how i curate my closet.
And how that turned into $35K in donations through a Pop Up Swap!
How is it already Memorial Day?! I feel like I’m just now coming up for air after putting on my third local Pop Up Swap. What started as a “little idea” has turned into a big, beautiful beast — in the best way possible.
The idea came to me a few years ago during one of those deep closet purges. You know the kind — where you’re suddenly like why am I still holding on to this bridesmaid dress from 2014? I realized I had all these pieces I wasn’t wearing: things I’d spent good money on, pieces from special occasions, items that no longer fit or never really worked in the first place. They weren’t right for resale (I didn’t have the time or energy for Poshmark), and I didn’t want to just donate them anonymously — I wanted them to go to someone who’d appreciate them the way I once did. (Yes, I have an oddly sentimental attachment to clothing. It’s fine.)
So I sent out a text.
To about 50 of the most fashionable women I knew in Jackson Hole — women whose closets I knew were stacked with the good stuff. I asked for donations of higher-end pieces they no longer needed. And let’s just say... the ladies understood the assignment.
With the help of some truly incredible volunteers, we transformed the donations into a beautifully curated Pop Up Shop — steaming, pricing, and organizing each item. To date, we’ve now raised over $35,000, with every dollar going right back into our community. This most recent event benefited GAP! – Girls Actively Participating, an amazing organization supporting young girls.
And because nothing goes to waste, everything left over was donated directly to the women of the Wind River Reservation. To everyone who donated, who showed up, who shopped: thank you. I’m constantly in awe of this community, and honestly? I’m obsessed with all of you.
Now that you’ve seen what came of my latest closet clean-out, I figured I’d walk you through my closet process — the way I approach curating my wardrobe with intention. I never want to open those doors and say “I don’t have anything to wear”.
As someone who loves fashion — and also loves feeling like myself as I move through new phases of life AND wants to be sustainable — I’ve found that curating my closet each season isn’t just about style. It’s about sanity. It’s about asking:
→ What stage of life am I in right now or about to enter?
→ What feels outdated, worn out, or no longer “me”?
→ What deserves to stay, and what’s ready to move on?
Here in Jackson Hole, we’re basically operating on a two-season cycle: summer and winter. So I use those transitions to take inventory — what needs to be donated, what needs a refresh, and where I’m feeling fully set. It’s therapeutic, honestly. (Please also note that I live in 700 sq. ft. so it’s also like kind of mandatory for me.)
My mom always taught me the value of investment pieces — things that may cost more up front but are built to last. I’m all about cost per wear, and it is how I approach shopping. These are the items that live in your closet for years, not just one season. The kind of pieces that never let you down and you can build around. That mindset has helped me with fast fashion…I can’t stand cheap fabrics. There’s nothing worse than buying something new for it to just fall apart in one wash. I find it offensive to the environment and my wallet.
So what’s my process?!
Twice a year, I grab some tea, crank up the tunes and I do a little bit of Marie Kondo’ing — I’ll hold each item and ask:
Does this bring me joy? If yes, keep. If no, go to step 2.
Then I ask:
Have I worn this in the last year?
If not, then is it one of those special pieces I’m saving for a specific event, travel, or a wedding? If yes, I keep it — no guilt.
If no… I donate it. (hence the birth of the Pop Up Swap)
And if the answer is I don’t know? Then I give it a 6-12 month grace period. I make a conscious effort to wear it — and if I still haven’t by next season’s clean-out? Off it goes.
And here’s a little gem I read years ago that’s stuck with me:
When curating your closet, look at each piece and ask:
Does this represent who I am now, or who I want to become?
I use that as a compass — not just for what I wear, but for how I want to feel walking through the world. If a piece doesn’t align with me now or the version of me I’m growing into? Then it’s not time to say farewell. It was a sad day saying goodbye to my entire drawer full of Concert Lot teeshirts but sadly that early to mid 20 year old is long gone - and I needed the real estate, haha.
It’s part closet therapy, part energy clearing, and honestly, it makes getting dressed so much easier.
A wardrobe that’s edited, intentional, and true to your current style is one of the most underrated forms of self-care.
And since it’s Memorial Day Weekend, and you too are in the midst of curating your close, here are some great sales happening this weekend to add in those pieces that you’re missing:
J.Crew - Shop up to 50% Off select styles - hint: soooo many! Here is a link to my current J.Crew Picks
Nordstrom - Up to 60% Off select styles.
Freda Salvador - Up to 40% Off. My new favorite ballet flats are 30% Off
Avara - This new to me shop is so affordable. Now 30% Off. Use my code Meagan15.
HalfDays - Their Sample Sale is live with this link. Stock up for next ski season.
Pistola Denim - Up to 70% Off the Sales