How to part with your clothes, before you part with your clothes.
Do you have items in your closet you just can't seem to let go of no matter how much you don't wear them? In this newsletter, I give you my best tips on how to make letting go of those clothes easier.
We’ve all been there. We used to love it, wear it all the time, but for whatever reason it now has a new home in the back of our closet, going unloved and unused.
So how do we know when it’s really time to say goodbye to those old pieces of clothing in our closet we can’t imagine life without, even though we go without it daily?
I used to be like you. I would hold onto pieces “just in case” but more often than not, they would sit in my closet without ever getting a second glance. For a long time, I truly believed I would use some of those pieces, keeping them either for an event that never happened or an emergency that never came up.
Here's the thing, all those clothes you don’t wear but continue to take up space in your closet are not only taking up valuable space in your closet, but also mitigating your ability to fully utilize all the other pieces you do have. This is what leads us to the inevitable, “I have nothing to wear,” when standing in front of a closet full of clothes.
In order to be able to cut ties with that clothing that no longer serves you, it requires honest transparency regarding yourself, personal style, and lifestyle goals. Most people think they’ll experience a loss when they part with these unneeded items, when in reality they’re getting one step closer to a personalized, curated wardrobe.
Identifying and removing items that no longer serve you has a multitude of benefits:
Allows space for more constructive pieces.
Simplifies the dressing process.
Specifies personal style.
Identifies gaps in wardrobe.
& more.
Removing wardrobe clutter can be a daunting task, especially when there’s emotional attachment involved. (Not sure what wardrobe clutter is? Reference here.) If you’re having a tough time letting those pieces go after acknowledging it as wardrobe clutter, use these tips below to help get those clothes GONE.
Tips to Parting with Clothes, Before You Part with Your Clothes
Perform a thorough wardrobe audit. Throughout the process, any items you consider as wardrobe clutter and/or things you think could be considered wardrobe clutter, remove from your closet and store elsewhere for a month. At the end of the month, if you didn’t seek out/need those items, consider them good to go.
Pro Tip: This is best for people who think they know which items need to go but are constantly saying “What if I need it for”. Remember, your dream closet is a balance between personal + lifestyle; make sure you don’t let one get the best of the other.
Unsure where to begin? Let’s start with everything. In your closet, reverse all your hangers. As you wear each piece, return the hanger to its original position. Over the course of three months, identify what was used and what hangers were left unturned.
Pro Tip: This is best for people who are early on in their personal style and capsule wardrobe journey. This is the best way to not only identify pieces that go unworn the most, but also your core collection of staple and statement pieces.
Swap with friends. Do you have some items in your closet that you don’t necessarily consider clutter, but think you could part with? For these items, I recommend offering them to friends for a staycation; let them know you’re willing to part with it but may potentially ask for it back in the future. (FYI anytime I’ve done this, I have never asked for the item back and/or forgot what I gave up in the first place.)
Pro Tip: This is best for items that you may have that are duplicates, shirts from high school or college you have minimal attachment to, or anything you’ve been holding onto because you like but has no significant value.
Removing clothes that no longer suit your personal style and/or lifestyle will be challenging at first; but once you get used to saying no to overconsumption and yes to conscious consumption it becomes a lot easier. When getting dressed doesn’t take as long as it used to or when you finally open up your closet and feel like you have options, you’re going to wonder why you didn’t perform an audit of your closet sooner.
Need help during the audit phase of your capsule-wardrobe journey? Schedule a complimentary Simple Session, HERE.