RazzWorks

It’s easy to accumulate too much clothing. We love to shop, we need a new outfit for an occasion, there’s a great sale at our favourite shop, etc. The reasons are endless. But having less is more – not only can you save money and time in the long run but it’s also better for the environment. In this post, you’ll learn how to simplify your wardrobe and organize it so you’re not left scrambling to find something to wear as you rush out the door.

DECIDE WHAT YOUR STYLE IS
This is the first and possibly most important step. If you don’t know your style you’ll end up buying random pieces because you love it on the rack and you think you’ll wear it. Then you end up shoving it to the back of the closet because it either doesn’t match anything you have or just isn’t a style you’re comfortable in.

Ask yourself what your favourite outfits are and why. What colours do you gravitate towards? What fabrics? Are you a jeans and t-shirts kind of person or do you prefer to dress up more? Maybe somewhere in between? Figure out your style and stick to it.

DO AN INVENTORY OF YOUR CLOSET
I find this to be the fun part (besides shopping). Take everything out of your closet, dresser, shelf or wherever you keep your clothes. Sort it by type of clothing i.e. pants, t-shirts, dresses, suits etc. Now you can see everything you own. You can even go so far as to count each type of item and write it down so you can really get a sense of how much you have in each area.

Do you need this much clothing? Is there anything in there that you have never or very rarely worn? Why is this? Are there some well-worn pieces that are ready for the garbage bin? This step is just about seeing how much you have and what you wear or don’t wear.

Decluttering
Want to read more about decluttering your home?
Check out Wow! 300 Sec. or Less to Declutter your Home

CULL YOUR CLOSET
Now it’s time to get some boxes or garbage bags and start decluttering without mercy. If you’ve never or rarely worn it, it can be donated to someone who may love it. If it’s damaged or just too worn out to give then it goes in the trash.

Don’t be fooled into thinking you will wear that shirt/skirt/dress someday. If you haven’t worn it yet you won’t. If you’ve ever seen the show What Not to Wear you will know exactly how this should go.

One easy way to do it is to pick out the things you wear the most first. They get to stay. Then evaluate every other item in your wardrobe. Ask yourself why you are hanging onto it. Sometimes it is because it was a gift or it’s what you were wearing when you went to that job interview that landed you your dream job.

I’m sorry to say but clothing isn’t lucky and doesn’t have feelings. If your friend or relative cares about you they will understand if they don’t see you wearing the item they gave you; they probably won’t even notice. And no one will notice if you have only 4 pairs of jeans or 5 shirts.

ORGANIZE WHAT’S LEFT
Now it’s time to organize what you have. Hang as much as you can in a closet so you can see what you have. Many people use dressers or shelves and that’s fine but in the closet on hangers is much easier to see and sort through to put together outfits. Sort them however seems to make sense to you – by colour, by type, by outfit just make sure they are organized and not just hung up willy-nilly.

If your clothes end up on shelves or in drawers try to arrange them so you can see what is in each drawer. I’ve learned to fold t-shirts differently so I can put a stack in on its side – all visible. It’s much easier to find what you want this way.

A NEW WAY OF SHOPPING
Now for the next fun step – shopping. You don’t have to go out and buy new clothes just because you minimized and got rid of alot. But when you do need a new piece you need to think differently than you may have before.

You’re not just going out to buy whatever you can find that you like. Think of your colour palette and style. Only buy items that will mix and match with the other pieces you already have. This way you are getting multiple outfits out of every item you buy.

Don’t feel that you have to buy new either. I love shopping at thrift stores. It can be a bit trickier to find things in your size, colour palette, and style but keep looking. The perfect item will turn up eventually. I’ve found many quality, brand-name items at thrift shops over the years and they have lasted much better than many of the flimsy ‘fast fashion’ items sold in department stores.

The other thing I love about thrift shops is I find unique items. The racks aren’t full of identical items in multiple colours. Each item is unique and often something I haven’t seen on anyone I know. I often get compliments on these pieces and I love to tell people where I got it. There’s no worry they’ll go out and buy the same thing.

*Side note/confession – I must confess I do sometimes buy an item that doesn’t really go with anything I have because I’ve simply fallen in love with it. A couple of years ago I found a peasant skirt in a thrift store that I just had to have. I knew if I left it there it would disappear so I bought it. It took me 2 years but I finally found a top to go with it and I wore it to my daughter’s wedding. No system is perfect and sometimes we just can’t give something up or have to have something that defies logic. We’re only human, it’s okay.

Stress
Learn how to reduce stress with mindfulness
Being Mindful Keeps You Stress Free

So you see, simplifying your wardrobe is no small task, but it can be done. By taking stock of what you have, identifying your personal style, and selecting pieces that coordinate and make you feel good, you can create a stylish wardrobe that makes getting dressed a breeze. No more stressful mornings trying to find something to wear for work or anxiety over what to wear for a night out. Less stress is always a good thing!

Ready to get started? Try purging one article of clothing each day, and soon enough you’ll have a great closet to look at and easier to manage. Let us know how it goes in the comments below.