Ready to tackle your overflowing clothes closet? Give yourself a fresh start to a new season by clearing out the itchy, scratchy, non-flattering impulse purchases you feel guilty having spent money on! Click here to print your cheat sheet now. Or you can read it all below.
First, let’s play a guessing game.
Without looking, how many of the following do you think you own?
Guess Real # # Kept
_____ _____ _____ Jeans
_____ _____ _____ Pants
_____ _____ _____ Other Bottoms
_____ _____ _____ Skirts
_____ _____ _____ Dresses
_____ _____ _____ T-shirts
_____ _____ _____ Sweaters
_____ _____ _____ Other tops/blouses
_____ _____ _____ Jackets/Blazers
_____ _____ _____ Lounge/Sleepwear
_____ _____ _____ Exercise Outfits
_____ _____ _____ Dressy/Special Event
_____ _____ _____ Specialty (painting/gardening/project/costume)
_____ _____ _____ Other (uniforms etc.)
_____ _____ _____ Other Sizes (sizes up/down from current size)
_____ _____ _____ Special Memorabilia Pieces (bridesmaid etc)
Later come back and fill in the real numbers.
It will be interesting to see how close you come and to see how many make the final cut!
Next, let’s play department store buyer!
Group similar articles of clothing together; jeans, t-shirts, tank tops and so on…just how you see clothing displayed in department stores.
You do not have to take it all out of the closet – you can just move things around to group the hanging items.
You must answer YES to all the questions for the item to be a considered a keeper.
If you answer NO to any of these questions then the item is up for debate. You can choose to donate it, sell it, share it, toss it, or put it in a Maybe Box.
Maybe Box: if you can honestly envision yourself wearing the item in the next year place it in a box. If you need to the item you have it. If not one year from the day donate the box of goods.
ü Do I love this?
Go with your first reaction, don’t talk yourself in or out of the item.
ü Does it fit me today?
Like right now! Not sure? Take the time to try it on? Not worth taking the time to try it on? Then it is probably not worth keeping.
ü Does it look good on me?
Do you get compliments? Do you feel good? Is it your style?
ü Would I buy this again today?
If you had to spend money on it today – would you?
All Yes’s- keep going… Got a No? STOP! And turn to the next page.
Let’s keep going…
ü Do I use/love/appreciate this more than someone else will?
If not there is a reason…ask yourself why.
ü Is it easy to care for?
If you are not up for handwashing or dry cleaning then let it go.
ü Is it clean and in good repair?
If not you didn’t like it enough to take great care of it.
ü Do I own just one of these?
Sometimes if you love it you buy more than one.
ü Will I wear it as is without any modifications?
This is not the time to try to make a garment something it can’t be.
ü Do I have at least 2 other pieces to mix and match with this?
Double or triple duty items are the best!
ü Will I have an occasion to wear this in the next year?
You need to have a reason to bring it out of your closet.
Still all Yes’s? Great the item is officially a keeper! Got a No? STOP!
The No’s “no” clothes fall into one or more categories:
It was a gift
It was on sale
It was an impulse
It was a trend
It is too costly to repair
It is too expensive to modify
It is missing a piece or part of a set
It might fit if I gain/lose weight
It might come back in style – one day
It doesn’t fit who I am today
It doesn’t fit
It just isn’t my style
It cost money and I don’t want to be wasteful
It is one of many similar items I already own
It gapes, drapes, itches or is otherwise uncomfortable
It makes me self-conscious when I wear it
It is too difficult to clean
It wrinkles was to easily or requires too much maintenance
It is a color that isn’t your best shade
It is too “nice” to wear and makes me worried I’ll wreck it
It is a “what was I thinking” moment
Other (fill in the blank) __________________________
If you have ‘no’ clothes don’t worry – we all have no clothes. The key is to let them go so they stop weighing you down! Donate them, share them with someone, sell them, or if they are beyond hope recycle them.
The key is to go through each category of clothes and thoughtfully choose the keepers. Then generously share the rest!