Okay let’s be honest, simplifying your wardrobe is a daunting task.
If you are like me and on a tight budget, you feel guilty about getting rid of clothing or items that are in good condition. Sure, you don’t wear 75% of them, but they hang in the closest giving you that feeling like you have so many options.
For me, the truth was I really only had a few things that I wore. In fact, my husband calls it my uniform. The reality was that as I got older, my body shifted and changed, and many of the items hanging starring me down each morning simply looked terrible on me. Or at least I didn’t feel comfortable in them. Too tight, too big, too low, too short, you get the point.
Having lived with a simplified wardrobe for a few seasons now, I can tell you it was worth the work it took to clean up. Now I look in my closet and feel a sense of peace knowing everything fits and looks good on me.
Let me also point out I am by no means fashionable. I love my comfy Momma clothes, and I am basically unashamed, HA!
So how did I start? I read several books on Minimalism, watched videos, and read blogs, and in the end decided to just do it my own way. So here ya go!
- Start with either the drawers or hanging items. I did not take out everything as some videos suggest, I was way too overwhelmed. I simply took a big pile of clothing like all the pants and threw them on the bed.
- One by one I went through each item forming three piles, keep, give, and maybe.
- Certain items I knew right away that I did not want to keep. The rest of them I actually put on and made an outfit out of each item. I sat down to see if they were too tight in the waist, lifted my arms up to make sure my skin wasn’t showing and bent over to see if I could actually move comfortably. Total confession, nothing really fit in the way I liked. You may feel a bit panicked seeing how much you don’t like, but don’t worry, you honestly did not wear those other clothes! Remember to keep anything you are really uncertain about and place in the maybe pile.
- Then you move to the next section of your closet. The key is to put the clothing on and see if you really like how you look and feel in each item.
- Finally, don’t get hung up on what to do with your GIANT give pile. Simply give it away to friends, a thrift store, or a local church. Just don’t keep it in your home! Your maybe pile, hopefully, that is small, should be put away in a bin in case you decide you do want one of those items. If it isn’t open in 12 months, simply give that away too.
