Recently I have taken the time to catalog my entire closet, and let me tell you, it was no small feat. This time-consuming process has given me the insights I didn’t even know I needed; I can not recommend it enough for those interested in maximizing their wardrobes. If you are interested in digitizing your closet, I recommend either the Indyx or OpenWardrobe app. Below I will dive into why someone would want to do this, how to do get started (with some tips), and my takeaways from this process. Let’s go!

Why would someone want to do this?

Anyone would benefit from a digitized wardrobe because it allows you to look at your closet from a different perspective. 

What you are basically doing is taking inventory of your wardrobe, paying attention to each item, and then seeing it from a screen. When you have the chance to step away from your closet and see it in a completely different angle, you have a well-rounded idea of what you actually own. 

Most wardrobe digitizing apps have built-in metrics that give you an even deeper look into your closet, allowing you to see what you have too much of, where the gaps may be, and helps refine your shopping list. 

*Tip: I recommend embarking on this adventure when you are in the mood for a closet reset. 

The How-tos 

The most labor-intensive portion of this process is the photographing of your items. In order to ensure this process goes smoothly for you, I will share a few tricks I learned along the way. 

• First is to photograph your most worn items and try to avoid duplicates. For example, if you have more than one white tee, just upload one. 
• Capture something from every category. You will want to be able to create full outfits later on.
• No hangers! Take photos of everything, either laying flat or sitting straight up. I found hangers make everything look messy when creating outfit collages.  
• Try to shoot everything from the same angle, in natural lighting, with a minimal background. 
• Tuck in armpits from tops and crotches from pants. What you are trying to do, is to keep everything nice and tight in the photo.  
• Be mindful with how you position shoes. I personally like them all shot from the side with the toes pointing to the right, but you do you. 

*Another Tip: If you don’t want to take a picture of the item, that might be a sign that it shouldn’t be in your closet. 

The Takeaways

After inputting all the items, using the app to track cost per wear, creating packing lists, and just playing around with outfit combinations, I can say that this is THE best way to create and maintain a well functioning closet. 

I have been able to simplify my wardrobe, making every single item work for me, and in the end saving money by not buying clothes on a whim. I encourage you to give it a try!

Have any thoughts? Let me know in the comments. 

Till next time, 

Dre