What makes the cut?
Are you revamping your style, spring cleaning or in desperate need for space? Going through your wardrobe is not for the weak hearted. It can be overwhelming, so make sure you have wine to help focus on your end goal. I promise you can do this!
Let's start with some samples to have in your closet. You want to have at least one: Blazer, Blouse/Button Down, Dress, Pair of Jeans, Sweater, Printed Top, Skirt, and T-Shirt.
Let's start with some samples to have in your closet. You want to have at least one: Blazer, Blouse/Button Down, Dress, Pair of Jeans, Sweater, Printed Top, Skirt, and T-Shirt.
Step 1: Categorizing:
- Sort your entire closet into 3 piles.
- Keep, Maybe, Sell/Donate/Bin
- Keep
- They are are staying
- Maybe
- It's still a toss up whether this guy is staying or going
- Sell/ Donate/ Bin
- Sell/Donate- someone else will where it more or may need it
- Bin- it's out of season and it needs to be stored
Step 2: Continue Categorizing:
- The Keep's and the Maybe's: While keeping these categories separate, sort them by what they are.
- Blazers
- Blouses/Button Downs
- Dresses
- Jeans
- Sweaters
- Printed Tops
- Skirts
- T-Shirts
- Trousers
Once your Maybe piles and your Keep piles are itemized, move to the 3rd step!
Step 3: Should I Stay or Should I Go? I would do this with the Maybe's then do this again with the Keep's.
- Blazers
- Stay: Best Blazer
- Go: Tight or Faded/Worn
- Blouses
- Stay: Maintain a solid selection of office appropriate blouses
- Go: Ill Fitting or Stained
- Dresses
- Go: You know what to say bye when...you have tried it on three times in the past year and still have not worn it! It's time to go!
- Jeans
- Try every pair on, make a piles of the different styles
- Skinny
- Boyfriend
- Flare
- Etc.
- Stay: 1-3 pairs of each style
- Exception to the rule: Keep more of the style that fits your bod the best!
- Go: Everything else you don't wear, or "are going to wear one day" if you haven't worn it in the past year it's time to say bye!
- Sweaters:
- Stay: Only 3 of a similar style
- Go: It Shrunk, the pilling is out of control, there are holes that are not worth fixing
- Printed Tops:
- Stay: Timeless Prints- Gingham, animal, stripes, & polka dots- favorites stay!
- Go: Not worn in 6 months, or too trendy.
- Skirts:
- Can you think of 3 occasions or 3 ways to wear it?
- If so, STAY!
- If not, GO!
- T-Shirts:
- Stay: It still looks presentable and fits properly.
- Go: Neck is stretched, stained, belonged to an ex, smells.
- Trousers:
- Stay: Tailored, still fits properly.
- Go: Tattered, stained, no longer fits properly. (Hint: If tailored properly, no tattering on the ends will occur.)
Okay, so you've done it!!! You have filtered through all your Keep's and Maybe's.
Step 4: Go back to the Sell/Donate/Bin piles.
- Sell what is still usable if you are not donating!
- Save the money you made: for STAPLES that will unleash some interchangability in your fresh wardrobe. (Reminder: AVOID impulse buys or you will end up here again) or use that money to go celebrate, you just did some serious work and organization!
- Bin: what is out of season
- Money earned from selling, could also be used to purchase bins, storage bags, or shelving.
- Spring and Summer stay together
- Autumn and Winter stay together
- Helpful tip: Label- so you know what is what and which is which.
Step 5: Organizing your Keep's!
- Get creative:
- Itemize your wardrobe by style, color, wearability, however you like.
- What do you need to have your ideal closet:
- Create a wish list: Things to think about...
- Make purchases that you think about for at least two weeks-avoid impulse buys.
- What staples do you still need or need more of?
- What will add more interchangability in your wardrobe?
- Buy what is on your list, online shopping helps keep you focused.
- Quality over quantity
There you have it, you have completed a wardrobe edit! Feel free to use this process on accessories, shoes, and bags as well! Keep an eye out for my post in the near future that will focus on staples and pricing! Let me know if you have any questions or if there is something you want to know more about!
xx,
Melody
