It’s Monday morning. The alarm rang ages ago and you stumble out of your bed groggy eyed and grumpy. You wash up, have your breakfast and then stand in front of a closet that offers rolled up clothes on every shelf. It spits a couple of clothes down on your feet. They need ironing. But more importantly, you have no idea what to pair with what. This is the dilemma of the unorganized and cluttered shopaholic. Scene sound familiar? If it does, it is time for you to declutter your wardrobe. But you look at that blubbering mess of all the clothes you have accumulated since high school and don’t know where to start.
Let me help you. The whats and hows of decluttering your wardrobe is a predicament I’m well acquainted with. And through the years, I have developed a system. Let me show you how to do it.
There are certain things to consider when you declutter your wardrobe and I have come up with a set of questions you can ask before you decide whether or not you want to throw it away.
1. What is its condition?
Is the garment torn or stained? Can you repair/wash it? If the answer to the second question is no, it’s time for you to bid farewell to that piece. You may have felt great in it a few months (or even years) ago, but that piece of clothing is not serving its purpose anymore. It is time to donate or up-cycle it.
2. Do you wear this often?
Fast fashion gospel. We have access to so many clothes that are inexpensively available that we tend to forget about them after wearing them once or twice. If you look at a piece of clothing and don’t remember wearing it any time in the past 6 months, it is time to say bye-bye.
3. Does it hold any sentimental value?
Before you answer this, be realistic. You don’t have to save what you wore on the second first day of your third internship. If it honestly holds any sentimental value for you, you can declutter your wardrobe by up-scaling that piece to fit your current taste and fit.
4. Does it fit your current style?
You might have been a gothic fishnet stockings girl who dyed her hair in crazy colors to make a statement. You have every right to look back at your style with fondness. However, if it doesn’t fit your present style, it is only going to rot in your wardrobe for another decade. You probably have tons of pictures of yourself in that leather jacket. So get rid of the piece and make some space!
5. Do you like the fabric it is made out of?
Also, is it anywhere close to the quality it used to be when it was fresh and new? If you like the look and feel of a particular clothing, you can always upcycle it. However, there is no point in storing it and hoping you will eventually have an occasion to wear it to. Declutter your wardrobe.
6. Does it fit?
Don’t force it. Put on a piece of clothing and tell yourself honestly if it fits you. Don’t hope to change sizes to be able to fit in them just for the sake of hoarding. Your fitness goals should have nothing to do with the process of decluttering your wardrobe. If it is beyond the measure of getting tailored fit, get rid of it.
7. Will you wear it in the coming season?
If it does, it goes back in your closet: now organized with room for fresh and quality pieces. If it doesn’t, you can put it away for the season and bring it out when it’s appropriate to wear. That way, you still make room in your closet.
The process of decluttering your wardrobe can be emotionally taxing. However, it is important to remember that you didn’t waste money when you threw it away, but when you first bought it. Decluttering your spaces can contribute to your overall mental health and emotional stability. What could be possibly more important than that?
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