Avoid Stuffication: 7 Ways to Tame your Wardrobe

For most folks it’s hard to let go. Sure, letting go is not something everyone is cut out to excel, especially with a closetful of old coveted items. It makes sense that simplifying can be tricky. To master it, you first have to be willing to fight the physical and emotional battles that come with it. Instead of justifying the junk in your wardrobe, get pumped up by managing a plan of attack. Here’s how.

1.          Purge and ask yourself “Does it spark joy”

First things first: Purge by category like Marie Kondo. She’s the Beyoncé of purging. Her advice?  “Don’t just open up your closet and decide after a cursory glance that everything in it gives you a thrill,” Kondo writes. “You must take each outfit in your hand.”

Does it spark joy? Seems to set the bar too high for certain cherished items but it’s a good way to make peace with letting go.

2.         Divide into 3 piles

Blogger Caroline Rector of Unfancy isn’t afraid to whittle her closet to strips.  One of her wardrobe commandments after purging is to sift through the keep, toss, and maybe piles and ask yourself, if undecided:

–       Have I worn this for the last 12 months

–       Does it still fit me well?

–       Does it reflect my personality?

If you’re still unsure, invite a few friends over to go shopping at your house.

3.            Donate/sell

Simply put: if you have a good pair of jeans you no longer wear, why not pass on that energy to someone else? Donate or sell, you not only cut down clutter but save time to mind for important decisions later.

4.           Experiment with numbers

Courtney Carver takes minimalism to the next level. Try her three- month Tiny Closet Challenge. 33 items. That’s it, any versatile pieces you deem the most important. If that sounds extreme limit to 100 pieces instead. You may learn you don’t need as much as you think anyway.

5.         Think of Meat and Potatoes

Michael Kors’ mantra is “70 percent of the clothes you own should be meat and potatoes. 30 percent should be icing and fluff – that’s colour, pattern, shine, and accessories.” That is, when clothes shopping look for 70 percent of outfits (jeans, dress, tops, etc.,) first then the colorful luring deals of the remaining 30 percent (fun scarf, sparkly shoes,etc.,) which can be accessories that could help complement the 70 percent purchases.

6.         Identify your dominant season

Another golden rule is to identify your dominant season, meaning that if you live in a sunny state like Florida make sure your purchases reflect that climate and not thought of a brutal winter up north.

7.         Personalize your style

The worst thing that could happen to anyone at a party is showing up dressed the same as others. Avoid the perils of local shops and widen your horizons buying online. All you have to do is find one that connects with you, searching for signature looks either through Instagram or Pinterest boards. I’m sure you’ll find plenty.  

Remember, it all comes down to shopping. Buy only if it makes you feel like superwoman.