In the past few weeks, I've had several people ask me for tips on how to better organize their lingerie. Believe me when I say I haven't got a perfect system yet, so we'll probably revisit the subject more than once this year. However, these five steps have definitely helped me get started. As always, please feel free to comment with tips and tricks of your own. I definitely want to hear what you have to say.
1) First of all, throw away anything ratty, worn out, discolored, faded, threadbare, or that has stretched elastic, holes, or underwires poking through. No, I don't care how much you love it or how pretty it used to be. We'll get you another. I promise. ;-)
2) Second, divide your remaining lingerie into piles. I use three: lingerie worn frequently to semi-frequently, lingerie worn once or twice and never again, and lingerie that's never been worn at all (brand new and/or with tags still attached). You may need more or fewer categories depending on how much lingerie you own, and on what kind of sorting system works best for you.
3) Donate everything in that last pile to The Salvation Army, Goodwill, or a local battered women's shelter. My day job is in the non-profit industry, and I know for a fact that these places never have enough new women's underwear. In addition to all that good karma, you'll also get a tax break. However, please do not donate anything worn (and that includes worn-out) to these facilities. You wouldn't want to wear someone else's dingy undies, neither do the people who use these services.
4) Find other uses for lingerie in the second pile. For example, my Momma used to keep a bagful of lingerie that wasn't "quite right," and use it for dust rags. If it helps, think about it as another kind of recycling. If something won't work well as a dust rag (for example, your lace teddy from the 1980s would scratch the good furniture), throw it out. No exceptions.
As an aside, I know that some women like to keep their old knickers around for when Aunt Flow is visiting. While I understand that logic, I'm not sure I agree with it. For me, the days I'm feeling least sexy are also the best times for good underwear. No one is saying you have wear a silk chiffon thong during that time of the month, but a nice pair of black microfiber boyshorts would work just as well and make you feel even better besides.
5) For things you love and wear often, use them as a guide to future lingerie purchases. You can refer to my article from last year, "How to Buy Lingerie You'll Actually Wear," which outlines 10 steps for rebuilding your lingerie wardrobe, from getting a professional bra fitting to buying lingerie that looks just as good under your clothes as it does without them to purchasing multiples of the same piece.
What are some of your tips for keeping your lingerie organized? Tell me in the comments!
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