How to Declutter your Wardrobe Successfully

Fashion21 Comments

It’s come to that time of year where we’re beginning to buy our summer clothes (YAY) and a declutter is much needed. I would say I’m a highly organised person and I like my wardrobe to be the same, so I tend to sort out my wardrobe a minimum of two to three times a year, in order to discard any clothing I don’t wear or don’t like (if my style has evolved) and make way for new season buys. Important as after all, shopping is my favourite hobby.

Here are some of my top tips for decluttering:

When did I wear it last?

This is important. I’ve had a few pieces of clothing stay in my wardrobe for almost 5 years because it fits, but I would never in a million years wear it. What’s the point? It’s taking up valuable space and if it’s not your style anymore, why keep it?

If you wore it a week or month ago, then keep the item. But if not, I think you know the answer… Get rid of anything you have doubts about because if you haven’t worn it in months, realistically when are you going to wear it?

Where will I wear it?

In your wardrobe you need a balance between day-to-day casualwear, workwear and formal occasionwear, but if the clothing doesn’t fit into any of these categories, when will you wear it?

If it does come under one of these categories, how much use do you get out of it on a weekly basis? Does it fit your style? Does it suit your dress code for work/school/college? If you begin to question this, throw it and give it to a charity shop or sell it (e.g. depop) – other people will get more use out of it than you.

Does it still look good?

I am guilty of ignoring this. Sometimes I love items of clothing too much and over-use them, resulting in them going bobbley after a long period of time. I, for one, can hold my hands up and say it’s not a good look – I’ve been there and got the t-shirt. I know how hard it is to part with a piece of clothing you wear consistently, but if it’s lost its shape or colour and looks ‘old’, it’s time to go.

Do I still feel comfortable in it?

Never ever leave the house feeling uncomfortable. It’s a rule.

You won’t feel good or look stylish if you’re worrying about how you look, how the fabric is irritating your skin, or how your feet are hurting in your shoes. Get rid of anything that bothers you in the slightest because you will never feel comfortable if you feel that your clothes are too baggy, too tight or too revealing. It’s time to toss those items aside and shop for some new clothes.

What else does it match?

This is an important one. There’s no point in having clothes sitting in your wardrobe that don’t match with anything else – they’ll never get worn. If the piece of clothing doesn’t match anything, there’s no reason to keep it. You’re not going to change your entire wardrobe just because of one or two items…

If it doesn’t fit, will I tailor it?

If the answer is a “no”, the likelihood is you don’t want it strongly enough to keep it in your wardrobe. If it doesn’t fit you, get rid of it. There’s not much point in keeping something that doesn’t suit you or make you feel comfortable.

Following these simple questions makes it easy to see what you need and what you don’t. It’s surprising how refreshed you feel after a good declutter. You can make room for new clothes that you will wear and can mix and match – that’s the key to a great capsule wardrobe (the same goes for all seasonal wardrobes).

Get your summer wardrobe ready!

With love,

Victoria

x

21 thoughts on “How to Declutter your Wardrobe Successfully”

  1. You listed some great points. This is one of my goals for this Summer after I do some shopping. I need to get rid of a lot of old clothes that look too worn or that I’ve never worn and never will. I’ll have to stop those impulse buys

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  2. You make some good points. Don’t think Ive got any clothes I haven’t worn. But some I have worn so infrequently keeping them maybe isn’t justified. I’ve just discover the vacuum bags for storage of winter woolies and duvets, so now have more room to store stuff. But I do have a plan to declutter an actual chest of drawers, (the furniture)now I have streamlined my wardrobe.

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    1. Thank you! I used to be a terrible clothes hoarder, but now I’ve finally learned! Vacuum bags are amazing! I use those for my winter clothes as well – it’s unbelievable how much they help to free up space in my loft. Good luck with the furniture decluttering! X

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  4. My old clothes tend to be donated to a charity shop or if not in very good condition I put them in one of those clothing collection bins which are sometimes sited at supermarkets or recycling centres. Old cotton T shirts get turned into dusters or cleaning cloths.
    I have read about people who have designer clothes they don’t want selling them to upmarket second hand clothes retailers.

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    1. Mine too, we have a few charity shops on our high street which I tend to distribute equally so the money goes to various places in need ☺️ I tend to just make old looking pieces into something else myself that I’d use, like a duster or a tye/dye pyjama top because it allows my creative juices flow hahaha! I’ve never heard of an ‘upmarket second hand shop’, that’s interesting X

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  8. Hey
    Thank you for taking the time to step on over to Love Relaished Ink. It’s wonderful to have your whimsical soul as a new companion on my long and winding road.
    From what I have seen of your blog so far, I’ve no doubt you are already finding writing a totally engaging and personally fulfilling experience. I hope the pleasurable company of words will always flow and follow you as you flow following the flow of your flowing path flowing into the wide blue yonder, and flow onwards towards the adventures that follow the flow beyond that…
    Best wishes. Take care always in all ways for always.
    Namaste

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