So you’ve got too much stuff. When you’re getting ready to go out, you find yourself spending altogether too much time in your closet. You look through item after item, not really sure what you’re searching for, hoping the perfect outfit will just jump out at you, finding a dozen other outfits you’ve never worn in the meantime. You find yourself fighting to push hangers aside so you can get a good look at the piece you want.
It’s time to clean out that closet! But the task seems overwhelming and leaves you with anxiety. How can you possibly go through all this stuff and decide what to keep and what to toss? With a guide, it’s actually easier than you think! Here’s mine. It’ll take a little bit of time, so set aside an afternoon you can spare, grab this guide and some good music, maybe a glass of wine and a good friend whose opinion you trust, and go through everything, asking yourself the following questions.
Does this fit?
Be honest. If you used to love it, but you don’t see it ever fitting again, consider donating it to someone who will love it like it’s new. You can find new pieces that will flatter your body now and that you’ll also love. (On the other hand, if your body has changed and you’re seriously working to get it back to where it was, it might not hurt to hang onto a few pieces like this. I did, but I packed them out of the way, and it’s been incredibly rewarding to gradually reintroduce them to my wardrobe as I reach those goals!)
Do I still wear this?
Unless it’s a piece for special occasions, if you haven’t worn something in the last year (or two–we won’t count 2020!), it’s unlikely you’re ever going to put it on again, even if you think you might want to. Cultivate a closet full of clothes you not only love but feel comfortable enough in to wear regularly.
Is this still my style?
Your style may evolve over time and differ from whatever it was before you put the item in your closet. Embrace the new you. Your old style might just be somebody else’s new style.
Would I want to be photographed wearing this?
I like to keep in mind that at any unexpected moment, someone might come by with a camera to preserve my outfit for eternity. If that thought isn’t comforting, I don’t need to wear that outfit ever again.
Am I only hanging onto this for sentimental reasons?
I had a ton of t-shirts with graphics that reminded me of a time or thing I cared about, but they were worn out or didn’t fit, and I was trying to get away from always wearing the easy jeans and t-shirt ensemble. So I had my aunt make me an amazing t-shirt quilt to preserve them instead. (I still have enough left over to make two more t-shirt quilts, so I might have to use her services again in future!)
If this gets damaged, will I go to the trouble of getting it fixed?
If it doesn’t mean enough to you to save from destruction, then you’re already willing to part with it. Add it to the pile.
If I ran into my ex, would I be glad I was wearing this?
If the thought of running into your ex while wearing it makes you cringe, get rid of it. That means you don’t feel your best in it. You have too many clothes not to feel your best 100% of the time.
Would I buy this today if I saw it on the rack?
If the answer is no, you’ve fallen out of love with that item, or perhaps never loved it to begin with. Why wear clothes you don’t love when you have so many other options?
If I were moving to another state or country, would I pay to lug this with me?
I’m still dreaming that this might happen to me in the not-too-distant future. And the farther you move, the more expensive it gets to bring all your stuff with you. My ultimate goal is to shed all my belongings down to only what I would really be willing to pack up and bring along.
Does this pair with anything else I own?
If you can’t create a whole outfit with it without buying even more new items, what’s the point of holding onto it? If it’s a really special piece, then find the items you need to pair with it, or ditch it!
Do I really want to take proper care of this?
If trips to the dry-cleaner or washing clothes in the bathtub aren’t really your thing, then it’s time to ditch anything you can’t toss into the washer.
Do I own more than one of these?
I had no fewer than three burgundy sweaters. That was one too many for me! I also had about thirty tank tops, and I don’t even wear tank tops.
Was this a gift?
If an item was a gift, and you really don’t like it, you don’t have to hold onto it. It’s okay. If it makes you feel better, wear it in front of the person who gave it to you once or twice so they at least know you got some use out of it.
If I got struck by lightning wearing this, would I want my ghost to wear it forever?
I know, the question is a bit silly, but the point is, if you had to be remembered for wearing one item for all the rest of time, would you want it to be this one? If this had to be the one item that defined you forever, would you be okay with that? If not, then I think you know the answer by now.
When you’ve finished asking each of these questions about every item in your closet, there should be no doubt left in your mind which items you can say “Au revoir” to! Hopefully you’re left with a lot more space and a huge pile of clothes to either donate or sell.
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