It’s time to declutter your wardrobe! Out with the old in with the new. With the start of a new season (and so many incredible fashion trends), we are probably due for an autumn “spring cleaning” of our closets.
Having a well kept, clean closet can take some time. The average American woman has over 100 items of clothing in her closet and yet, we still can’t find what to wear! The pressures of social media these days don’t help either as we are wearing clothing less times than before because we don’t want to be pictured wearing the same outfit twice. So we add more pieces to our wardrobe (whether valuable or not) and end up with way too much clothes.
So think, how many items do you have hanging in your closet that you have not worn for a long time? I am pretty sure most women have at least 10 items. At least. So put aside some time over the weekend, maybe 2-3 hours and work on sections of your closet. You can clean your entire closet all at once, but doing it in sections won’t take up much of your time and will probably give you better results.
So here are some questions that might help when sorting out your wardrobe and getting rid of the clothes you don’t use or need.
WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME I WORE THIS?
We tend to hold on to clothes and shoes for a long period of time even though we haven’t worn them. “Maybe it will fit next year.” “Maybe it will come back in style.” I am guilty of this too. Odds are though, if you haven’t worn it in a year, you probably won’t wear it again.
To help with this I suggest you give yourself a reasonable time frame. Maybe a year is too short of a time frame to get rid of unused clothes. If that is the case, give yourself a timeframe that’s tailored to you. I give myself 2-3 years. For example, if you have a pair of shoes that you have owned for 3 years and have only worn once, then maybe it’s time to let them go.
WILL I WEAR THIS AGAIN?
When you can’t answer this question immediately, use a 5 or 10 second rule. Meaning, if within 5 seconds you can’t immediately say “yes” then you probably won’t wear it again. You are unsure of that item and more than likely won’t wear it. Additionally, you can do an “unsure” pile and store those clothes separately if you don’t want to give them away just yet. In the future, if you truly don’t wear any of them, they will be set and ready to be donated.
IS IT TRENDY?
Have you been sitting on it season after season? I am not kidding when I say I have owned clothes that have come back in style. That doesn’t mean that I wore it throughout, just that I kept it for many many years while not wearing it. But remember, even if a trend comes back, it won’t be the same. It never is. Sure plaids or stripes come back all the time, but there is always something different. The design, fabric, and texture changes. This being said, there is no point in keeping something just because you think it will eventually be back in style. Get rid of it!
DOES IT FIT? DOES IT HAVE STAINS?
Remember those jeans that you absolutely love but no longer fit? Maybe they will fit next year? How about that beautiful top that has a slight stain. Maybe it will eventually come off? Maybe I can wear it with a blazer that will cover the stain? Ahh, the maybe’s that prevent us from getting rid of what we know we won’t wear! If it doesn’t fit, is oversized, has stains, is old and over-worn it doesn’t belong in your wardrobe.
WRITE DOWN WHAT YOU WEAR
It might sound painful, but if you really want to see what clothing items you use on a regular basis and which you don’t, write it down. You can write it daily on a calendar for a month or two and then analyze what clothing items you use and which you can definitely say goodbye to.
Look presentable always, not just when being at work. Present yourself well no matter the occasion and you will feel better about yourself!
If you know someone that needs help decluttering their wardrobe, please share this post.