Spring is right around the corner, or so we’ve been told. Those of us currently on the East Coast, scaling miniature grey mountains of slush during morning commutes and facing another week of glacial temperatures, can take solace in calendrical fact: Within the month, a fresh season will have arrived, bringing with it new energy, beaming sunlight, and an age-old question. Do I really need to spring clean my space?
Vogue’s Favorite Closet Organizing Products:
Whether your version of a spring clean is a head-to-toe interior refresh or simply a little decluttering, the best (and first) place to start should be your closet. For one, it’s time to rotate out your bulkiest winter clothes to make way for lighter fare. For another, a tidy wardrobe is a small but effective way to bring some harmony to your mornings; no more rifling through piles of sweaters to find something to wear. All of which is all nice in theory, but when you harbor a love for fashion, the piles of sweaters tend to pile up—so, we turned to the pros to see how they keep their closets organized, up-to-date, and true to their style.
From dedicating a closet entirely to shoes to hanging a Japanese freshener sachet to the unconventional ways they group their clothing, these stylish women have plenty of ideas to help you tackle your own closet organization this spring. Read on for all the insider intel—as well as the products to add to your cart to help you along the way.
Who: Mecca James-Williams, stylist
The Storage Secret: My best-kept secret is splitting my closets! Living between Jamaica and New York, with vastly different weather, I have a winter closet and a main/summer closet. It keeps my pieces organized, and allows me to see, clean, and repair any pieces from other closets that are in their down season.
The MVP Items: I have become a wood hangers-only person over time. I love the way they support garments; the wood bottom hangers are perfect too. (Folding every piece on a top hanger in my closet makes it difficult to view and source through them.) I am also a big fan of closet fresheners; These scented ones from PFR are perfect, and have the most calming, natural scents. I also use these Damprid ones to help keep any unwanted moisture and mold from developing in my closets.
The Rotation Schedule: Every year, I do a deep clean. I used to have yearly stoop sales in New York for my fashion community, but now that I live on an island, I use reselling platforms like The Real Real and Poshmark or utilize my Instagram stories for direct sales. My rules for keeping things have changed: I hold onto more nowadays, and really prioritize pieces for my archive and to pass down to my niece or future daughter. My rules focus on value (cost per wear), brand importance for future value, and the item’s condition. I’ve learned to hold onto pieces even if they feel out of trend now, as I’ve gotten rid of pieces in the past and regretted it.
The Small Stuff: I also have a closet of accessories. I took one of the small closets in my bedroom and installed shelves that can hold my jewelry and sunglass trays, handbags, buckets of swimwear, T-shirts, and all the little bits in between. From a stylist’s perspective, you can never go wrong with beautiful jewelry trays and clear viewable bins. I organize them by type, which helps me keep things in place and prevents tarnishing or damage.
The Front-of-Closet Favorite: Satin and silk button downs from Bode, Wales Bonner, and Dries Van Noten; vintage graphic tees I pair with denim skirts; classic high-waist jeans and shorts from brands like Moussy; sweaters from Gap and Banana Republic. My daily wardrobe focuses on easy, light layers suitable for my mostly tropical terrain.
Who: Lilah Ramzi, contributing editor, Vogue
The Storage Secret: I treat my shoes like their own department—almost like a small, very specific museum. They live entirely separate from my clothing. Shoes carry the city with them—sidewalk grit, taxi floors, the general chaos of New York—and I prefer not to mix them with my knits and tailoring. I alternate pairs toe-to-heel on the shelves (it maximizes space and protects the shape), and I also have a non-negotiable rule: The moment I walk in the door, the shoes come off and return to their assigned place.
The MVP Items: I’m so happy about the velvet boot shapers with tassel accents that I found on Etsy—they re beautiful and functional. The Container Store makes excellent quilted versions, too, and you can always roll up a magazine. (There is something wonderfully circular about storing your favorite issues of Vogue inside your favorite boots.)
All of my satin and soft leather pumps are stuffed with acid-free white tissue paper to preserve the integrity of the toe box and prevent creasing or discoloration over time. It may sound meticulous, but satin is fragile. I’ve also just discovered vintage shoe stuffers—how sweet are these Neiman Marcus pairs? That level of elegance in something so utilitarian feels worth reviving. And for maintenance, I only trust The Leather Spa. Their suede brush is indispensable. Suede demands regular brushing to maintain its nap and depth.
The Rotation Schedule: It’s less a seasonal purge and more a constant edit. Whenever something new comes in, something else is reconsidered. I love vintage and resale too much to treat clothing as disposable, so I’m deliberate. Does it still feel like me—or like a version of me I might return to? If not, it’s time for it to have a second life.
The Small Stuff: Though my accessories live in another closet, they’re just as considered. Scarves are folded by fabric weight and arranged in expandable drawer dividers so I can see every color and print at a glance—no digging. Jewelry lives in stacked velvet-lined trays, which prevent tangling and make even the smallest pieces feel displayed rather than buried. Belts hang vertically—never rolled—so I can scan hardware and width instantly. Gloves, smaller accessories, and the in-between pieces live in structured fabric bins. And I slip lavender sachets into every drawer—it keeps things fresh, but more importantly, it makes opening a drawer feel like a ritual rather than a rummage.
The Front-of-Closet Favorite: As you can tell from one glance at my shoe closet (which is actually a linen closet I’ve fully co-opted) I have a type: pointed toe, kitten heel. I know what I like, and I don’t deviate. I’m a loyal Manolo Blahnik and Roger Vivier girl—they understand the power of a fancy shoe, even on an ordinary Tuesday. (Though during NYFW I visited the Herbert Levine showroom and now feel morally obligated to add a pair into the rotation.) Chanel makes the best ballet flat; I’ve had a black pair in steady rotation since I was 20. And for boots, I love Sarah Flint’s suede styles—they’re elegant, sculpted, and actually walkable.
Who: Nia Thomas, designer
The Storage Secret: I don’t organize by clothing type—I organize by lifestyle. I group pieces into work looks, casual daywear, evening/event, and lounge. It mirrors how I actually get dressed, so I choose a moment first instead of an item, and the whole process becomes faster and calmer.
The MVP Items: I only use structured wooden hangers; they instantly make everything look intentional. I also add slim non-slip grips so silk pieces stay perfectly in place instead of sliding onto the closet floor. Small upgrades make the biggest difference visually.
The Rotation Schedule: I edit seasonally and do a full review at the end of the year. My rule is simple: If I haven’t worn it in the last three months, it’s probably ready for a new life. I make donation and resale piles, and my friends and I love hosting closet swaps. Someone always treasures what you no longer wear.
The Small Stuff: Everything lives in my vintage credenza drawers, each with a clear category: lingerie, jewelry, winter accessories, summer accessories. I love opening a drawer and knowing exactly what I’ll find—it keeps mornings calm and getting dressed intuitive.
The Front-of-Closet Favorite: Right now it’s my Reese sweater. The plush hand-knitted merino wool is incredibly warm but still refined, and I keep pairing it with tailoring or relaxed denim on repeat—it’s that effortless winter staple. I also love this shawl and skirt because they make a statement and consistently earn compliments, yet remain effortless to style and layer across seasons and settings. I gravitate toward looks that work just as well in New York, Paris, or Japan, so I’m not constantly buying items that don’t integrate seamlessly into my wardrobe.
Who: Emilia Petrarca, writer
The Storage Secret: I keep all my hangers facing the same way. I also group by type (by button-downs, by mini skirts, etc.), then by season and occasion.
The MVP Items: I have drawers built into my bed frame—they give me so much storage. I’m not a fan of bins under the bed because they collect dust and look unorganized.
The Small Stuff: For jewelry and other accessories, I have Muji bins that I labeled with a handy little label maker.
The Rotation Schedule: I do a seasonal turn-over: If I haven’t worn something in a year, I’m probably never going to wear it.
The Front-of-Closet Favorite: In the winter, when it’s cold and snowy, I keep it simple and practical. I’ve been reaching for my long-sleeve Flore Flore shirts, which I wear underneath a rotation of sweaters. (My favorites are from &Daughter.) For bottoms, I’m wearing either my Auralee jeans or my winter white Madewell jeans.
