Declutter fantasy

[Nanodust]

I am currently looking at my wardrobe feeling pretty overwhelmed. I want to seriously declutter but don’t know where to start. I don’t dislike any of my clothes and they all fit but I have too much and just want to simplify things.

My current fantasy is to go away for a weekend and someone comes in and does it for me as they won’t have all the baggage attached with liking it all!

I am stuck in the , but I don’t feel like I have anything to wear despite having a bulging wardrobe rut!

Any advice, help or words of wisdom?

I’m sorry no one has answered this because it’s the same for me - I like everything! I just have a massive amount which is so cluttered I can’t see/enjoy my clothes..

I hear you, I'm very similar. Could you pack away most of it, and just keep say, 30 favourite versatile items hanging in your wardrobe as a capsule for say 1 month, then see how you go?

Get it all out then decide how many of each thing you want to keep then pick that number of favourites and get rid of all others it might be that you wear blouses a lot so might keep 7 but hardly ever wear dresses so two would cover your needs , when i decluttered i had about 40 pairs of pyjamas because i kept being bought them at christmas , i kept two pjs and two nightdresses and thats been plenty as i do laundry daily if i buy new ones i throw a pair away , i have 7 tshirts 7 pairs of everyday trousers a couple of cardigans a trouser formal outfit a couple of dresses and a couple of pairs of shorts i was ruthless but i love it and it makes buying clothes much easier as i just replace what is looking tired

Have you heard of Mari Kondo?

She has a book called The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying. There are lots of threads about it on here. It's about just keeping things that bring you joy.

Well worth a read.

I had my colours done. Autumn colours suit me - greens, oranges, reds, browns - so I found it easy to get rid of my millions of black and white t shirts and I'm slowly replacing them with things that suit me and match each other. I probably threw too much away because I don't own many clothes now but that could also be because I put on weight but I am fairly coordinated now.

I've eBayed mine and get a real buzz out of spending the money on new things that fit well and suit my shape better, so far I've not regretted selling a single item. I feel like a new me!

I had a clean out of one of my cupboards,I found stuff that I'd forgotten I had. I put anything that wasn't flattering or won't go with my bottom halves I put out for charity. I am going to start on my wardrobe on Saturday as DH is out

If you truly love everything and all of it fits you and is in good condition then you've got a tough choice!

I think you should get your colours done. It seems like a big upfront cost, but you will never buy something that doesnt suit you ever again.

There's a Danish blogger I heard about on here who dies great posts on capsule wardrobes : Useless DK.

She has quite a few videos on how to go about clearing out your wardrobe which I find really helpful. Now I just need to find the time to do it!

Something that worked for me, that I discovered by accident, was packing clothes for a holiday. Actually it was packing my DS's clothes that I realised how many he had & it was my opportunity to only pack his nice, presentable things so that he looked nice & presentable on holiday! He was 5 at the time & not fussed about clothes.

Once I'd packed his stuff I went through everything left & kept a few extra 'not so nice' t-shirts/jeans & a single pair of jogging bottoms for spares/casual/play wear & got rid of the rest! At least 2 black bin bags!

I sold some bundles on ebay & sent the rest to the charity shop.

That was a couple of years ago & it's been fab! Easy to put clothes away & easy to see if running low on something.

Could you imagine you're packing for a holiday & a work trip & include nightwear, underwear & the odd item for certain things (decorating, funeral, job interview, wedding etc) then remove everything else & pack into suitcases & put the in the loft & just live with what's left for a month.

Maybe reassess then sell/donate the contents of the suitcases.

It's lovely opening the wardrobe/drawers and the clothes being nice & tidy, not all squashed & creased.

Much quicker to choose from too!

I completely empty my wardrobe twice a year (usually April and October), and only hang back the stuff that I like and will wear over the next 6 months. That way I don't look at 8 chunky wool jumpers in August, or have to.sift through floaty dresses in.December. I pack the rest away.

This way I am excited to see "old friends" and things that make me go ugh go in the charity bag.

Spring arrived so late this year, I have not done it yet, but know I will feel happier once I have packed away most of my winter stuff. Obviously, this being Britain, I need to keep some wooly cardis around even.in.summer. but not 8!

Thank you so much for the tips. I did read the ‘joy’ book and it was interesting and helped a little bit still not done the trick.
Been through my things today and have a pile to sell on eBay. I still have loads left though and it all fits and I like it all.
This is not easy!

Do you have a good friend who could go through it with you? Always easier to be more ruthless with someone else’s wardrobe. I Bag up non- seasonal stuff and put it in the loft

I completely understand you, OP!

I'm getting on top of it now after years of frustration (but still buying more...), and have thought about what I've done so I could share it with you, but to be honest it's just been a combination of lots of little things over a lot of time that have built up and made a difference (like unsubscribing from marketing emails!). I did try big clearouts and just got so overwhelmed. There's nothing worse than pulling out every dress, then getting distracted and having a pile of dresses lying on the spare bed for three weeks until you find another two hours spare to go through them all...

The only thing I did that had a quick solution/instant impact was that in a moment of desperation I once wrote a list once of all the high heel shoes I had, which I then took to the wardrobe. Any I'd forgotten clearly weren't loved/memorable/worn a lot, so they went! I might have to re-do that exercise with coats...

Everything else has been a gradual shift - I'm trying to form new habits/change my mind-set when it comes to hoarding clothes. At first I was pleased with myself if I just donated one or two tops, but now the more I do the more I find it easier to be ruthless. This is because I'm seeing more benefits and realising I value space etc. more than I value some of my t-shirts, e.g., so it's easier to get rid of specific clothes. I also enjoy how much quicker everything is! Putting laundry away is so easy when things just come out of the dryer and into the wardrobe - no scrabbling for a spare hanger, or spending 10 minutes cramming something into the wardrobe. Choosing a work outfit in the morning is much easier now I just wear a dress or pick one of my tops to go with my work trousers (I have several pairs of the same trousers!).

Not really. I moved cities and never really met that group of friends and now after a good few years it’s not really happened. Probably something to do with working FT and having 2 young kids and no time to meet people!

Anyway, I have tried to engage with various blogs etc. I know that I would feel so much better to open my Wardrobe and see clothes and outfits that didn’t overwhelm me!

Sorry about the length of that. I've been typing away on and off whilst watching a video and making notes, so hadn't registered how long that post was.

Thanks Daisy, you explain exactly how I am feeling so well! Tips are great, I have to stop buying more (though I love fashion and clothes).