For today’s post, I teamed up with the uber talented Caitlin Fore of Sophisticaited and Caitlin Fore Styling. A stylist, fashion blogger and wardrobe consultant, she knows her way around your wardrobe. So, I thought she’d be the perfect person to ask why we always have a closet full of clothes and nothing to wear.

Here’s what she had to say:

1. There are too many outdated items. If your neon pink biker’s shorts and Hypercolor tee are snuggled next to your favorite pair of black pants, it will be hard to find the things you love. Trust us. We have a hard time letting go of outfits too, but more than likely, you’re not going to wear that mini skirt from college again. Though, we think you still would look great in it.
2. You are not dressing for your body type. We’ve all been there. Your body is an hourglass, but you’re obsessed with Kate Bosworth’s style, so you keep buying things that would look great on her. Getting rid of ill-fitting items makes you feel better about your shape and helps you focus more easily on that adorable pencil skirt that makes you look like an extra on Mad Men.
3. It doesn’t fit any more. You might wear it again. You are right, but by the time you’re back in those skinny jeans, you will probably want something new anyway. Keep pieces that make you feel good about how you look now.
4. You’re tired of pieces you’ve had forever. Sometimes a favorite item no longer feels special, and that’s okay. If you don’t love your favorite black tee, get rid of it to make room for a new go-to piece. You won’t regret it.
5. Style has changed, but your closet hasn’t. Yes, you may still look great in those bootcut pleather pants, but they’re not in fashion anymore. However, do not fear. Most of your favorite items may be available in a new way – like leather leggings. It might be time to find a great replacement.
6. Your career or lifestyle has changed. A year ago, you worked at a super conservative firm where pantyhose and suits were a part of your daily dress code, but now, you work in a small agency where jeans are okay. Find pieces that fit your life now and donate those that don’t.

Not sure where to start? Caitlin does wardrobe consultations for $200 and can coach you on what to remove and which pieces you’re missing. This is what happens when you hire her to raid your closet:

Step One: She’ll send you a survey to assess your style before your first meeting.

Step Two (The Consultation): Then, Caitlin will go through every item in your closet with you and help determine what’s worth keeping. She delves into the fit, how you wear it and whether or not it can be restyled. Then, she goes through her 50-item checklist to see what you might be missing and makes suggestions on which pieces will help you get more mileage out of your existing wardrobe. Next, she’ll help you reorganize your closet into a more user-friendly arrangement. Last, but not least, she takes photos of each of your restyled outfits, so you can easily recreate the outfits you worked on together.

Step Three: After the consultation, she puts together an inspiration board in Pinterest full of items from the checklist. Everything shown is within your price point and linked to stores where it can be purchased online.

Learn more about all of Caitlin’s styling services here.