Lately, "edit your closet" stories seem to be popping up in every fashion mag we read. In them, an expert tackles the writer's wardrobe and dictates what should be donated, sold, trashed, kept and purchased.

We get that we're living in a waste not, want not time. But something about the violence done to these poor women's closets and psyches when forced to mangle their wardrobes under pressure gives us a panic attack.

Knowing how to streamline your look is important, as is getting rid of outdated, damaged and unflattering duds. But there is a sane and rational way to approach a closet overhaul, and it doesn't have to require tears, a paid professional, or the better part of a weekend.

- Spend some time thinking about your personal style (and lifestyle.) Pinpoint your favorite colors, the true staples of your wardrobe, your job and hobbies. Cut out pictures of looks you love from magazines. Then come to terms with the fact that if you spend most of the day in a suit and hit the gym five nights a week, your closet shouldn't still be filled with co-ed clubwear.

- First step: throw out any shoes with gouged heels or holes, clothes with stains in the armpits, sweaters covered in pills...in other words, anything you'd be embarrassed to be caught dead in. Trust us -- you won't miss this stuff when it's gone.

- At this point, invite a trusted, fashionable friend over. Put on a fashion show, trying on every item you don't consider a vital piece of your day-to-day wardrobe. If she tells you that dress you bought in Miami Beach circa '98 looks like something a drag queen picked out, try not to argue. Just listen. (She's probably right.)

- Most closet organizing tips suggest getting rid of any pieces you haven't worn in a year. For the most part, that's a good maxim, but it shouldn't be a hard and fast rule. Rarely do I find an occasion to wear the pink, fringed, flapper-style bolero I bought five years ago, but when I do, I'm so glad I never gave it away.

- Buy all new, matching hangers and find a new place to store your tennis rackets, luggage, and gift wrap. Making your closet all about the clothes will help you see what you've got.

- Once you've decided what pieces you'd like to take to a consignment store or donate, put them in shopping bags and stick them in the trunk of your car. Wait a month. If you find yourself desperately searching for something in one of those bags, don't feel guilty about putting it back in your closet.

- This is the fun part. Had to throw out all your scuffed-up pairs of black pumps? Missing a really great winter coat? Decided that your newly-realized, very "you" style of skinny jeans and a blazer could use some on-trend accessories? Go shop!