The dreaded closet clean out. It is never fun, but the end result is SO rewarding! To know exactly what you have, and exactly where everything is, will alleviate so much stress from your life. How many times have you bought a new shirt or a pair of shoes, only for them to be pushed further into the dark sea of your closet. Worn maybe once or twice… Or even worse, how many times have you found an item, with the tag still attached- NEVER worn? I’m not here to judge, I’m here to help! To help you tackle the clutter and create a closet that you can easily shop per say.
Tackle One Category At A Time
You can take every piece out one at a time, but I find it easier if I tackle each category separately. I would recommend starting with your most overwhelming category. If dresses are your biggest headache, that they can’t easily glide across the bar, start there. Pull out every single piece of clothing from the category that you choose. Lay them across the bed, or use the floor if you need more room. Invest in a couple of rolling racks (you can find them for under $20 at Walmart) and have some bins/boxes ready for the separation. You’re going to create 3 piles: KEEP. DONATE. SELL. Use the rolling racks to easily see and sort through your pieces.
Take the time to look at each piece, but be honest about the pile that you choose. Remember, you want to create a closet that is easy to shop. You want to alleviate your stress… This means, you’re going to have to let some things go. With that in mind, here’s how I personally decide what is going in each pile.
KEEP~DONATE~SELL
Ask yourself these questions as you look at each piece. Be HONEST with your answers…
- Is there any damage? Holes? Undone hem? If so, it’s not a keeper. If you haven’t taken the time to fix the damage by now, you’re not going to. Donate or Sell.
- When was the last time your wore it? Has it been over a year? Let it go! My exception to this rule is this: If it’s a seasonal item, for example a coat, then keep it. If you decide to keep it, check for any damage. If you still haven’t worn it the following season, let it go.
- Is it outdated? Do you really want to dress like you did in 1996? I don’t think so. Let it go…
- Does it still fit? BE HONEST. Try it on if you have to, but keep it real. Don’t play the game of “I just need to lose X amount of pounds, and it will fit.” Or visa versa, “I just need to put on a few pounds…” If it does not fit you today, let it go! Weight is one of the biggest reasons our closets are out of control. Stop it right now. Let it go and let someone else enjoy it.
- Has your personal style changed? Our personal style evolves over time. If it doesn’t represent who you are now, let it go.
I know your probably thinking to yourself, “Rene’…what do I get to keep?” Keep the following points in mind…
- If it’s part of your regular rotation- keep it! Example, your favorite jeans.
- If it’s classic/timeless AND in great condition.
How do you decide what to donate and what to sell? That’s easy, here’s an example. If you have a suit or dress that would be a great interview piece for someone in need, donate it. There are so many shelter’s and organizations that will make sure those pieces get put to use. If you have pieces that are still relevant with current fashion trends, you may want to consider selling them to a Buy-Sell-Trade retailer. I’m a fan of https://crossroadstrading.com/. You can also look for a consignment shop near you as well. If I have any pieces I think could possibly sell, I will sell. Whatever doesn’t sell, then it gets donated. I also let my mother and daughter have first choice of whatever they want out of the piles. Again, let someone else enjoy them.
As you go through your clothes you will begin to see a pattern, that I refer to as a “Repeat Offender.” Meaning, do you own 10 or more of the exact same thing? I see this happen often with jeans and Little Black Dresses. Ask yourself, do you really need 25 pairs of jeans? How often do they actually get worn? Do they fit? When you find that you’ve violated the “Repeat Offender” rule, choose your top 5-7. You won’t miss what you don’t wear. You WILL be happier with the space provided to easily find what you actually wear in your closet.
Do Not Get Emotional
I’ve seen this happen time and time again. Don’t get emotional during this part of the process. I’m not suggesting to get rid of heirlooms, just the excess stuff that is not getting used. All that stuff that has accumulated over time and causing anxiety every time you open your closet. If it’s not being used, it’s not bringing you joy- it’s bringing you stress. I’m all about the vibes and energy my clothes bring as well. If an ex: bought it for me, and the break-up was bad, it get’s tossed without ANY hesitation. I don’t care what he spent on it. Bye-bye! No negative vibes in my space. Two other key points you don’t want to get yourself wrangled into:
- The label game. “But it’s Gucci!!!”
- The price game. “But I spent X amount of money for this!!!”
*Refer back to the key points I mentioned earlier. Your piece of mind and good vibes are priceless…
Take Your Time
This is not an easy project to take on. Don’t allow yourself to feel overwhelmed by it. When you feel the anxiety coming on, and you will, take a break. Which is why I suggest tackling one category at a time, and starting with the one that brings you the most anxiety. It gets easier after you knock out the first one. You choose your pace. If you think you can do it all in one day, go for it! Maybe you do one category a week, or just choose the amount of time you can commit to every week until it’s done.
Make A List
You’ll find that essentials you want to keep, may need to be replaced. For example, dress shirts. Your lifestyle may require you to wear dress shirts 5 days a week. But how are the condition of your dress shirts? Are the collars stained? The underarms? Add these to your list. The list is for anything that needs to be replaced, as well as for essentials you feel are missing from your wardrobe. Remember when I said our styles evolve? Maybe you discovered you need less of one thing, and more of another. Within reason of course. Maybe you have two shirts that are heavy in your rotation, but you really need five. Add those to your list. That way when you come across a sale, or “Just Browsing” you know exactly what you’re looking for.
Good thing, is that this is just the first post to get you started. The first step in clearing your closet clutter. Helping you pave the way to a stress free, easy to shop closet. I’ll continue to break down Closet 101 in future posts until it’s done! Next post I’ll walk you through organizing strategies, folding solutions, and how to maximize your space.
Please feel free to comment or ask any questions below…
~Rene’
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