Now, we need to make some breathing room. Getting dressed in the morning and having to sift through unworn, ill-fitting, and old clothes does not compute. You waste precious time each time you touch and then pass that same dress you’ve had for 5 years and worn twice. Being a good steward of your space and your time will free up your mind, your schedule, and your home for better things.
A Story
I traveled to Italy during the summer after my freshman year of college. I was there for 6 weeks and took one large suitcase. I had to pack for both cool and warm weather–and believe it or not–I loved the clothes I wore there. It was a breeze getting dressed each morning, and I looked timeless and chic with my very classic and mix-and-match choices. Also–Florence was where I first purchased a cashmere scarf that spiced up every outfit I wore. I think less is more and a few accessories can really make a huge difference.
A Few Guidelines and Thoughts
First, decide how “ruthless” you are going to be. I bought myself 36 wooden hangers–and I plan to only keep that many dresses and tops. My pants hang on hooks on the side of my closet. The reason for this level of purging is that a.) I have a small closet and b.) I find comfort in having fewer choices.
These are the guidelines I plan on following:
*Does it fit–now? I am not pregnant, not recently pregnant, and not planning to be pregnant soon. Therefore, I don’t need 4 sets of clothing. :) If it doesn’t fit me now, I don’t need it to be in my closet.
*Is it a fabric I am comfortable in?
*Do I realistically wear this item? Was it purchased as a “someday” thing? Will you wear it in the next year? Have you worn it in the past year?
*Do I love it or is it just a “filler”?
Action Items for Day 6:
1. Decide on an approximate number of items to keep. This can be any number you are comfortable with, also it is not a cast in stone number. You can change it if you want–but it is a good starting place as you are deciding what to keep and what to get rid of.
2. Start going through your items and filter each one through the guidelines I mentioned or your own set of guidelines. If you have your own set of guidelines…would you be kind enough to post them in the comments? That would be so helpful to me and also to the other women going through this 31 day series.
3. Take a before picture of your closet, if you want to see the dramatic transformation. :)
Previous posts in 31 Days to a No Brainer Wardrobe: day 1 a manifesto, day 2 the plan, day 3 defining your style, day 4 picking out pieces, and day 5 for all women.
33 Comments on "no brainer wardrobe :: day 6 purging your closet"
I have a question, but I guess this might be part of my own guidelines. I tend to have a fall/winter wardrobe and spring/summer wardrobe with basic pieces overlapping each. I try to keep them to 2-3 tiered hangars, but there’s usually a little more.
Do you rotate your clothes based on the season or are all 36 items things you wear every season?
I’d love to have what’s in my closet be what’s always there and not rotate, but it seems pretty hard to do.
Jessica–When I lived in Charlotte, I pretty much had one closet. I wore the same clothes year round, basically. Charlotte has a really temperate wintertime, so I would just wear layers of my normal clothing. I have had a bit of a harder time in Indiana. Admittedly, I have a closet in my office that I keep my “out of season” clothes in. However, a great number of my clothes stay in my main closet. I keep cardigans in my main closet year round because I am always cold. My office closet has about 10 sweaters and 5 or 6 fashiony jackets. However, jackets do not work well in the winter in Indiana, because they are too bulky to fit under a coat. I have a lot of changes to make this winter.
Hi, Hayley! (I’m loving your posts! It’s helping me so much, really getting me thinking about my clothing and motivating me to shape it up! thank you!) Anyway, I live in indiana, too, and thought i’d offer a little tip on clothing for winter. Of course, a lot depends on your internal thermometer, but i’ve found that one good, warm coat will do for winter for temperatures below 30. From 30-40, I do layers (undershirt, long-sleeve shirt, sweater or jacket, hat, scarf, and gloves). From 40-60, usually one or two laters plus the scarf and gloves will do, depending on the temperature. I would advocate for keeping your jackets and not having too many big coats. You can get great long underwear at sporting goods stores. I think they work better than coats for keeping one toasty!
This is a great tip! Good thinking…
Thanks for the great advice!
I live in Kansas – so my wardrobe has to have sundresses and tanks for summer and wool sweaters and long winter underwear for winter! I have a big tote that stays in my basement to put the off-season clothing in. I also do some layering, but I need to have both.
I try to have 3 tops in each of my favorite colors – a warm weather one, a cold weather one, and an in-between. Some colors, though, I love so much that I do have an extra one or two.
This is good! I think even just knowing the colors that you like wearing puts you ahead of the game. :) A lot of women struggle to even figure that part out.
Ok, I am recently pregnant (5 month old sweet girl!) and so I’ll have to keep some things that “should” fit soon. But I am excited to try to do some purging – and I may not actually get rid of things I think will work soon, but just keep them in a big tote in storage so I can “shop” when I think I need something new!
That’s my favorite part after having a baby…getting to “shop” your old clothes as they fit again!
I find myself purging my closet every few months. You’re so right about not having things in our closets that we’ve only worn twice. Why do we do that?
We should also re-evaluate our wardrobes when we move! I used to live in Chicago where it was 90 degrees in the summer and -12 in the winter. Now I live in San Francisco where it’s 65 degrees all year round. My wardrobe had to change with my location.
I think this is my favorite 31-day series! Thanks for sharing your tips.
Hi Sage!
Last week we moved to San Diego from Chicago. I would love any guidance you may have for me.
Thanks a Bunch, Paige
I am really excited to find your blog. This is something on my “birthday resolution” list for this year. I have already created by pinterest board for style and ready to start tackling the out of control closet. wish me luck!
I also believe in the 2-season wardrobe, with storage for things out-of-season. I have a closet, and luckily have space for a couple of dressers in my bedroom, so the dressers get not only undies & socks, but also nightware, slips, ucky t-shirrs I wear when cleaning & staying home all day (not going to pick up kids), and seasonal stuff. My closet is things I wear to work or church, or that have to be hung up. Thanks for this great series! I’m loving it!
Another question I ask myself is: does this work for my life? I’m a stay-at-home mom now, so I don’t need as many work-type clothes. But I do love a cute skirt or dress, so I definitely need to do some purging :)
Yes! I wholeheartedly agree. That’s what I meant by a “someday” purchase. Like, did I purchase it with a “someday dream” in mind? :)
Phew! Happy to find one assignment I’m ahead of the game on! It helps that we moved in March, and that I’ve dropped so much weight in the past two years. I really don’t have many clothes that fit, and they’re all pretty new, except for three sleeveless tops I bought in college. I’m going to purge those, as well, even though they fit now, because I got some use out of them this summer, and I’ll be too small for them come next spring!
You know what else I’m purging? My wedding dress. I love it, yes, but I have no daughters, and it wasn’t one of those uber-expensive gowns anyway. It’s not special enough to save for a granddaughter. It takes up space, it’s now too large for me, and it can go to someone who really needs it. I will keep my handmade veil – that is worthy of becoming a family heirloom – but the dress is outta here. For years, I couldn’t let it go, but suddenly, it just seems right.
I will definitely let go of my wedding dress soon. The dress for me was not the “BIG DEAL” part of the wedding. But, the veil, oh…I love my veil. :)
I have GOT to purge soon. Too many clothes taking up space that do not fit, or I will never wear again.
This 31 day series could not have come at a better time for me. I’m working on revamping my closet –it’s something I actually try to do twice a year (once in fall and once in the spring) — and the advice you’re offering here is so practical. One recommendation I’ve heard is to try on all of your clothes. Too often, I guess, we keep clothes we think fit, or we throw out clothes we’re just sure don’t look right. If we try all of our clothes on — maybe in the presence of a husband or loving friend — we can get a better idea of what actually works. I can’t wait to have a fully functioning closet, with outfits I know will work from day-to-day. This is definitely one of my favorite 31 days series! :)
This is a GREAT idea, Annie! Actually try on your clothes. Novel idea. :) Why didn’t I think of that??
I started my purge last weekend, it started with my closet and I’ve sort of carried it over to the rest of my life. It feels SO good to know what I have, what I like and where it’s at! I think your 31 day series is my favorite!
By the way, I’m 26 and live in Chicago. The summer and winter wardrobes drive me nuts too!
This series is so timely! My husband and I just set aside a bit of our budget to fill out our wardrobes for the fall. I feel like I have more focus and a much better idea of what to look for, what my style is, what my closet is lacking, etc. Thank you!
another thought………i’ve been having more of my clothes altered to fit me better. I find that they fit better and I wear them more!
Someday I would love to hear your thoughts on organizing accessories….
one more thing, I think you should post a picture of Beautiful You in your beautiful wedding veil!
what would you suggest for those of us say 6 mos post partum?
After taking a pic of my “before” closet, then actually looking at the pic :0 …… oh my! I don’t know how it got so out of control. There’s way more than clothes in there — I have stuff my kids made in middle school and they’re in their 30′s now! Let the purging begin.
What I have found that helps me to know what I am wearing is to turn the hangers around backwards and then turn them around when I wear an item. After about two or three months I can see what is getting worn and what is not. Then I can take all that isn’t getting worn out of the closet and make a decision about that item. Anyway works for me, I do this about once a year.
I do that, too, vikki! I think it helps so much…I know automatically that I need to get rid if something if everything around it has been worn once or twice and it is still in the same place. :)
Ohhhh, the guilt! I have been looking at my closet for a month knowing I need to do a big purge. I just keep buying more hangers.
Just gotta do it! I have my basics I know that I love, but I keep buying those pieces that aren’t my style simply because they aren’t my normal style and I think that will fix all my wardrobe problems. I buy the bargain patterned dress or brightly colored shirt trying to break out of what I thought was a rut and then those rut-breakers just sit.
Thank you for helping me to embrace my inner “plain jane”!
i’m really behind but catching up. one of my guidelines is this: IS IT MODEST? let me explain. if I feel revealed up top or down below, if i feel like i will show the world when i sit down or if i feel like the men i work with will be distracted in the least, i don’t want it. i am big chested anyway… even a cami is too low sometimes and that is not what i want to represent. so my goal for this week, filter through what isn’t modest, and either modify it with the sewing machine, or donate it to someone who will be able to wear it without being revealing!
Trackbacks for this post