Last night I decided to embark upon the ambitious project of culling, reorganizing, and editing my wardrobe.
I have a lot of clothes – too much, Mom always said. Now I don’t feel as if I have too many clothes to wear, but perhaps I do have too much stuff that I don’t wear. To make this process fairly painless, I’ve broken it down into steps.
1. Separate clothes into piles (this is probably the hardest step):
(a) Keep pile: Pieces that fits well, that I like, and that I actually wear. Take note of which items need special care (i.e. dry-cleaning, loose buttons, whites that needs to be bleached, etc.)
(b) Want-to-keep-but-never-wear pile: Clothes that I want to keep for sentimental reasons (stained sweatshirt with a giant Winnie the Pooh on the front? You get the idea), or because it should work (yet never quite look the way that I imagine it would).
(c) Donate pile: clothes that are in good condition but that I don’t wear for various reasons: the fit isn’t right, the style’s not me, etc.
2. Go through the Want-to-keep-but-never-wear pile again -
Ruthlessly edit to 4 or 5 pieces that I like. Everything else? Donate!
3. Put the Donate pile into some paper bags,
look up the nearest Goodwill Donation Center, and let my junk become someone else’s treasure.
4. Drop off Keep (special needs) pile at the dry-cleaner’s. Do laundry.
5. Organize closet:
Hang jackets, coats, and skirts. Fold and store sweaters and pants. (Incidentally, I like to have hangers that all look the same – no plastic or wire hangers – they ruin the shape of clothes. My favorite hangers I got from Ross – sets of 10 foam padded hangers for $6.99).
*** I have a small closet, so it’s even more important for me to keep my wardrobe well-organized. It also just nice to have a closet that’s neat & full of things that I love and wear. Might it even – just maybe – keep the shopping urge in check?
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I have a teeny tiny New York closet and just organized mine as well. But keeping the shopping urge in check? I wish, but not so much.
Great idea! I do this sometimes, too, and it always helps me so much: I remember stuff I’d forgotten I liked, I realize I don’t need a new sweater, skirt, whatever. And it makes getting ready easier because I can find things faster.
I also need to edit my wardrobe…it’s been a long process, and it hasn’t been pretty. I’m still working on it!
Didn’t you have a pile for “throw in the garbage?” I have a few shirts that would make that pile, but I find myself wearing them to work every once in a while. Heh!
I love doing this. I feel like it cleanses my soul or something. Makes me feel better. Have fun!
I just did this two nights ago! Hoo-boy, it feels good. And putting two garbage bags of still-wearable clothes that just don’t fit or work for me in the Salvation Army bins feels good as well… hopefully someone will benefit from them!
I need to do the same with my clothes. I think I only wear about 25% of all the clothes I have, so the other 75% needs to find another home. I got a whole bunch of wooden hangers from Ikea a while back, great deal, think it was like 6 for $3.99, check them out. Happy Thanksgiving.
Wellheeled, I have to admit, I’ve just started reading (after finding a link from An English Major’s Money), but your experiences and advice have inspired me to start my own blog at http://livingfortheblueworld.blogspot.com/
My karma feels better after I clean sort and purge.
Thanks for providing me with new motivation. I plan to sort out my closet this week.