When did you last wear that? When it comes to clothing, most of us have far more than we really need. If you take a good, honest look through your closet, you will find that there are many clothes in there which haven't been seen for months or even years. In fact according to The Cut (a lifestyle and fashion website), 20% of our wardrobe is worn regularly while the other 80% just sits around waiting for something exciting enough to happen so they can be worn again.
This is no exaggeration. When was the last time you wore every item from your entire wardrobe at least once over 30 days? Let's say that one person could wear all of these pieces together and still have enough space in their closet for new items!
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https://www.pinterest.com/pin/272256739963035517/Why You Should Declutter Your Clothing
Clothes take up mental space as well, especially when you have too many. Finding something to wear can be like searching through endless piles of stuff – which is not only exhausting but also frustrating! When you declutter your wardrobe and closets, it's easier to find outfits that are perfect for you because there will be less choices. This saves time so we don't spend hours looking for clothes in the morning before work or on a day off from school; It keeps stress levels low by having fewer decisions about what outfit fit best with your moods today; And helps maintain physical space by getting rid of clutter around your home.”
Having too much clothing creates an overwhelming sense at times where finding anything suitable feels impossible due to all the choices in front of you when you open the closet. Today, we're going to change that! Download and print this Clothing Checklist to help you as we sort through your wardrobe!
How to declutter your wardrobe
5 steps to sort through your wardrobe and help you get your closet organized.
Toss all damaged items first
You might have a closet full of perfectly good clothes that you don't wear anymore. But before you donate all your old favorites, make sure to get rid of any items with holes or frayed edges first. That way it's less likely they'll accidentally be donated too! Now that you've completed the first, and very important step, it's time to declutter your wardrobe.
You'll really think about the choices you make as you go through your closet. Set your emotions aside and get ready to easily be able to decide what you'll wear each day, without staring at a closet full of ‘when did I get that' or ‘why did I buy that' or ‘I'm sorry aunt Sarah, but no I'm not wearing that'.
How Does It Make You Feel and Look?
As you are sorting through your clothing, think about how the item makes you feel. Do you look at it and feel excited to wear it? Or do you feel ‘frumpy' or depressed at the thought? When it is on your body, does it make you feel good or ready to take on the world? Or does it make you feel self conscious or indifferent?
Clothing is much more than a cover. It is a part of who you are, and how you feel in it is the image of yourself that you are presenting to the world. Keep only the clothing that makes you feel confident, and causes you to be proud of who you are. Your image is going to be different than anyone else's and only you can decide how each item fits that image.
Are You Keeping It Out of Obligation?
Many of us are harboring clothing out of guilt, given to us by well-meaning friends and family like that Christmas sweater from grandma or the plaid shirt from uncle Bob when you don't wear plaid. Unless someone knows your taste 100% of the time, clothing generally does not make an appropriate gift. Too often we are given an item and then feel stuck with it for an undisclosed amount of time, and we never quite feel right getting rid of it.
If you are keeping clothing you hate just because you feel loyal to the person who gave it to you, go ahead and get rid of it. This will make room for items you love, and you won’t feel guilt every time you glance at it, knowing that it hasn’t been worn and will probably never be.
Have You Worn It in the Past Year?
Your closet may be full of clothes, but when was the last time you wore them?
A good rule is anything not worn in a year should go. There are many reasons for this: clothing has certain yearly events that they're appropriate for and it's ok to keep some special items; there are also different seasons with specific temperatures which means your summer wardrobe will never see use while winter wear gets plenty of attention–or vice versa! You might have more clothes than one person could ever need…but if you haven't been wearing them lately, why hang onto them any longer
Time to organize
Organize what is left, and you will see what a difference it makes in your life when you have in your closet only what you need and love wearing. I chose to invest in some great hangers to help with organizing my closet. These non-slip, ultra thin velvet hangers are great. They keep your clothes on them, unlike the cheap plastic hangers that drop your clothes constantly. I also like these Magic Hangers. They come in handy when you put your off season clothes to the back of your closet.
Look at it, now!
Your new organized closet will make your life so much easier! Re-organizing is a great way to remove the clutter and find things easily. Remember to declutter on a routine basis, as you can quickly get overwhelmed with too many items piling up over time if you don't give yourself regular breaks from it all.
While you're at it, consider a capsule wardrobe! This helps you keep your closet in check even more!