Rules for Wardrobe Culling

[AmelieinOz]

How do you know what to keep or toss?

I have a white leather jacket that I have never used. Is that a keep or toss?

1 does it still fit

2 wore it in the last year

if yy then keep and wear

fashion is fickle, don't be swayed by oooh LEMON FLARES* are in, if you look like Geoffrey from Rainbow in them then don't buy

*made up fashion item

If you wouldn't buy it if you went shopping tomorrow, I'd say eBay or charity shop.

If you've never worn it it's definitely dispose but I sympathise when it's clearly an expensive item it can be hard to do. If you are motivated and you think it will have worth to someone else then eBay and get a bit of your money back. Otherwise charity shop so you know some good comes from it.

Try wearing it? Wear it one day, don't wait for an occasion just wear it going shopping or something. Then you can decide if you think you want to keep it.

Where will you wear it? Does is fit with your lifestyle? It doesn't matter how wonderful it is if you never have an occasion for it.

If you always reach for another similar item over it, it will always be 2nd best and remain unworn.

Get rid.

If it hasn't been worn for the past year and isn't being kept for sentimental reasons it goes.

Am I too fat for it?

I'm rubbish at this so lurking for tips. I think storing winter clothes is good so when you get them out again it's easy to look with fresh eyes.

I read recently that it's ok to get rid of an item that you really loved and wore loads but no longer do, it's done its job and you can say goodbye. That's helped me get rid of some stuff.

I cba Ebaying anymore so am going to look into doing a carboot.

I go through my drawers and wardrobe every six months and everything gets pulled out and assessed and I'm constantly amazed by what has survived previous culls! However, I think it gets easier to toss stuff as time goes by. Something that has been barely worn is hard to get rid of, but if I never wear it, or don't even really like it, it has to go.

I suppose the essential questions are:

1. Do I wear it?
2. Can I ever see myself wearing it in the future?
3. Do I like it anyway?

And if the answer is 'no', then to the charity shop it goes.

It's hard for me atm too because I have lots of work clothes varying from size 8 to 12, I'm currently heavily pregnant and will be a sahm for at least a year to preschoolers. I don't want to chuck out all my stuff though I will probably want new things by the time I go back to work! And I've bought far too many clothes in this pregnancy which won't fit forever too.

I did the Marie Kondo thing of 'do you love it?' (I didn't stroke each garment, or 'thank' the items that were off to the charity shop) a lot went, including stuff that I wore a lot (but hated), some stuff that was expensive but never worn (no more guilt trips when I look in the wardrobe).

Currently I am just filling the gaps with stuff I actually love...

Some of the things that I kept haven't been worn for a few years but I love them and they fit so they stayed.

Even if I like the item if I tend to wear other similar stuff more I just get rid. Need to do anothe cull as well but am fed up of eBay so will car boot then charity shop - can't wait to get rid, it's almost better than getting new stuff

I used this cheat sheet from the blog Into Mind. It was excellent. Now i am onto the fun part: refilling the wardrobe!

Closet Detox Cheat Sheet