If you’ve ever spent hours (or weeks) preparing for your presentation and felt your confidence disappear the moment you stepped in front of your closet to pick out something to wear, then you’re reading the right article. That’s because you’re about to discover my easy 5-step method to conquering the chaos in your closet so that you never again need to feel less than confident about your professional stage presence or to look amazing for your next event.
Plus, the good news is that this method works even if you’ve just started speaking to gain new clients or have been presenting for years. Read on…
Step 1: Set aside some time to do a “Seasonal Closet Cleansing”.
Many people who’re new to speaking don’t even realize that they need to do this step before they can cut out the chaos and cultivate the confidence necessary to selling more on stage. That’s why a lot of people who try to get dressed in a hurry before stepping on stage end up really stressed out and not showing up the way they really want to, in confidence, to attract and “close” their perfect client. It’s really because they are simply missing this crucial step.
So, the first thing you need to do is block off about 2 hours on your calendar, well before one of your big events and spend the time necessary to getting this done.
You’ll find that this part of the process goes much more smoothly if you have these things on hand for the project:
- Pen and paper
- Your phone (with camera)
- Empty shopping bags
- Sturdy trash bags
Once you’ve got these items then you are ready to move on to the next step…
Step 2: Start the purge; that is sorting and eliminating what doesn’t serve you anymore!
We have to know what you have to work with in your closet before we can figure out what you want to wear or what you might need to buy.
When I first started working with speaking professionals, I found they made a lot of mistakes. They had a lot items in their wardrobes that still had the tags on them that they didn’t wear and items they were holding on to that created a lot of clutter! Now that I’ve helped so many women cut the chaos and clutter, I see a lot of the same mistakes.
So let me share with you 3 categories to go through to getting organized here:
- Alter/Repair– Speakers who have gained/lost weight hang on to items that don’t fit and they either need to be altered or let go. Make a special section of your closet for now and set aside anything that needs to be altered or repaired (broken zipper, missing button, etc.). Try it on, be real, is it worth the hassle and investment to alter or repair it?
- Consign/Donate– Sure we all have something that we have bought that didn’t work out, we never wear or that we haven’t worn in a year or more. NOW it the time to release it.
Only if it is a brand label and in excellent condition do I find that it is worth consigning because remember your time is money (unless you have someone do it for you). Call your favorite charity and find one that comes to you and picks it up to make things easy. AMETS is my personal choice being a Navy Brat. - Trash– Yes, somethings are pilled, have holes and just need to be “trashed”. Do consider giving these items to Goodwill or the like as they have programs to repurpose the fabric to save our earth and reduce the landfill.
Step 3: Categorize your Items by Style and Color
At this step you’re likely to notice you are beginning to feel a little FREER about the whole process. So, now, what you need to do is color code your closet, put everything in order by pants, jeans, jackets, short sleeve tops, long sleeve, etc. to go to the next level.
I still remember one of my first client’s closets I was working in, helping them to create a system that allowed her a way to get dressed in 5 minutes or less before a big presentation. She is a very visual woman and by having everything so she could see it, was a huge AHA moment for her. We made rainbows of color in each style of clothing from apparel to shoes and accessories. She had so many things in boxes and even drawers she didn’t even know what she had!
Step 4: Pull Out the Core Pieces.
Now that you have eliminated things you don’t need, your closet is organized and you can see what you have, this is where you pull out the key components that you want to wear for your next gig.
This is also a great place to jot down a few notes for a shopping list on what you might need to buy, so you do have the essentials readily available to dress with ease and grace!
Step 5: Coordinate Your Outfits.
This is where you can have some fun and get creative.
Tip: Start with one item and work around it. For example, start with a jacket, shoes or a piece of jewelry as your main focus. Pull together all the elements from head to toe to make the outfit complete. Try it on together and make sure the fit and fabrics work, then be sure to take some pictures so you have it for future reference.
And there you have it – a simple 5-step method for conquering the chaos in your closet so that you never again need to feel less than confident about getting dressed for your next presentation.
Now that you know how to cut the chaos and clutter, there’s just one thing left for you to do: take action.
So get to it, and soon you too will be able to dress to feel pulled together and confident when you step on the stage or for your next big event!
