No matter how often I clean out my closet, I always seem to accumulate more clothes than I ever need. Some old, some new, and most that I know I will never wear. Every time the season changes, I set a new goal of clearing out the excess but find myself in the same situation just a few months later.

I have tried so many different techniques – trash or treasure, what I haven’t worn in six months, and even turning the hangers in the opposite direction – all with no luck. Now, as we are heading into autumn, I would like to accomplish this once and for all. So, I have decided to devise a new method. One that I know will work for me.

The Benefit of Years of Travel

There have been several times when I have moved out of state and even out of the country for up to a year at a time. During these trips I stayed in hotels, B&Bs, holiday homes etc., all with very little to no storage.

One apartment I rented had two very small dresser drawers and a tiny wardrobe for all of my belongings. I was happy that I hadn’t packed too much, or I would have spent the next eight months living out of my suitcase.

What I discovered is that, even for my longest trips, I didn’t need much more than what my largest suitcase would hold. After traveling for the past 20 years, I have become accustomed to packing very efficiently and as light as possible. Now, it is time to put that experience to use, here at home.

I Really Just Need the Essentials

When I pack to go away, I usually take the same basic items and only what is absolutely necessary. I do like to be comfortable and flexible for the conditions, so I always take that into account. Everything in my wardrobe needs to fit properly, be easy to mix and match with the ability to layer for different climates.

If I think about clearing out my closet in the same way as I think about packing for a trip, it should help with some of those iffy items that I always end up keeping instead of getting rid of. I don’t ever take a pair of jeans that don’t fit on a trip when I know I will need to wear them. So exactly why would I stash those back in my closet for later?

8 Steps I Have to Take

To get to my essential wardrobe, I will need to consider several factors, so here are the steps I’ll need to take:

Sever Emotional Attachment

Part of this will require severing the emotional attachment I have to so many items. I love the pattern or how I looked or what I was doing when I last wore it, are my typical excuses for keeping something that no longer suits me.

Acknowledging that my life and my body have changed is an important first step. That is why the packing mentality feels right for me. It keeps me limited to what I actually love and can wear right now.

Forget Seasonal Packing

I used to try to pack away seasonal items as the weather changed, but I live in Colorado, and we can have 90-degree temperatures one day and snow the next, so it’s not practical. I need a year-round wardrobe that I can keep ready anytime for home or away.

Get Rid of the Numbers

Aside from actual clothing items, I have amassed a tremendous collection of shoes and undergarments that rarely, if ever, get used. Packing is a great way to minimize those things as well. I wouldn’t think of taking 15 camisoles when I need one or two.

Go with Multi-Purpose

I also like to use pieces for more than one purpose to keep things light (most of my tank tops can be used to sleep in or under a blouse or sweater).

Pre-plan Weather Conditions

I always begin my packing process by planning my itinerary – where will I be going, what are the weather conditions and what activities will I be doing. For me, that usually involves a variety of situations – wet, dry, hot, cold, work, dinners, dances, dates, casual loungewear, and outdoor activities.

Create Combinations

Next, I pull out the main items that I think I will want to wear for each of the scenarios. Then I begin grouping by color and separate the tops from the bottoms, making sure all items in a color group match each other.

I usually stick to solid colors for bottoms (black, blue, brown) and add 3–4 print tops that go with each color bottom. Usually, I eliminate anything that I don’t want or really doesn’t go with any of the others. Since I’m doing this for home, not travel, I will keep special one-offs that I really love.

Think Accessories

Then I add the shoes, sweaters, scarves, jackets, and accessories for each group of outfits. Looking at this all laid out really helps me to see what I have and how the items go together.

I don’t like having to choose from 20 individual pieces before I decide what to wear for the day. Most of that comes from traveling for work and needing to keep my options simple and my luggage to a minimum.

Pack Up!

The last step is to pack it in my suitcase. Depending on how far you want to take this, you might decide to use several suitcases or containers for what you are keeping. You can store the excess in boxes in case you have second thoughts about getting rid of it all.

So, there it is, my new suitcase closet organizing system. I’m getting started on it right away and see just how low I can go and free up my time and space from all of this physical and emotional clutter.

Let’s Have a Conversation:

Is decluttering and organizing a pleasure or a pain for you? What methods have you used that work well for you? I would love to hear your comments and whatever tips and tricks you may have to share with others.

Though searching for the perfect eye cream might seem like a never-ending goose chase, there are way more effective options out there than you’d think. There’s CeraVe’s ultra-hydrating formula that’s been dubbed a “fine line eraser,” Tula’s de-puffing balm that shoppers are “addicted” to and Kleem Organics’ firming cream that makes fine lines “disappear.” However, there’s one TikTok-viral formula that you definitely need to know about right now, especially since it has been selling out at multiple retailers.

Herbivore Botanicals’ new Moon Dew Eye Cream is, plain and simple, a keeper. It has previously sold out at a few different places, but is finally back in stock and on sale. During the brand’s friends and family event, take 25 percent off of the entire site with code FRIENDS25. The sale ends on October 6, so snatch yours up before it sells out again.

Thank goodness the bright purple cream is available again because it fills fine lines and instantly tightens the under-eye area. It can do all this thanks to its skin-saving ingredients. For one, it contains bakuchiol, which is a plant-based alternative to retinol that has all of the same anti-aging abilities, minus the potential for irritation. Plus, quinoa plant peptides and honey locust seed polysaccharides de-puff, lift, tighten and smooth.

@abbythebadassmom

Reply to @dianepeluso HOW I CHANGED MY UNDER EYE BAGS – more info in the comments #herbivorebotanicals #undereyebags #puffyeyesolution #besteyecream #herbivorebotanicalspartner @Herbivore Botanicals

♬ original sound – Abby Rivera

These are some impressive powers for a single eye cream, but TikTokers swear Moon Dew is the real deal. In the TikTok above, @abbythebadassmom shows viewers a photo of her under-eyes before she started using the cream. I have horrible vision, but even I can see immediately that this product worked wonders on Abby’s skin. Her face is completely bare in the video and she notes that she hasn’t had any surgery, so the results can be 100 percent attributed to the purple eye cream.

“I’ve been using this in the morning and at night and it’s been smoothing, tightening and firming my under-eyes. So that’s why they have been looking so much better, and over time, also helping with more deep-set wrinkles,” she explains in the TikTok. “I’ve been using this for the last month. I finally found an eye cream that actually helps with the appearance of my under-eyes.”

Go off, queen! We couldn’t be more shocked by the results from just one month of use. The TikToker has us adding Herbivore Botanicals’ Moon Dew Eye Cream to our Sephora carts right this second.

It’d be a good idea to shop it ASAP since TikTok-viral products tend to sell out quickly and more than once. In case shoppers wipe it off the shelves again, you can also grab the eye cream at Sephora, Credo Beauty and Revolve.

RELATED: Shoppers Are ‘Addicted’ to This De-Puffing Eye Balm That Fades Wrinkles in 2 Weeks 

Photo: Herbivore Botanicals.

If Abby’s TikTok doesn’t have you fully convinced yet (though it should), Sephora shoppers are on it. They gave it a 4.8-star overall rating, after all! 

“Finally an eye cream that actually works! I have tried every eye cream out there and never feel like I see a difference until this one,” raved one five-star reviewer. “I have pretty bad crow’s feet and have noticed a difference in even just a few days.”

“I noticed an immediate smoothing/tightening around my eye area after gently tapping on this product. This is the first day I’ve used it,” wrote another shopper. “Looking forward to seeing more results over the next couple weeks. So far I’m very impressed—and as a regular skincare junky, that’s not easy to do.”

There’s no denying that Moon Dew’s wrinkle-erasing ingredients will have your under-eyes looking brand new in no time. Correction: “a few days.”

If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, STYLECASTER may receive an affiliate commission.

There are so many mascaras that have been piquing our interest. Maybelline’s Lash Sensational is a tried-and-true favorite, while Milani and essence options have taken over TikTok as some of the best in their class. Each one provides some seriously impressive results, but have you heard of a mascara that packs two formulas into one tube? Westmore Beauty’s Two Times The Lash Mascara has its name for a reason. Two separate formulas mix together upon application to create one incredibly volumizing and lengthening product.

Here’s how it works: The “gold” formula relies on keratin, vitamin E and olive oil to condition and nourish the lashes, while the “black” formula taps on innovative technology to extend and curl them. The “black” formula additionally contains natural synthetic waxes that make your eyelashes appear long and lifted. The mascara manages to do all of this without causing clumping or flaking, which is no easy feat.

Not to mention, its $20 price tag will give all of your luxe tubes a run for their money. We stan an affordable and effective mascara!

All you have to do is apply the mascara from the root of your lash and wiggle it through. Wiggle the wand a few more times for a natural look, or layer on a second coat for a more dramatic, nighttime vibe.

Photo: Westmore Beauty.

RELATED: Shoppers Say This $10 TikTok-Viral Mascara Makes Their Natural Lashes ‘Look Like Falsies’ 

We’re not the only ones who are impressed with this dual-phase formula. 

“Great mascara! makes my lashes thicker and longer with no flaking,” raved one five-star reviewer.

“Lightweight application; thin wand for precise application; separates and lengthens lashes with no bad clumping! Love this mascara,” wrote another shopper. 

These are some tall claims, so to see the results for yourself, shop the Two Times The Lash Mascara for just $20 at Westmore Beauty. If you’re looking to add more items to your cart, check out the brand’s under-eye gel that tightens fine lines in 60 seconds. 

Westmore Beauty

Follow the shopper-loved 60-Second Eye Effects Gel with the Two Times The Lash Mascara to create a stunning, wide-awake eye look.

If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, STYLECASTER may receive an affiliate commission.

There are so many mascaras that have been piquing our interest. Maybelline’s Lash Sensational is a tried-and-true favorite, while Milani and essence options have taken over TikTok as some of the best in their class. Each one provides some seriously impressive results, but have you heard of a mascara that packs two formulas into one tube? Westmore Beauty’s Two Times The Lash Mascara has its name for a reason. Two separate formulas mix together upon application to create one incredibly volumizing and lengthening product.

Here’s how it works: The “gold” formula relies on keratin, vitamin E and olive oil to condition and nourish the lashes, while the “black” formula taps on innovative technology to extend and curl them. The “black” formula additionally contains natural synthetic waxes that make your eyelashes appear long and lifted. The mascara manages to do all of this without causing clumping or flaking, which is no easy feat.

Not to mention, its $20 price tag will give all of your luxe tubes a run for their money. We stan an affordable and effective mascara!

All you have to do is apply the mascara from the root of your lash and wiggle it through. Wiggle the wand a few more times for a natural look, or layer on a second coat for a more dramatic, nighttime vibe.

Photo: Westmore Beauty.

RELATED: Shoppers Say This $10 TikTok-Viral Mascara Makes Their Natural Lashes ‘Look Like Falsies’ 

We’re not the only ones who are impressed with this dual-phase formula. 

“Great mascara! makes my lashes thicker and longer with no flaking,” raved one five-star reviewer.

“Lightweight application; thin wand for precise application; separates and lengthens lashes with no bad clumping! Love this mascara,” wrote another shopper. 

These are some tall claims, so to see the results for yourself, shop the Two Times The Lash Mascara for just $20 at Westmore Beauty. If you’re looking to add more items to your cart, check out the brand’s under-eye gel that tightens fine lines in 60 seconds. 

Westmore Beauty

Follow the shopper-loved 60-Second Eye Effects Gel with the Two Times The Lash Mascara to create a stunning, wide-awake eye look.