Organize | denim

LET’S CHAT JEANS…

Light or dark wash, high waisted or “mom” fit, denim is a staple piece that stands the test of time; so if you’re anything like me, you’ve got a pair that speaks to any mood you’re in. That said, finding a storage solution that fits your OOTD routine can vary. For some, hanging in the closet is prime real estate – for others, folded away in a drawer is the way to go. Whatever works for you, finding your go-to pair for the day should be seamless. Below are a few tips to organize your denim in any system :

AUDIT

First things first: if you’ve been holding on to those too-small jeans in hopes you’ll wear them again (for the third year in a row), it’s probably time to let them go. This isn’t meant to shame, but rather to be intentional about what you own and will make use of moving forward. The best advice is to shop well from the start: buy high quality, sustainable clothing, and wear it for a long time. If you’re simply overwhelmed at this point, go through your collection and be honest about what pieces you will actually wear in the next few months. If it no longer fits properly or will sit and collect dust (which shouldn’t be for a while if you followed the initial advice), consider swapping with a friend or donating to a clothing drive. If you shop sustainably, some brands actually have their own recycling programs!

HANGING

Color coding is #1 : depending on the configuration of your closet, whether a consistent row from lights to darks or separated by ‘blues’ and ‘blacks’, color gradients help make clothes easily identifiable.

Group by Style: if you have a favorite style and own multiples (ie. high waisted), sorting by type may be the way to go.

Technique: the “tongue” (aka crotch) of the jean should face IN – the outer seams of the pant is what should face you. This avoids unnecessary bunching and creates clean lines when all the jeans are lined up in a row. Feel free to fold the jean over the hanger in half or in-thirds to avoid draping onto the floor or other items.

FOLDING

Applying the same grouping method, decide if sorting by color or by style is your primary base.

For drawers, I default to grouping by style as you’re likely to know which stack the jeans are placed in when you can’t see them all at once. The reverse is true for shelves, which I suggest color coding since fully visible.

Technique: to create a seamless stack (no matter what style jean), apply the following folding strategy:

• Tip: make sure the long sides are lined up evenly – this will give the stack that added *organized* look!

• Depending on the length of your drawer or shelf, tri-fold or quad-fold the jean.

• Don’t forget to tuck the tongue!