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9. THE NOT-SO-FAST LIST FOR HIM AND HER There’s one sticky problem with closet cleanups. The regrets. Purgers sometimes say they were too hasty, too ruthless and miss specific items. My
advice is to use the editing process as a chance to reconnect with things you love and see if there’s a way to revive and wear them (see tip 8). Try everything on before you say yes or no,
and ask yourself this big question: When was the last time you wore it? If you haven’t worn it, why not? Here are the most-missed items that deserve another look before you donate: CLASSICS:
Trench coat, peacoat, tailored coat, blazers, black sweaters, ankle boots, scarves, linen shirts, black or nude pumps, loafers, little black dresses EDGY ITEMS: Leopard anything, black
leather jackets (blazer, moto or bomber), your favorite light-wash jeans, fedoras, studded and fringed bags, metallic shoes and sandals SPORTY ITEMS: Hooded windbreakers, rain jackets,
waterproof boat shoes, perfectly broken-in chambray, denim or flannel shirts, puffer vests HARD TO FIND WHEN YOU NEED THEM ITEMS: Peplum tops, rain boots that look like your leather ones,
nude fishnet tights, print jersey dresses, jeweled belts and embellished shoes, white jeans, embossed alligator bags and shoes NOSTALGIC ITEMS: A “glory days” memento like a college
sweatshirt, sports team jersey, your logo-laden bags Julien McRoberts/Getty Images 10. NOW ORGANIZE WHAT’S LEFT IN A BETTER WAY. Hang and stack everything by color. This means all your black
items together, all your blue items together, all your greens or browns and so on. Forget about shade, season and fabrics. Within each color group there will be a range of tones from light
to dark, differences in texture and fabric, seasons, solids and stripes or prints, super casual and dressy, tailored and relaxed. Fold and stack sweaters, knits and tees by color and arrange
your shoes by color, too. Now go back and within each color group hang like items with like — so within the blue group, all your blue jeans together, all your blue shirts together. This
system cuts in half the time to find your clothes and get dressed time and makes you more confident in your mixing and matching. You’ll never say, “I have nothing to wear!” again. _Lois Joy
Johnson is a beauty and style editor who focuses on women 50 and older. She was the beauty and style editor at_ Ladies’ Home Journal _and a founding editor of_ More _magazine._ _She has
written three books:_ The Makeup Wakeup, The Wardrobe Wakeup _and_ The Woman's Wakeup.