The Closet Editing System

The first step in Bornstein’s Closet Editing System is simple: Go into your closet and pull out all of the styles you wear on repeat. These are your ‘regulars.' 

To be clear, we’re not talking about that blouse you love that only comes out for special occasions—we’re talking about the tried-and-true tops, jeans, dresses, and jackets that you reach for over and over again. It’s okay if they’re not the trendiest pieces in your closet. As Bornstein says, “...you’re not trying to impress anyone here.” 

Gather your regulars wherever you can. Bornstein says that if you don’t have an extra clothing rack, “...just throw it on the bed. You want to be able to see it.” Then, organize your regulars into categories such as tops, bottoms, skirts, blazers, etc. Seeing these pieces all together should help you understand your personal style—for instance, is there a color palette or pattern you gravitate toward? Perhaps there’s a lot of denim in the mix? Chances are your regulars have something in common and understanding that will help you make more promising purchase decisions in the future (and better outfits right now). 

Next, set aside your regulars and make room for your ‘nevers.’ If you’re not sure whether something is a never, Bornstein makes it simple: “Do I wear this? Yes or no.” If the answer is no, the style is a never. 

Find the things in your closet that you don’t wear and pile them up wherever makes sense—we’ll organize these further in the next step. While it may be tempting to leave out things that are sentimental or special occasion items, go ahead and pull those out too (but don’t worry, you won’t have to get rid of anything you're not ready to let go of).  

According to Bornstein, there are three categories of nevers:

1. No: It either doesn’t fit, is damaged, or you just don’t like it.

2. Not now: You don’t want to wear it now, but you also don’t want to get rid of it. Sentimental items are often in the category.

3. How: You love it, but you don’t know how to style it.

Go through each piece in your never pile and decide whether it’s a no, a not now, or a how. Put the hows in their own pile. Then, donate the nos and store the not-nows. 

Tip: Bornstein suggests putting the not-nows in a suitcase, and if you don't pull them out within a few months, consider donating them. 

Now for the fun part: creating looks. Bornstein calls this “The Revival Process” because it involves taking your rarely-worn hows and figuring out how to style them with your regulars. 

For example, maybe there’s a statement top in your how pile that would pair nicely with your go-to jeans and black boots. Or, perhaps there’s a dress that’s over the top on its own but looks perfect under your favorite oversized blazer with some simple block heels. 

The idea here is to experiment by pairing your regulars with your hows and laying them out on the floor as an outfit. Bornstein suggests snapping photos of the outfits you like and adding them to an album titled “My Looks” on your phone. That way, you’ll be able to reference these photos when fashion brain freeze takes over.

Related: 5 Ways To Style A Leather Jacket—Plus, The Best Ones To Buy Right Now 

Finally, it’s time to put everything back in your closet and make it neat and tidy while you’re at it. Bornstein takes a two-prong approach, organizing pieces by category (for example, hanging all of the skirts, trousers, tops, dresses, etc. together), as well as color. If you’re short on space, check out our collection of space-saving home finds. 

If you noticed during this process that your regular pile is lacking, that’s a sign that it’s time to invest in some basics. The styles below offer a great starting point, but you can also turn to our Top 10 lists for more options. 

Some of our favorite staple styles include white button-downs (great for tucking into skirts, jeans, slacks, and more), little black dresses, and wide-leg jeans. Rounding out your wardrobe with a few reliable pieces such as these will help you pull together looks in no time. And if there’s one thing we know for sure, it’s that trends come and go but classics never go out of style.