A Digital Wardrobe Is The Only Closet Organization Hack You Need
Movies and TV series often glamorize getting lost in your own wardrobe, or having so many clothes that even shutting your closet door is a two person job. But we know all too well that the reality of an overflowing closet is miles away from the quirky comedic response the scene evokes.
Keep forgetting about your burgundy knee high boots? Not sure where you left your cream cable knit sweater? Can’t open your drawers without everything exploding out?
You’ve already tried all the finest “organization hacks'' that TikTok has to offer, and maybe you’ve even shelled out for a set of new containers that promised to solve your problems. Yet here you are once again googling closet organization tips in search of a solution. Sound familiar?
Housekeeping magazines and TikTok influencers would have you believe a new shelf, better drawers or an improved door hanging organizer are all you need to transform your bedroom into Princess Mia Thermopolis’s royal closet. But this isn’t a round up of all the Ikea or Walmart closet organizers that you need to add to your shopping cart.
This may seem a little radical, but the solution for too much stuff is NOT more stuff.
I’d like to offer an entirely different solution to your physical storage problem: a digital wardrobe organizing app like Indyx.
Our approach at Indyx is that a virtual wardrobe will clarify what you truly need, help you finally remove all the clutter, and in turn keep your physical wardrobe tidier - for good.
The only movie closet that inspires us is Cher Horowitz from Clueless. She may be the only woman we’ve seen on film that was stress free while getting dressed, so we took notes.
Like Cher’s light-years ahead of her time virtual closet, Indyx provides you with full visibility of your wardrobe. This makes it much harder to forget any items hidden away in an overstuffed drawer. It also allows you to connect virtually with a personal stylist who can help you gain a stronger sense of your personal style and curate a wardrobe that finally just *works* for you - and fits comfortably within the space you have.
Before we get into the nitty gritty of your one stop shop solution, let’s take a closer look at why nothing else has worked before.
Why Closet Organization Hacks Fall Short
You have too much stuff
Your closet does have an actual limit on how much it can hold. No matter how many dividers, containers or bins you buy, it’s not the wardrobe to Narnia and the laws of physics still apply. The problem isn’t figuring out how to origami fold your pants so your eight pairs of light wash jeans fit into a tiny space, but it’s that you simply have too much stuff!
A closet organization system based around a trip to the Container Store and meticulously folded items may work for a short time - specifically, the very moment you finish organizing - but it frankly takes a lot of work to keep up. More work than most people are willing or able to put into the task of staying organized, when there are so many other more exciting or important things you could be spending your precious time on. And so, inevitably, most people who try to tackle closet organization but don’t change how much stuff is being organized will slip back into their old ways.
Our humble opinion? Closet organization is always secondary to closet decluttering. There is no point in buying new storage solutions for things you never wear or don’t feel fit your style. Keeping things you don’t wear “just in case” occupies needed space and takes an emotional toll. Trust us, it’s much better - physically and emotionally! - to have fewer items that you love to wear than many items you get stressed about styling and stressed about keeping organized.
If you’re going through your wardrobe and come across an item you completely forgot you own, that’s a clear sign you may not need it after all. Don’t get us wrong: we’re not advocating you throw away all your belongings and live off a 15 item capsule wardrobe. We’re just willing to bet there’s a lot of stuff you don’t wear taking up needed space in your closet. And simply removing those items is the fastest and easiest way to a truly organized closet.
Read our best advice on how to declutter your closet and the most sustainable options for what do with the things you’ve edited out
You’re not clear on your personal style - and so the cycle continues
What’s even more strange is that most of us have the problem of a cluttered, overflowing wardrobe and still feel we have nothing to wear - and that’s not entirely our fault. The fashion industry has never been in the business of dressing people with what they need, but rather making you want what you don’t need.
Ultimately every fashion company needs to sell more to make more, regardless of how sustainable they claim to be. Overconsumption is at the heart of the fashion industry - it's the very reason that fashion shows care more about the show than the fashion. They want to create the hype that makes everyone feel they need their new clothes. We are made to feel we need those new items and often don’t stop to think if it really fits our style. Ultimately, you're left with clothes you wore a couple times while it was on “trend” but no real sense of what actually appeals to you and suits your lifestyle.
If you’re not 100% clear on your true personal style, it's easy to fall prey to the fashion industry hamster race after every trend that leaves you right where you started: with too many clothes and nothing to wear. Understanding your personal style is the real unlock to knowing for sure whether the items in your wardrobe are working for you and how to shop purposefully without adding more clutter.
Need help clarifying your personal style? Join our free (!) 8-week Style Workshop, where we walk you through a step-by-step process to define your style and create a plan to build a lasting wardrobe to match.
The Indyx Closet Organization System
So, how exactly does a virtual wardrobe solve your physical closet organization problems? Remember: we’re looking for a solution that clears up space and helps you keep a wardrobe that is true to your personal style.
As we delve deeper into each point, feel free to close the Amazon tabs you have open for Rubbermaid bins and plastic storage cubes because you won’t be needing them any longer.
Visibility
The foundational benefit of a virtual wardrobe is total visibility of everything you own. There is no point in having bins stacked on bins if everything is hidden away and you have no idea what you even have anymore. As they say - “out of sight, out of mind”.
Indyx changes this, allowing you to conveniently visualize all of your clothes in one place as soon as you open the app. You’ll never forget about something because it's hidden under a pile of clothes.
Similarly, it will make obvious to you all the pieces that you aren’t wearing and have made do without. Seeing your wardrobe digitally helps you visualize how your clothes come together cohesively as a wardrobe. Everything that isn't your style or might be dated will stick out when you scroll through your clothes and make it easier to curate your closet going forward.
Once you have a digital wardrobe you can store your clothes however you’d like: in boxes, protective bags, shoe racks - whatever works for you! - because you won’t even need to open your wardrobe to plan what you wear. Consequently you won’t feel pressured to have a meticulously organized closet because you won’t need to take your clothes out to look for an outfit.
Styling
Many of us have watched Marie Kondo or The Home Edit on Netflix and seen how professional organizers can sweep into a home and advise on what to keep or what to get rid of - or even do it all for you! It’s a tempting proposition. But, keep in mind that a professional organizer is not a stylist. They can discard things for which you have multiples or haven’t used in 6 months, but they aren’t usually equipped to help you evaluate your wardrobe through the lens of style.
With Indyx, you can work with a styling expert who can actually help define your personal style and evaluate how the items in your wardrobe do or don’t fit into that image. Letting go of clothes can be stress inducing, so sometimes it’s best to have a professional to guide you through the process.
Additionally, since you can play with styling your clothes from just about anywhere with an internet connection, your physical closet will stay more organized. No more pulling out every top you own or trying on every shoe to see if it matches - you are able to touch only what you’ve already styled to wear.
Do you hear that ringing? That’s Cher calling to welcome us to her digital world from 1995.
Learn more about what a personal stylist can do for you, and how Indyx makes styling more efficient and affordable than ever before
Resale
Since one of the cornerstones of a strong closet organization system is decluttering, we need to address how to pass on the clothes you’ve realized were just taking up space. On the Indyx app you can use the Collections feature to easily group which items you will want to donate and which to resell, the latter of which you can directly do on the app.
Once you’ve made your list of items you want to resell, with just a couple of clicks you can list them for resale on the Indyx marketplace for cash with zero commissions. That’s right, you’ll get to keep 100% of what you make from the sale.
No more hacks and tricks and tips, a real closet organization solution. Do you think Cher was searching for wardrobe hacks in her free time? Ugh! As if!
Should I Hire Closet Organizers?
Our Indyx closet organization approach doesn’t require any handy work installing new shelves or building a new closet from IKEA.
But, if the benefits of a digital wardrobe are calling to you, then we do need to tackle cataloging your wardrobe into the Indyx app. This will involve taking a flat-lay photo and capturing some key product information like category, brand, color, and size for each of your items.
Once you download the free Indyx app on iOS or Android have a choice: to DIY or hire our professional Archivists.
| Self-Indyx (DIY) | Pro-Indyx ($195) | |
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If you choose to DIY, make sure to check out our cataloging tips or tricks to achieve the best possible images!
Learn the do’s and don’ts to get the best images for your virtual wardrobe with tips straight from our Archivists
While we all enjoy a good leisurely Target run, with Indyx you will no longer find yourself there there every other week in an effort to manage your wardrobe. Take the time to invest once in an Indyx digital closet, reap the rewards of a more defined personal style and curated wardrobe, and you’ll never find yourself Googling “closet organization ideas'' again.
Rebecca is a fashion stylist and writer, recently graduated from the University of California, Berkeley, and currently living in London. She enjoys reading, skiing and having people cook for her.
