Cleaning your Closet: Part DEUX!
So, yesterday I talked about the preparation and reasons for cleaning out your closet. Here are the next steps:
Set my mind to be fiercely judgemental of what was going on inside that clothing explosion that no longer really serves me. Give myself a 2 hour period to be thorough. I put on fun music and chose my beverage of choice. (sometimes it’s nice to have an objective eye when you have to decide on your own stuff).
You will need a full length mirror, a good bra and be prepared to have your own personal fashion show.
First, make sure you DO get rid of raggedy, stained, or clothes you think you will repair but haven’t done so in a year. You don’t need those, and you don’t want to look like a homeless person or like you don’t care about how you look…or at least keep those days reserved to a minimum. Next, I’ll give you the list of how I cleaned out my closet.
1. Make 3 piles: Yes, Maybe, NO
2. I pick out my favorite clothes, my staples. Easy to do because unused clothing usually makes its way to the back of the closet.
a. Do these still look good on?
b. Are they falling apart? Is it time to retire it? Can I get something just like it if I still love it?
c. When is the last time I wore it? Does it have more than one function?
d. Does it have lasting style and does it still fit my age?
3. Then, it’s time. Time to get rid of the trendy stuff you hung onto 4 seasons beyond cool. Colors, styles, etc, if I hadn’t worn them within the year, they made it out.
4. Dresses and skirts: go through them. For some people these are used less than jeans/pants. I had hung onto dresses for a few years without wearing them. I found that most didn’t even fit. Skirts can easily lose their style if they aren’t the favorite Aline. Be harsh!
5. Moving to pants: ok, it’s fashion show time. Pants have the tendancy to change the most if your body is changing. Try em on, especially if you haven’t worn them in a while. If you can’t wear them with multiple different tops, hang one one pair that is exclusive, but get rid of the crap you can’t wear on a regular basis. Pants are very versatile.
6. Jeans: ok, jeans are pretty easy to keep for a long time, but there are times where you need to turn in the too high waist, too low slung waistline, or the flare. Recycle these and allow them to be cool again in 10 years. Don’t hold onto trends.
7. Dress shirts, blouses, tops: these you can be a little less picky about. If they have versatility for more than one pant or skirt and you’ve worn it in the last year, it may be a keeper.
8. Tshirits, tanks, wifebeaters, summer shirts. Get rid of anything stained, esp in the underarm area. This is unattractive, and if you really want them, these are easily replaceable. They are inexpensive and this you usually can afford a few bucks for replacements.
9. Shorts: Ok, if you are nearing 40, it’s probably best to get rid of short shorts. I have moved from mid-thigh to almost knee length shorts. You know what? Does a really good job of looking nice and classy and little does anyone know about the cellulite that has creeped up on my legs….
10. Weird Items: keep these suckers to a minimum. But it’s nice to have that je ne sais quais for that every once in a while thing.
And there you have it! Stay tuned for cleaning out and updating your accessories, belts, handbags, etc!
Then, my FAVORITE thing; shopping! What to look for, purchase and stay away from!
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This is really helpful. I am finding the between stage from 20’s swinging single to 35 swing single to be really challenging regarding my clothes. I can’t wait to read about how to shop!