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.