Note: this post is not about organizational strategies or cleaning tips. It is just about what clothes should actually be in your wardrobe. Perhaps a better title would have been 7 Days to a Leaner Wardrobe.
A closet cleaning program for the busiest of schedules:
Day 1: Pull out the things you already know don’t work.
Day 2: Separate your beloved wardrobe staples from the question marks.
Day 3: Cull items based on color, texture, and idiom.
Foundational tip: Biff anything you don’t like at least 70 percent worth. In other words, ask yourself, “on a scale of 1 to 10, how much do I like this item?” Those items scoring 7 & up are keepers. And aren’t the 5s and 6s the items that cause the most grief and confusion?
These first three days you should be able to complete without getting undressed.
Day 4: Try the remainder on in front of your mirror. If it doesn’t fit or flatter, do you want to wear it? (Tip: you may be able to avoid some trying on by using a tape measure. For example, when I recently did my crewneck t-shirts I laid a tape out on the bed, after trying on the first one. If it wasn’t 22 inches long, it didn’t stay.)
Day 5: Try things on for your husband. At the very least, show him what you have left to decide on and ask him if there is anything he hates. Single ladies, if you like, you could have a friend over.
Day 6: Arrange your stuff in a way that works for you. I hang everything in my closet, or store folded in my drawers, by lifestyle segment, and then by item. Things I like best together are stored together.
What to do with the items you are biffing and bagging? Angie has written a helpful post on that.
What to do next in the wardrobe planning process? Create your spring shopping list.
Day 7: Rest.
I need to do this. I need to do this. I need to do this! The end.
My problem is, I can’t yet fit into my pre-baby clothes. I’ve left some of them in my closet with the mindset, “maybe next month they’ll fit again.” I need to just pack them up and put them away for now. Then I can focus on getting the new things I need instead of getting frustrated every time I go to my closet and “nothing fits.” Having a leaner cleaner closet saves time and frustration!
Rebecca, this was an excellent post! I forwarded the permalink to a gal pal of mine. At the movies last night we were talking about closet culling ….
I so need to do this!
Honestly, I have avoided doing a post like this for a long time, because I don’t feel like an expert. But sometimes we end up being better able to simplify things that are more of a personal challenge for us.
Jenna ~ do you have access to the boxes that paper comes in at all? I find they are wonderfully easy to store clothes in and still be able to get to the items. I have flatter ones, with the attached lid, under my bed. On the top shelf of my closet I have the ones with the removeable lid.
Wendy ~ thanks! That’s a great compliment!
Welcome Damselfly!
Great post. I really need to clean out my closet too. I’ve come to accept that I have way too much clothes and not enough places to store them, but I just need to find the time.
I like your 7-day approach, especially day 7 =)
Fabulous tips that I totally need to abide by!
I’m including a link to this post in my Weekend Pulse of the Blogosphere on the Pierce Mattie PR main blog (http://www.piercemattie.com/blogs). Look for it on 2/26. 🙂
Thanks SRR 🙂 ~ That’s why I invented this “little bit at a time” plan. Who does have time anymore? Although you may have less than most.
Welcome Shannon ~ Thanks for the compliment. And the link. 🙂
Add me to the list. I need to do it so I’m not tempted to wear some of it, and to make more space and figure out what I really need to buy.
I actually got rid of some stuff a few months ago that I did wear sometimes (but knew that I shouldn’t!). I have missed a couple of items for at-home lounging, but it’s good that it’s gone.