Edit your wardrobe: “The first thing you need to do is get yourself a partner, someone you trust, to help you edit,” says Fascitelli. “This person is someone who is going to tell you the truth, whose style you admire and who has a good eye for your own personal style. Editing or culling your wardrobe is not only about finding things that you haven’t worn in one or two years but also asking, ‘Would I buy this today?'”

Color code: Sort your clothes by color and type. Keep pants with pants and skirts with skirts, and then organize each category from light to dark, says Fascitelli. “This is a visual merchandising trick that makes your eye follow the color. It’s easier to get to your stuff this way.”

It’s all about the hangers: “The least expensive thing you can do to get your closet organized and cleaned up is to buy all the same style and color hanger,” says Fascitelli, who prefers using a neutral color. For her product line, Clos-ette Too, she says they spent years developing the perfect hanger. “It’s a skinny, soft hanger in five different styles for all different types of garments,” she says of the end product. “And they have very short drops, so you’re not just saving on horizontal space but vertical [too].”

To fold or to hang?: The general rule is “hang everything you can,” says Fascitelli. If you don’t have too much space on your closet rod, the items she specifically feels should be hung are coats, pants, dresses, suits, tailored shirts, silk blouses and gowns. The best items to fold and store on a shelf or in a drawer are T-shirts, sweaters, gym clothes, jeans and delicates — such as beaded and cashmere pieces.

Reuse and recycle

Once you figure out what you’re keeping and what’s going, find a consignment store.

“It’s green — you’re recycling your clothing,” says Fascitelli, who likes I-Ella or Linda’s Stuff on eBay. She also suggests giving directly to a charity such as Dress for Success.

Keepsake items

Saving your prom dress for your daughter? Have a separate storage area for archival items, says Fascitelli. Wrap them in acid-free tissue and store them in an acid-free box.