Parting with clothes isn't easy for everyone. For clothes collectors, it means parting with a real treasure with sentimental (whether good or bad memories) and financial value that is difficult, if not impossible, to diminish. That's why it's so important to take into account several factors, unique to each individual, when clearing out your closet. The idea of creating space in your dressing room or wardrobe should be part of a positive approach to developing it as a source of undeniable well-being in your daily life. Take a look at the best practices for getting started.
Set a personal, realistic and reassuring goal
Before you take everything out of your wardrobe and end up with piles of clothes heaped on your bed with no idea what to do with them, take the time to set yourself a realistic goal before you start the sorting session. First ask yourself: why do I suddenly want or need to declutter my wardrobe? Decluttering often coincides with a change in life: moving house, a new job, a change in body shape, a change of season, a change in love life, and so on.
Each change requires a different solution, and a different method. Some people will be comfortable with drastic sorting, while others will find it easier to do it gradually, planning intermediate stages so that they can succeed in decluttering with no regrets.
Vacuum storage: a good idea that actually isn’t one
Beware of this method! It's the easiest way to make yourself go shopping to fill your newly empty dressing room. If you need to declutter before changing jobs, you can identify a more specific and achievable objective. In reality, you'll need to adapt your everyday wardrobe to your new role (uniform, neutral colours, etc.).
The best way to meet your needs will be to give yourself a fitting session, to keep the pieces you feel comfortable in. Afterwards, all that will remain to be done will be to draw up a list of the items missing from your wardrobe. Once you've made your selection, you can schedule a sorting session at a later date to get rid of your surplus items for good.
See also: Slow fashion: extending the life of your clothes
So, what do I keep?
It doesn't have to be painful! The question of whether or not you've ever worn a particular item of clothing can lead to a lot of self-criticism (‘I'm a compulsive shopper’, ‘I don't know how to buy clothes’, bla bla bla...) – and then you're wracked with guilt. So, I recommend asking yourself the right questions. Once you've defined your goal, ask yourself if you need the clothes you have now in your current life, and what occasions you could wear them on. Do they still fit? These are questions that relate to your life as it is now. In this way, you can encourage yourself to make the right decisions.
When it comes to clothes that are irreplaceable souvenirs, dedicate a specific part of your dressing room (the part that is least visible in the morning) or a pretty trunk for keeping them. Treat yourself: this day is an opportunity to take a break from the present. Put some music on and relax!
What if I were to pass my clothes on...
Finally, the best way to avoid regretting giving up your clothes is to give them a second life. There are many ways to do this. You can donate to charities, sell on Vinted, Vestiaire Collective for luxury brand clothes, or even Gumtree, you can rent, swap, recycle... and in doing so, you’ll give yourself an enjoyable feeling of solidarity, imagination and creativity. With time, and by making sorting out a part of your daily routine, you'll come to realise the benefits of a sensible closet that combines comfort and simplicity. It's really all up to you!