The Closet Detox
An organized closet can feel like a dream. Everything in its place, ready at your fingertips. Hung nicely with care, categorized perhaps. This is not impossible to accomplish. While it doesn’t have to look like the organization tv shows or in like magazines with all matching hangers and all the accessories to keep things in line (as beautiful as that may look) it can still have a purpose to how things are set.
Personally, I review my closet every few months. If something isn’t fitting the way it used to, or if it has faded its colour overtime, it may be time to move on.
A place to start when organizing your closet is to see how many hangers fit comfortably in your closet. Discard anything broken or that creates weird or damaging lines in the shoulders or fabrics of your garments. Make it a rule, if there isn’t a hanger for it, it can’t stay or it must replace something else.
Ask yourself the following questions when evaluating what to keep.
Does it fit? If you are still in a reproducing season in your life, meaning, just had a baby, currently pregnant, likely to get pregnant again soon, this can create more of a challenge to let things go. Try to only keep what you are currently wearing in your closet and store maternity clothing, or pre/post pregnancy clothing elsewhere for the time being.
When was the last time I wore it? Within the last year? Can’t remember? Is it even your style anymore?
Do you want to wear it again? Sometimes reviewing your own closet is like shopping without having to spend more! Rediscovering items you forgot you even had, or that got buried amongst it all.
Is this item special to you? My husband cannot let go of some clothing due to memories. Concert t-shirts, clothing from university, you name it. He has finally accepted over the past year and a closet renovation, he doesn’t actually need to keep everything, and pictures and memories are just as special as a ratty old shirt.
Is it in good shape? Is there a stain, is it misshapen, colour distorted? Is it designer? Did you spend a lot of money on it? Was it a gift? All of these things should be addressed when filtering out your closet.
You can then put everything into 4 simple categories: Throw out, Donate, Store, Keep.
Donating items that are no longer serving you can be so rewarding. One mans trash is another mans treasure, so they say. But if it is trash, not salvageable, it has to go into the garbage. It is not the donation centers job to sort through your junk. Donations should be clean and easy for them to display for sale.
Storing comes in handy for out of season clothing and as previously mentioned, items that you will use again for something like pregnancy, but may not currently need. This helps free up space for what you will currently wear.
The items you keep should only be ones that you will wear. This will make getting dressed everyday and for any occasion that much easier. There is nothing worse than having a place to be and trying on outfit after outfit because things don’t fit, you no longer like how it looks on you, it is no longer your style, for whatever reason. Having options is great, but these should be options you’re excited to wear.
Sorting through your wardrobe can be both refreshing and rewarding. It doesn’t have to take long, and likely, the longer you put it off, the worse it can get. Treating yourself to ease and access is what this exercise is all about. It doesn’t have to be a chore. It can be fun!
Melanie xoxox