Decluttering clothes & I need different questions than ''does it spark joy?''

[31RueCambon75001]

Because when I look at my clothes I don't know if any of them exactly spark joy. I have a few bits that are flattering and I try to repeat that but it's not an exact science.

Could I have a pretend budget for each category of clothing and put everything on to the bed and then have to decide whether or not to 'buy' it back.

Anybody got a winning formula for questions that helped them get rid of excess clothes without having to go and buy back stuff they regretted getting rid of?

Can be anything.eg, ''if a friend spilled wine on herself would I grudge giving her this top''. Would I buy it back again? If I were emigrating for two years would I take it with me.

"Have I worn this in the last year?" is the best question. And the answer has to be honest - no "well I would, if I lost 20lb and started going to the theatre regularly".

I ask myself

1. does this fit me well currently? If no, donate. Tbh this usually gets rid of a third of my clothes. If yes,
2. do I have a complete outfit which incorporates this item? If no, put in a "come back to later" pile. If yes, hang it up in the wardrobe.

Once the piles are done, I go to the come back to later pile and think about whether I want to spend the time and money on adding to my wardrobe just to be able to wear this item. The answer is usually no as I hate shopping.

Mine are really simple:

Do I wear this? (For example I just got rid of any summer clothes I didn't wear this summer)

Do I avoid wearing it? (IDo I wear something that should probably be in the wash basket again rather than wear it)

Do I feel pretty in it?

Done.

If I saw this in the shop today, would I buy it?

If I lost it, would I notice?

When did I last wear it?
Do I wear it often?
If not, why not?
Am I finding excuses not to wear it?
Why?
Does it fit?
Does it flatter?
Does it need adjusting?
Is it a faff to look after?
Can I be arsed to dry clean it every few wears?
Does it 'go' with anything else?
Is it an aspirational purchase, for a fictional, wannabe me that doesn't exist?
When did I last go skiing/go to a ball/go to a wedding?
Can I justify keeping it?

I got rid of 4 bin bags of clothes on the weekend!!
I put everything on the bed and then put it away neatly.
Anything that was stained/frayed etc went immediately, anything way to small also went. Anything that I loved but was too small I asked the question - if it fitted would I actually wear it? (I’m looking at you flared jeans and one shoulder gold mini dress) if no then it went.
Stuff that fitted me I went by - do I wear it, do I feel comfortable in it, do I actually like it?

Does it make me look fat or thin?
Does it fit me?
Has it got holes/stains/missing a bit
Can I remember the last time I wore it?
Have I forgotten I own it?

When it is in the wash do I wish it was clean and ready to wear?

1)would I wear it on a train?
2)would I wear it in a plane.
3)would wear it in a box?
4)would I wear it with a fox?
If I would not wear it in a train nor in a plane nor in a box nor with a fox then I will give it to Sam I am.

When it is in the wash do I wish it was clean and ready to wear?

Oh yes, this is good, I'm adding it to my list of questions.

@giraffcantdanse, thank you for those. I'll mash it up a bit and take from your list ''would I feel like a fox I am''

@Redcrayons difficult decision, do I hang on to the clothes that I'm just 5lbs away from fitting in to, or give up. Is giving up a slippery slope. I guess it's not the clothes in my wardrobe that are making me thick round the middle.

@BrieAndChilli do you have a before and after picture to inspire me!?

(cheeky perhaps)

I'm laughing at ''if I started going to the theatre regularly...'' ha ha that is funny. I do hang on to far too much stuff.

''if i lost it, would I notice?'' that's another really good one.

I also like, ''if I saw this in the shop would I buy it again''.

Thanks for all of these.

2. do I have a complete outfit which incorporates this item? Another good one @BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz sometimes some very boring old top is perfect for going under another item.

difficult decision, do I hang on to the clothes that I'm just 5lbs away from fitting in to, or give up
It is indeed difficult. Ever summer I mourn the loss of my denim shorts and capris I chucked after having DCs thinking I'd never fit into them again.

I'm a bugger for 'aspirational' clothes. i really have to curb my tendency to think I live in the Mediterranean and need a million strappy summer dresses.

Would I buy it if I saw it in a shop today?
Does it suit me?
Is it the look I'm going for?
What would I wear it with?
When would I wear it?

Can I wear it again? This for my "posh" gong to larties/weddings dress that I have had years doesnt get out much

Going forward hang them up with the hangers hooked the wrong way round then in a year you can see what you have not worn.

I’m ruthless with clothes chucking. Everything I own goes with everything else, which helps. I don’t buy much to start with, which also helps.

I hit on a good outfit recently and that’s my benchmark now, if I don’t feel as good in something as I did in that outfit, out it goes and I’m not going to buy a similar thing again.

So, my question to myself would be, “does this make me feel stylish, or is it just something to put on?”.

Does this make me feel amazing?

You could do a Britains Got Talent style competition. Your favourite pieces - that you wear it often go straight through to the final. The rest have to battle it out to win a place on your rails and drawers.

If you are actually dieting and there's a good chance you will fit into the outfit once you lose the weight and you want to wear it again it is motivating so keep, but if you are not ready to lose weight right now then I think too small clothes are pretty depressing and it would be better to buy something nice that fits now then if you did lose weight in the future buy a new outfit that would probably be better than something that has sat in your wardrobe for 5 years.