I’ve been giving my closet a lot of thought lately. My husband and I downsized two years ago, and storage is not as plentiful now as we’d become accustomed to over the decades. Our lifestyle has undergone some changes, too, and now my wardrobe needs to reflect all of this.

My husband retired several years ago, and I finally decided to take a good long look at my “Corporate Spouse” clothes this year to see if they work in my current life. I kept two skirt suits, one gray and one navy blue; they’re both very understated and are good blank canvases for either dressing up or dressing down and can be worn as individual pieces. I loved my statement suits and accessories but decided to donate most of them to a thrift shop affiliated with a local charity whose mission we support.

My goal is to have fewer clothes that I wear more often, and my closet is now divided into three sections: what I wear to provide daycare for our granddaughters (EVERYTHING can be tossed in the washing machine and dryer!); what I wear when I’m off-duty (dates with my husband; outings with friends; and travel); what I need for weddings/funerals/graduations (Occasion Dressing). There’s some overlap among sections, but I know I can pretty much get dressed in the dark because my bottoms are solids in blue, black, gray, camel, and white. My tops are patterns, stripes, and solids that incorporate or coordinate with the bottoms’ colors. I refuse to add anything new until I see how this works long term!

I’ve kept my favorite accessories, although I’ve greatly reduced my shoe collection — only those that are comfortable made the cut. My extensive scarf collection is intact, but I’m slowly pruning my jewelry and handbags because I no longer have the space to store them all. My one-size belts will always have their own drawer because a good belt and interesting earrings can make even the most basic outfit sing.

I’m trying for a three-season wardrobe. I’m counting on layering, cashmere socks, and silk long underwear to make as many items as possible work happily at temperatures ranging from 80 degrees above zero to 20 degrees below.

This closet project is a work in progress, but I’m taking notes as I go along. I know myself, and I’m better organized when all of my dressing components are in the same closet/room. Knowing that I’m working in a limited space is helping me mentally to decide what stays and what goes — if I can’t see it, I won’t wear it, so nothing gets stored anywhere else in the condo. And these days, I only want to wear what makes me happy, especially if it’s the macaroni necklace my granddaughter made me in daycare.