Massive wardrobe declutter - help, please!

[MadameSapphire]

I have got so many clothes I don’t wear. Even the ones I do, I feel really torn right now as to whether a pared-back, relatively minimalist, limited colour wardrobe might be a good idea or if I should go with what I love but that isn’t hugely practical? Getting dressed in the morning is stressful! Also, the older I get, the more I think that - whilst I want to look stylish - I don’t want to look frivolous, IYSWIM?! (I’m confident in who I without my wardrobe having to do the work.) On the flip side, I recently realised that I’m a light summer (colour wise) and that these colours really work for me… but, I have so, so, so much black and this would go in my more minimal wardrobe. Thank you for any advice and if you got this far - it’s much appreciated! 😊

Bag up anything you haven't worn for 2 years and sell it on Vinted

If black doesn't suit you (and it doesn't suit most people) get rid of everything where you'd be wearing black near your face. Otherwise keep the things you've worn (and felt good in) within the past year, get rid of the rest, and reevaluate.

Keep a black funeral outfit and get rid of the rest.

Thanks so much, @WaIIy, @Whowhatwerewolf and @17to35 - al feeling buoyed by your suggestions! Gently bumping in the hope of some more. 😊

have you read project 333 op? I'd really recommend that as a starting point, at the beginning you don't have to get rid (although you can), you just box up anything that you don't love and use until you have 33 items and you use those for a set time, 3 months I think iirc. You don't have to do it, it's just starting somewhere can help if you are facing a double wardrobe stuffed to the gills oh just me then

I have done this after dc2 and I needed to reassess what works for me now I am out of maternity and BF clothing. You could pop some links or photos of what direction you want your wardrobe to be in on the thread and ask for more detailed feedback.

I am trying not to buy something that's on sale, but do a 1 in 1 out rule now that my little wardrobe is up and running, so if I got something new I'd have to ask something else to go, which I don't want to do :)

I think the good thing is now, as opposed to the 00s is that the "rules" about what body type "must" avoid or what age things are "allowed/frumpy/muttony" are much less restrictive now, which is as it should be

How old are you, @MadameSapphire?

Not because that should influence what you buy, but because it might influence your attitude to how you choose stuff.

Have to say, as someone who’s been dressing herself for six decades, I’ve never felt in the least constricted by any ‘rules’ around body type or age!

@EscapadeVelocity, I’m 42. 😊

If OP is having a massive declutter that’s going to be a nightmare!

Ah, ok. (Too young to be laying down heirloom worthy garments to see you through retirement!)

Sell the black stuff and pick some non-frivolous things in a neutral that plays better with your preferred colours.

You could try putting together a small ‘capsule wardrobe’ of items you already own and spend some time planning a week of outfits with it all. Make sure you keep it easily accessible (put it all together if you can, in one section of your wardrobe). Get together all your shoes and other accessories too, that you will wear for the week. This process will probably highlight gaps in your wardrobe, and bring your attention to items that are dated/no longer fit/need mending/need cleaning etc.

During this process, weed out all the obvious ‘to go’ clothes and just get rid of them (Vinted/charity/clothing bank). This will in turn allow you to see the wood for the trees a little more.

After the week is over, think about how you felt in the items that made up your ‘capsule wardrobe’ for the week. Do any of these items, on reflection, need to go?

Then repeat for another week, trying to bring a different load of existing clothes into circulation. If you spend time actually planning and critiquing your clothes like this, you’ll be able to work out easily what you should get rid of, what suits you, and what new pieces would be useful.

I did this a few years ago, and spent the following year slowly selling a fair amount of my old wardrobe. I’ve gradually replaced it with a much more cohesive set of clothes and have learned so much about what my own style actually is. I honestly feel re-born!