Class is in Session: Closet Organization 101
The Semi-Deranged Things I Have Done to Organize My Closet: Caring for My Garments, Saving Time, and Preserving My Sanity
I often get asked how I balance law school, writing, and social media. The truth is, not very well. My priorities are constantly shifting—sometimes it’s 90% law school, 1% writing, and 9% content. Other times it’s the reverse. Occasionally, I get it wrong and miss a deadline, rush to finish my criminal law reading, or fail to deliver assets to a brand on time.
I’ve accepted that I will never achieve perfect equilibrium with my priorities, but there are ways to streamline my life and reclaim some time. Over the past few months, I’ve focused on organizing and standardizing my closet so that even if I’m a mess, at least my closet isn’t. My organization methods have reduced unnecessary purchases, saved me time getting dressed, and helped preserve the longevity of my garments.
My “closet” has always felt like a headache—always too small and ill-equipped to handle my floor-length dresses, oblong-shaped purses, and oversized chunky sweaters. Sometimes my closet has consisted of a free-standing rack and dresser; other times, it has been a 2-foot wide hole in the wall. Now, it consists of half a closet (strangely, my boyfriend needs closet space too?), a hallway coat closet, half a dresser, and half of an office that has been converted into a walk-in closet-esque room. This increased space has come at an extremely opportune time, especially as the office is often buried in sneakers, button-downs, white t-shirts, or whatever item I am testing for my next Strategist Hunt.
My approach to organizing my closet comes from over 10 years of strategizing, IKEA-fying, and making the most of small spaces. Some of these tips may not work for your space, some may be obvious, and some may seem ridiculous.
Let’s get started…
Hangers
Let’s start with the basics—hangers. They're the unsung heroes of closet organization. They are vital for caring for your garments. Think about it: our clothes spend about 90% of their lives hanging around. Here's my hanger breakdown:
Blouses/tops: Velvet Hangers
Velvet hangers are the best choice for blouses, tops, and shirts. Due to limited rod space, I reserve hanging for nice blouses, fancy thick t-shirts, button-downs, and sweater tops. Hanging sweaters is a big no-no, but I will occasionally hang a short-sleeved, structured sweater top that can handle the weight. I avoid hanging anything with spaghetti straps and heavy fabrics, as this will stretch and ruin the garment.
Trousers: Chrome & Foam Slack Hangers
When it comes to any trousers that aren’t jeans, I use foam-coated slack hangers. These hangers make it easy to see all of your pants without taking up too much valuable rod real estate. Additionally, the foam coating prevents creases in the middle of the pants. They are especially helpful for pants that tend to wrinkle easily or for slippery fabrics like silk or satin.
.
Skirts/ Fancy Shorts: Clip Skirt Hangers
For skirts, strapless tops, and the occasional fancy short, I use clip hangers.
These Muji Hangers are the best, but they are a little pricey per hanger and tend to take up more space than the average metal clip hanger.
I also use these metal and rubber ones for space-saving, but they tend to get a little tangled together on the rod and are too short. I am still trying to find a better option.
For my mini skirts, I like to hang them on one of these Metal 4-Tier Swing-Arm Skirt Hangers. These are great for saving space.
Coats/ Blazer: Wood Hangers
To preserve the shoulders of your coats and jackets, I recommend wooden hangers. For my lighter jackets, I opt for the cheapy Amazon/ Target ones. They will do fine. However, for your heavyweight coats/ blazers, I recommend a sturdier hanger with wide shoulder rests, that can really take the weight of the coat. I love these Muji ones.
Don't Get Your Panties In a Bunch!
Socks
Call me crazy but I love an organized sock drawer. I use these two-pack sock organizers. I attempted to organize by color and it’s semi-working. I’m finding this method so satisfying to look at and amazing for sock retrieval. Frankly, the Amazon organizers I bought are fine. I didn’t want to invest too heavily in this storage method until I tested it out and felt like it was something that worked for me. I plan to upgrade to these:
Knickers
I may not be able to convince many of you to individually roll up your underwear and place them in these drawer organizers. It’s a little deranged, I admit. However, this is the method that works for me. Alongside my underwear, I use a drawer organizer with larger compartments to store my little tanks. Next to that, I stack my sports bras. This is what makes sense in my brain.
Shoes
I recently did something a little deranged, but it has saved me time and sanity. A shoe saleswoman once told me that the best way to store shoes is in the box they come in, to prevent dust accumulation, discoloration, and disfigurement.
I've been storing my shoes in boxes ever since, sometimes 2-3 pairs per box depending on the space available. While this method is fantastic for preserving shoes, it's not great for actually getting dressed.
The issue was that I had to open every single box to find the shoes I wanted. I also often forgot what shoes I had because I couldn’t see them. So, I decided to spend an afternoon Googling photos of my shoes, printing them out, and taping the images to the fronts of the shoe boxes.
Ta Da!
Accessories
There is no perfect way to store all the bits and bobs our closest. Accessories tend to be in odd shapes that don’t store well or efficiently. Here are a few ideas that have helped me.
Hats
I keep it simple. My boyfriend and I both have an affinity for a cheeky baseball hat. So the storage solution needed to be practical, not perfect. I found these storage bins from MUJI that fit about 20-30 hats stacked perfectly. I usually pick a hat based on color, so I don’t really need to see the entirety of the hat.
Eyewear
Truthfully, I keep about three pairs of my most frequently worn sunglasses in my purse at all times. I don't reach for my other sunglasses too often, so this velvet storage box works for me. If you frequently change out your sunglasses, this method might not be very convenient. What I love about this box is that I can stack it among other things in my closet, and it protects my sunnies while preventing them from getting too dusty. What is it with New York City apartments and the never-ending dust?
If you want something to be able to see all of your sunglasses this is a nice option:
Shelves
Shelf Dividers
I absolutely swear by acrylic shelf dividers. I use them to store sweaters in the fall/winter/spring and in the summer I transition some of that space to hold shorts/pants. They are a helpful way to distribute space evenly and stay organized with bulky items. I use these two options:
Bags
As best as I can, I store my bags in the dust bags they come in. For bags I use frequently, such as my basket bags, I usually forgo the dust bag. In terms of storage, I love this adjustable shelf divider that perfectly fits all my oddly shaped purses.
Miscellaneous
For those stray buttons, decorative ribbons, heel grippers, thread, safety pins, tiny jewelry bags, and all the other miscellaneous odds and ends that never seem to have a home—I introduce the Hat Box.
My abuela used to store all her sewing supplies in an old hat box, and I've decided to carry on the tradition. Recently, I received some PR in a round, sturdy box that seemed perfect for repurposing. Now, it’s my ideal container for all those stray objects that never seem to have a home.
Final Thoughts
Dressing well, cultivating style, and truly enjoying your wardrobe isn’t just about the clothes themselves—it’s also about how we care for and organize them. Effective closet organization allows us to see and access what we own, making it easier to maximize the use of every piece. When my closet is easy to navigate and visually accessible, I buy less and consume more mindfully because I see exactly what I own. In essence, closet organization is an integral part of garment care: the goal is to store clothes in a way that minimizes damage and maximizes their longevity.