of going in a landfill. They have one for old tech devices too, which is also amazing.
Stuff to send to The RealReal: Anything that was ill-fitting (or that I just never wore) was sent to The RealReal. I told myself I would list things on Poshmark but it takes time, and I never get around to it. Throwing things in a box and sending them to The RealReal makes someone else’s problem. Will I get a lot of money for them? No, but they are out of sight and out of mind.

I invested in a handful of quality pieces that would last.

I find life so much easier when I have quality items that I can turn to again and again — pieces that are comfortable and some that do double-duty. For me, that’s these:

Great underwear: Word of advice: Toss the panties you’ve had since college and invest in something comfortable and easy (if it fits, buy it in three colors). I probably reference this bra and underwear set once a month, that’s how obsessed with it I am. I now have the same set in three colors, plus a few mesh sets, to wear when I’m feeling sexy. If I want something with wires, I go this route (I have this brown bra and panties; they are so sexy and sophisticated in a very ‘90s way). On that note, for the ladies: invest in reusable, adhesive nipple covers. These are the best. You’ll use them over and over with anything backless or sheer (you can even buy some that offer support and lift, which is incredible).
Grownup pajamas: At some point, we all need to graduate from the gym shorts and oversized t-shirts of our youth. Matching pajama sets are nice because you don’t look like a maniac when you have to take the dog out in the middle of the night, or if you’re traveling and want to run to the lobby to grab something from the front desk (I forget toothpaste a lot, and therefore spend a lot of time in hotel lobbies in my pajamas). I love everything Negative makes and have two of their pajama sets, which I alternate (one with shorts, for when it’s hot, and one with pants, for when it’s cool and when I travel).
Basics that do double-duty: This t-shirt has a built-in bra. Not much more needs to be said except that this company is excellent and makes their products without microplastics. Also: it’s wire-free, breathable, and made from sustainable plant fibers. And the fit is amazing (it has a built-in boob divider, so it doesn’t create a uniboob but it is incredibly comfortable and shaping—carves out your waist perfectly). Also available in a long-sleeve version.
Loungewear that isn’t an old “bride squad” t-shirt: Owning nice loungewear pays dividends. When I just want to organize around the house, or write my Substack, or binge Love on the Spectrum, I wear basic black lounge pants and a matching top. Think elevated pajamas — just as comfortable, but if you have to answer the door for UPS or Postmates, you won’t look dreadful. For bottoms, I turn to these shorts again and again. These are my staying-around-the-house shorts. I wear them on walks, while I’m watching tv…they are undoubtedly the most-worn item in my closet.

I swapped out every single hanger in my closet.

Countless trips to the dry cleaner mean that wire hangers infiltrate your closet over the years. And when the hangers don’t match, everything is in disarray.

I love these rose gold hangers (you can buy 30-packs on Amazon) and these wood hangers (which include a bar, so you can hang a full suit, or use them for either tops or bottoms).

I organized all the items in my drawers and on my shelves: socks, t-shirts, bras, panties, swimwear, handbags.

I had California Closets re-do my closets when I first bought my home (not an ad, I paid full price — around $10,000 for a walk-in and a double standard closet — and it was worth every penny!) so my closets were already pretty well-organized, but some of the drawers were a disaster zone. More specifically: the underwear and sock section.

For underwear, I use these nifty boxes, which fit in your drawers and work exceptionally well for bras and undies.
For socks, I use this under-$10 honeycomb drawer organizer.
For other folded items (t-shirts, workout clothes), these expandable drawer organizers are incredibly useful.
This clear adjustable shelf divider is ideal for handbags, as it forces them to sit upright. Yes, you could just store your bags in boxes, but then you would forget about them and never wear them.

I invested in some laundry accessories — like fancy detergent and lingerie bags.

Taking care of your clothes is also an important way to stay organized. They last longer this way!

Buy a luxurious laundry detergent to have on hand for sheet-washing day. I have two bottles of this in my laundry room. The scent lasts for a full week after wash day so every night feels like getting in a hotel bed.
Invest in laundry bags to wash delicate items — like lace bras or mesh panties. These really do make a difference and your bra straps won’t get all wadded up in the washing machine. I’ve had these for more than a year and they’ve held up perfectly.
Hang a scent tablet in your closet. I have one that’s been emitting a gorgeous fragrance for nearly two years now, and that’s no exaggeration. It just makes going in your closet feel like a nice experience and masks any weird odors. Jo Malone makes one that goes in your drawers (ideal for a sock or underwear drawer).