I’ve spent the last few weeks going through my wardrobe with a fine-tooth comb. I’m being brutally honest with myself about what I do, and do not want to wear again. I’ve had more than my fair share of outfit malfunctions over the last 12 months and would like to avoid making as many as I can this year. I still don’t have a crystal clear vision of how I want to dress in 2025, but I do know what I did not enjoy wearing in 2024. Since my personal style is constantly evolving, I need to stay on top of all the excess stuff that finds its way into my wardrobe…and a good old declutter paves the way. Cleaning out what you know you dislike helps to declutter your space, but it also allows you to reevaluate your personal style.
I’m updating this post from last year and leaving the comments, which are full of great ideas!
Before you declutter, be sure you don’t just need to reorganize what you own. If your closet is messy, it’s hard to find the pieces you need to put a look together.
How To Start
Many people like to attack their wardrobe, ala Marie Kondo, but that’s never appealed to me. It’s not realistic for me to take everything out of my closet at one time and toss it into a pile. That process creates a mountain of work, and it would depress me long before I finished it. If the job is overwhelming, decision fatigue can set in, so you end up rushing to finish and start making poor decisions.
I like to make this simple, so I start at one end of the rod or go through one drawer at a time.
Have four bags or boxes at the ready:
1- This box is for items you want to donate or send to consignment stores.
2- This bag is for things that are too worn to salvage or donate. Our landfills are clogged with discarded clothes, so you could also investigate non-profits that will accept textiles in any condition.
3- This bag is for garments you want to keep wearing but they’re in need of repair, cleaning, or alterations.
4- This not-sure box is for anything you’re on the fence about.
The not-sure box is super important! You can bravely place things into this box because you know it’s not leaving your house. The decision is temporary and allows you to revisit the pieces later, but they aren’t hanging in your closet to see each day. Tape the box closed and store it in a guest room closet or the garage to examine in 6+ months.
Questions To Ask as You Declutter Your Wardrobe
If your taste and style are evolving like mine, you may find it helpful to revisit the three-word method to find your personal style. I’m in the process of redefining my words this year, so I’m being extra careful about what I donate.
For each item you pick up, ask yourself:
- Does it fit you properly at your current weight?
- Do you have 5 or 6 multiples of the same type of garment?
- Is it expressing who you are now at this stage of life and with your current style goals?
- Is it still in good shape, or does it need repairing or altering?
- Does the color and style flatter your current hair color and body shape?
- Do you feel fabulous wearing it, or does it spark joy per the Konmari method?
- Is it still in style, or has the trend passed so you’ll look dated wearing it?
- Have you reached for it in the last year or so? Some people recommend getting rid of things you haven’t worn in six months, but I disagree. There are several categories of clothes we need to have in our wardrobe that are rarely worn but are invaluable to have on hand, such as formal wear or things to wear to a funeral.
Closet Cleanout Tips and Mistakes
Take Your Time
Listen to your intuition, and don’t be too hasty. If you’re unsure about an item, remember that it can go into your not-sure box #4 above.
Don’t Be Overly Emotional
Is this the scarf your friend gave you, but you dislike how it looks on you and never wear it? Is this the suit you wore when you got that fabulous promotion, but you’ve retired and now live a casual lifestyle?
Decluttering Essentials
Have a notepad nearby to jot down items you need to add to your wardrobe. If you discover that your favorite black pants are looking a little worse for wear, make a note to keep an eye out for a new pair. Be sure to replace them before you donate your old ones.
Cost Does Not Equal Value
This is a slippery slope. Just because you paid a lot for something doesn’t mean you should keep it. And if you got a smokin’ hot deal on something that doesn’t look great on you, it’s not serving you well either. If you did pay a lot for something, sell it at a consignment shop to recoup some of your original investment.
Relying Solely On Joy
A functional wardrobe needs items that serve a purpose, and they don’t all have to spark joy…sorry Marie Kondo. Wardrobes need functional basics that we may feel neutral about but are essential pieces to complete our outfits. That said, don’t keep anything you don’t like!
You Keep Too Many Duplicates.
My hand is raised on this one. It’s so easy to justify another great pair of black pants because I like and wear them so often. Keep a few of the best of the best, and release the rest. Last year, I struggled to declutter my jeans collection. Surprise! I find myself in the same spot again this year and have 6 pairs of jeans in a donation bag!
You’re Overzealous
We often talk about finding your personal style here on AWSL. Our style evolves as we learn and grow, so getting rid of large portions of your wardrobe in one fell swoop can lead to remorse. I’d rather have three not-sure boxes than regret donating a piece prematurely. Packing things up and removing them from your daily wardrobe will help clear your mind so you can get a better idea of how you want to look going forward.
The one category I seldom declutter from my wardrobe is accessories. They take up very little space, and I often change my mind about them.
How To Organize Your Wardrobe
As you go through this process, begin to organize your wardrobe in a user-friendly way. Some people like to organize by color, and others use categories. I find that categories make the most sense, and then I further refine it by color within each category.
Hang all your shirts on the rod, facing in the same direction. Group all jeans together and all pants together. The same goes for skirts, jackets, sweaters, and knit tops. You can further categorize them by color (light to dark) or formality level (casual to dressy). This helps you see what you have, identify duplicates, and spot the things you’re missing from your wardrobe essentials.
Note – I no longer separate my items by formality because life is too short not to wear the good stuff. It’s fun to wear a silk blouse; add jeans, sneakers, some amazing earrings, and a faux fur vest. I firmly believe we should not save our best pieces. We deserve to enjoy them every chance we can get.
Get a good lint remover and fabric shaver to keep your clothes in good shape moving forward. My favorite is this Gleener and this shaver.
Velvet hangers save a ton of room on your rods and virtually double your closet space. The flocked surface helps grip your tops so they don’t slip to the floor.
I like to hang my seasonal clothes, sweaters, and woolens in these clear wardrobe storage bags so I can see what I have while they keep the moths at bay. You can also use under-the-bed storage bins, but I fear I would forget what I own!
Hardest clothing to declutter
Some categories feel easier to declutter than others. The pieces you struggle with the most will likely be your favorite type of garment. For me…it’s jeans because I wear them most days. Try not to justify keeping too many duplicates because it’ll make it harder to get dressed each morning.
What item of clothing do you struggle with the most when decluttering clothes?