Having too much “stuff” (clothes, products, shoes, you name it) stresses me out… like really stresses me out. I think this stems from moving approximately 6 times in the last two years. However, this is exceptionally ironic given my current employment status (stylist, and content creator for those who have been asking). I am seriously so grateful to be sent products/clothing on a daily basis, this is something I could only have ever dreamed of. But on that note, I am someone who likes to re-wear the same outfits every week, and invest in high-quality clothing, at a low-quantity. If you’re also feeling overwhelmed by your current amount of “stuff”, this one’s for you.
As my close friends would like to say, I am the master at “getting rid of shit”. I’m constantly pulling things out of my closet, and donating or selling on Poshmark and Depop (those are my two favourite sites for selling clothes, most user-friendly in my opinion). My obsession with selling clothes began about 5 years ago, right after I started working retail at Aritzia. The Aritzia retail culture promotes constantly consuming the newest product, as it will “help you perform better at work”. This is not to shit on my former workplace, as I believe that all your past experiences shape who you are today. This was to drive-home that I was buying things I definitely didn’t need, and 9/10 times I didn’t even want. Which led to these pieces sitting in my closet for months on end.
I’m not telling you to never buy anything again, that would be hypocritical. I’m just telling you to stop falling into the trap of buying things you don’t necessarily need.
STEP 1: TRY ON EVERYTHING IN YOUR CLOSET
This may seem extremely tedious, but it works. Trying it on, and testing it out is truly the only way you’ll know whether or not you like it. This doesn’t have to be an all-at-once affair. If you’re someone with an overflowing closet, split it up over a few days. While you’re sifting through your wardrobe, pay extra close attention to what has been untouched over the last few months. Untouched, within reason of course (i.e., seasonally appropriate, formal wear for special occasions; this is the stuff we don’t need to be paying close attention to).
STEP 2: WHAT ARE YOU GRAVITATING TOWARDS?
Now, you probably have a very clear indication of what you gravitate towards on a daily, or weekly basis. Set these pieces aside, these are your keeps. Let’s look at what you haven’t been wearing. My ultimate rule for purging is, if you haven’t worn something in at least 3 months, get rid of it. There’s a reason you’re not wearing it. I’ll give you an example. I used to own 5 blazers. I NEVER wear blazers. They were taking up space, and collecting dust. I kept one, because I think a blazer comes in handy every once in a while, but I don’t need 5 of them. I decided which one was my favourite, and opted to sell the rest.
STEP 3: KNOW WHEN IT’S TIME TO SAY GOODBYE
Repeat the “have I worn this in the last 3 months?” process with the rest of your clothes. Keep reminding yourself, there’s a reason that you haven’t reached for it. Don’t keep what doesn’t fit you, don’t keep what doesn't feel good. When speaking to friends and clients, I express that I don’t hold sentimental meaning towards *most* of my clothing. This makes purging THAT much easier. Hold your ground, and be committed to getting rid of things. If you’re flip-flopping on some items, set them aside and revisit them. If you decide to keep anything from that pile, you’ll probably end up getting rid of those “un-sure” pieces on the next closet purge.
STEP 4: ENSURE YOU’RE CONTENT WITH YOUR DECISIONS
This is not an activity to bring unnecessary stress into your life. If you feel like you can’t part with something just yet, don’t. Getting rid of something pre-maturely can onset guilt, and frustration (trust me, I’ve been there). This might seem contradictory to what I was saying before, but carefully go over your choices, and make sure everything in the goodbye pile, is a goodbye forever. I’ve only had a “F I shouldn’t have gotten rid of that” moment, a couple of times, all pertaining to vintage denim. However, when this happens you have to remind yourself why you got rid of it in the first place. Usually for me, the reasoning is: the jeans were too big (i.e., they didn’t fit), I have a pair in the same wash I wear more, I wasn’t reaching for this piece. Remembering why you once wanted to get rid of the piece, will make you feel a lot better.
STEP 5: DONATE OR SELL?
Create a pile for each. It’s as simple as that. It’s usually quite obvious what’s in “sell-able” condition, and what isn’t. I usually don’t sell things like plain white tees, or things that I would only make $3-4 off of. These hit the donation pile. After all, donating is GREAT karma, and I stand-by the statement of, if you donate something, the money will return to you in some way-shape-or-form. Also, ask your friends if they want anything, something that may not work for you, might be their dream item.
STEP 6: RE-ENTER YOUR CLOSET
This makes all the difference. Once your “3-month no wear” pieces have been removed, re-open your wardrobe. It might seem empty and lacking fullness; this is the shit I live for. Try everything on again. This time, thoughtfully pair pieces together. Take pictures of every outfit you piece together, and save them in an album. This does two things. It makes you SO aware of what you already own, and makes getting dressed on those uninspired days much easier.
STEP 7: HAVE A STRESS-FREE CLOSET, AND FEEL GOOD ABOUT NEW PURCHASES.
So, during this closet-purging process you’ve become very aware of what you own, and what you don’t own. No- I’m not saying this whole regime is a new excuse to shop. This step is simply here to identify if anything crucial is missing. For me, something missing in my wardrobe is a pair of black boots. I constantly find myself thinking that the black boot would elevate my outfit, or make dressing easier that day (I’m holding out for the Khaite Marfa boot FYI). I identify my missing pieces, and add them to my wish list (I have a whole separate speech on wish lists… we’ll chat about this another time). Long story short, allowing items to sit on a wish list really separates between the wants, and the needs. Buying more unnecessary items is what we’re trying to avoid.
Don’t want to do it alone? Grab a friend, or me! That’s what I’m here for.
Another great resource for reclaiming your wardrobe- Wear It Well.
Glad to know I’m not the only one who is a savage when it comes to clearing out the closet riff-raff!
I love a purge and can be ruthless! But I really struggle with weight fluctuations. Should I only be hanging onto clothes that fit at the higher end of the spectrum?