Summertime Guide to Changing, Downsizing, and Decluttering Your Wardrobe

An overstuffed closet is a problem that most of us face in our daily routine when selecting our outfits.

An overstuffed closet is a problem that most of us face in our daily routine when selecting our outfits. We hear it all the time: everyone’s busy and looking for new ways to save time and be more efficient in going about our daily tasks.

When I purchased my home, most of the living areas were larger than where I was living before. Unfortunately, storage and closet space were minimal. This was partly because I purchased a house that was almost 80 years old, and back then people just had far less stuff. But I also partly created the problem for myself when I removed a closet behind the fridge and kitchen cabinets so that they could be pushed into the wall further to make more usable space in the kitchen. This meant that there were only four closets in the entire house, one in the bathroom and one in each bedroom.

Unfortunately, the closet in the master bedroom was as small as all the others. I’ve never been a clothes horse, but even for me, making things fit with 70% of the space I was accustomed to was a challenge. The mantra used in helping my clients declutter their homes for years was echoing in my head: you don’t need more space, you need less stuff.

The simple answer to the question that this article will strive to answer is that you can simply go through your clothes, and decide what you really like or what you’ve worn recently, and throw out the rest. However, I know from experience that many people struggle with decisions when it comes to pairing down their wardrobe.

I don’t have to tell you that fashion is important to many people in this country, as this is a multi-billion dollar industry that doesn’t just support clothing companies but magazines, fashion shows, TV shows, and even movies. So today I’m going to explore the many challenges that this problem presents to fashionistas everywhere who may also struggle with adequate closet space or just deciding what to wear and how best to ease the process.

Signs it’s Time to Declutter Your Wardrobe

If you regularly feel overwhelmed when choosing what to wear, often one problem is that you own multiple versions of the same item. If your clothing no longer fits your current lifestyle, body, or personal style, these are the best items to start with when decluttering. You may also have items that still have tags or haven’t been worn in over a year. Some of the same rules apply with clothing as with decluttering any other space in your home: if you haven’t touched it in over a year, you probably don’t need it.

Your closet may also just be physically overcrowded. This doesn’t just mean you have too many clothes. It may mean you have suitcases, keepsakes, arts and crafts, and any number of other random items that don’t really belong in your bedroom closet.

I recently had a consultation with a client that I could tell very quickly was one of the most organized that I’ve come across. This is actually one of the biggest challenges for an organizer, because it forces us to fully understand exactly what the client is looking for in terms of a transformation of the space in order for us to get the project right.

Another common problem if you love to shop is you forget what you own or you buy duplicates of the same item. Of course, the more disorganized your home is, the bigger this problem becomes. When you don’t know where things are it’s often easier to just buy replacements then it is to spend hours looking for everything. One of my organizational rules is always having a “home for every item.”

Emotional and Practical Benefits of Downsizing

By downsizing your wardrobe, it’s much easier to make the decisions about your outfit in the morning. Downsizing reduces stress and clutter and creates more space and better visibility in your closet. No matter the size of your closet, I know from experience that many people dread the idea of discarding a large part of their wardrobe. Of course, it is also an opportunity to redefine and embrace your own personal style.

It can also have a positive impact on your spending habits by encouraging you to make more intentional purchases moving forward. Because one of my primary values in founding my company was having a positive environmental impact through conscious consumption, I always like to remind my clients that their contribution to recycling and reusing helps the environment that we all live in.

How to Start the Downsizing Process

Step one, set your intention:

Before you even open the closet door, define your goals. Are you looking to simplify your wardrobe, create more space, a complete seasonal reset? Take a moment to visualize your ideal wardrobe, and how you’d like it to look in your closet.

Step two, block out time:

Set aside a day or weekend for a full wardrobe audit. This is best done by pulling everything out of the closet and laying it on your bed or on and under tables so you can see what you have and make an assessment that will better define your goal.

Step three, create sorting categories:

Going back to recycling and reusing, there are many ways of responsibly discarding used clothing. In my opinion, the best is to find a homeless shelter or other organization where clothes can be best utilized by people who need them the most. Goodwill and other thrift stores also take clothing donations, and these can be written off on your taxes at the end of the year.

Step four, try the one-year rule:

It’s exactly as it sounds: if you haven’t worn the item in a year, it’s time to say goodbye to that item to make space for the things that you do wear.

Step five, try everything on:

This is probably the most overlooked step with most people because it’s time-consuming. Yes it may take you a couple of hours to try on everything you own, but remember those things that you wear the most can be skipped in this process.

Step six, be honest with yourself:

We’ve all made that “buyers’ remorse” purchase, but when space is valuable, it’s time to get rid of guilty purchases, aspirational sizes, or “just in case” items that never come to fruition.

Smart strategies for decluttering

If you spend any time learning about organizing, you’ve probably heard about the KonMarie Method. Essentially, the rule here is to ask yourself “does it spark joy?” This works well for some people. I admit that I don’t have an attachment to possessions the way some people do, but if you struggle with letting go of things, this can be a good rule to stick by.

The capsule wardrobe is another concept that you may be familiar with. The capsule wardrobe concept essentially means building a smaller, cohesive collection of wardrobe pieces that complement each other and speed the decision-making process while maintaining the level of style that’s important to you. Think 15 to 20 blouses that pair well with 15 to 20 pairs of pants, and you start to get the idea of the simplification of this process. If you know you need to discard a high percentage of your total wardrobe, this can be a very helpful method to follow.

It’s also important to ask yourself questions as you’re going through your wardrobe that can help you make decisions without getting hung up on each individual piece. Would I buy this today? Does it represent who I am now? Does it fit the style that I’m trying to put out to the world? How often do I actually wear this? Feel free to use these questions as a starting point, or come up with some of your own questions that you feel will help you better make decisions.

You should also use a full-length mirror and good lighting when sorting through and trying on each item. There’s a reason that there is no shortage of these two elements in high-end clothing stores.

Maintaining a Decluttered Wardrobe Moving Forward

Once you have your wardrobe decluttered and organized, it’s time for some finishing touches. As with any space in the home, it’s more likely that you will keep things in your closet organized if you have the right product for storing everything.

Consider using the same colored hangers for all of your clothes to give your closet that “boutique clothing store look.” Accessory organizers like hat racks, shoe racks, and purse and belt hangers will go a long way to maintaining the level of organization that you are looking for.

Creating good habits is also important to maintaining the wardrobe you’ve carefully curated. Adopt the “one in, one out rule.” Anytime you purchase something new, commit to discarding another item that is similar in size and style. Keep a donation bag in your closet year-round so that as you’re picking out clothes, you can discard other pieces you find that have been neglected. When buying new clothes, purchase intentionally. Focus on the quality of each item over quantity.

Clothing for Clarity

Downsizing your wardrobe can be both emotionally rewarding, and present an opportunity for a fresh start. By taking a few basic steps to declutter a closet, you can develop a wardrobe that creates clarity, confidence, and peace of mind. If you need to start with smaller steps, start by decluttering one drawer or category per day. Taking things one step at a time is a sound rule when taking on any new organizational project.