Open your closet. If it’s brimming with unworn cardigans, too-small short-shorts, cringe-worthy accessories (Did I really buy a fedora in this shade of yellow?) and bedazzled high-tops, it might be time for a closet purge. The pre-college closet purge is an ingenious method to get rid of the useless, unworn stuff that’s been cluttering your closet for months (or even years).
Whether you’re about to start your first year of college or your last, it’s a good idea to start the purge by going through each item in your closet and asking yourself these questions:
Have I worn it?
When was the last time I wore it?
Is it too big/too small?
Have I worn it too often (is it falling apart)?
Then, label three large plastic storage bins “Keep,” “Donate” and “Ditch.” After this, you’re ready to start cleaning out your closet! Follow my step-by-step guide on what to throw in these bins while cleansing your wardrobe!
TOPS
T-Shirts and camis
T-shirts and camis are such essential wardrobe items that many of us might find dozens of them crammed into our drawers. The best solution to this problem is to stick to the basics.
Keep: a few gym shirts, neutral v-necks and camis, one or two graphic, embellished or patterned tees
Donate: unworn t-shirts from college visits, old high school spirit week shirts that you’ve just discovered wedged between your jeans
Ditch: that white t-shirt that has gone noticeably yellow at the armpits
Blouses and button-downs
Whether you’re giving a presentation in management or —, these tops always seem to be the favorite among Bucknell collegiattes. However popular, it’s also a little excessive to own five different styles of the same top.
Keep: jean button-downs, chambray tops, silk or linen blouses that you can pair with skirts for interviews
Donate: blouses whose buttons have been MIA for several years and that linen button down your great-aunt bought you in that weird shade of pink three birthdays ago
Ditch: that one blouse that you accidentally spilled ketchup on during last year’s Fourth of July barbeque. A big splotch of red in the center of a white linen top doesn’t exactly scream ‘pop of color.’
Sweatshirts and sweaters
You can never have too many sweatshirts or sweaters, right? Wrong! Sweatshirts are often so bulky that one too many may take away from valuable closet space. Take this opportunity to reconsider your decision to buy twelve different colors of the same cardigan.
Keep: a few school sweatshirts, one old, inexpensive sweatshirt (for a fall and winter fracket!), loose fitting and neutral cardigans and knit sweaters
Donate: lightly used sweatshirts that you haven’t worn since high school (for example, your JV tennis team sweatshirt or your 8th grade ‘Class of 2008’ sweatshirt), tired sweaters that have faded or stretched with age
Ditch: your ex-boyfriend’s/ex-hookup’s sweatshirt. It’s not worth holding onto even if it was a mutual breakup; allow yourself and your wardrobe to move on!
Jackets
Jackets can easily take over your closet, so try to minimize space by maximizing how you use them.
Keep: the essential seasonal jackets (parka, Barbour, light-weight zip up), a formal jacket (like a linen blazer or leather jacket), and a jean jacket
Donate: lightly used winter coats. Check out onewarmcoat.org to organize a coat drive with your friends during the holidays!
Ditch: your North Face fleece that you’ve had since 1999. It might be comfy, but it also might be so worn that it doesn’t block the October gusts of wind!
BOTTOMS
Shorts and skirts
Although jean cutoffs will almost always be in style, other shorts and skirts trends might not be. That is why it’s essential to clean out your shorts and skirts drawer at the end of the summer.
Keep: a few pairs of gym shorts/running shorts, jean and printed shorts, an eyelet print skirt and a striped or neutral maxi skirt
Donate: your Abercrombie short-shorts from high school, faded or shrunken pinstriped shorts, and your calf-length skirt with that strange floral pattern running up the middle
Ditch: that DIY tie-dye jean cutoffs experiment that went horribly wrong. Pinterest seemed to do it better
Jeans
Fashion trends may come and go but a classic pair of jeans is forever. Although it might be difficult to pick and choose which jeans have to go, in the end you’ll be thankful for the extra space!
Keep: a pair of dark-wash jeans, a pair of light-wash boyfriend jeans, a pair of skinny jeans and a pair of patterned jeans
Donate: your jeans that have become so baggy and stretched out that they have to be belted, jeans that have faded with age or a pair that you haven’t even worn!
Ditch: that pair of jeans that have unintentional holes in the knees
Yoga pants and leggings
Bucknell girls are notoriously devout Lulu Lemon-wearers. However, when the weather gets cold, you might find yourself overstocking up on pairs of spandex pants and SoLows, which might be the cause of your jammed exercise apparel drawer.
Keep: 1 pair of yoga pants, 2 pairs of lounge pants and a few extra pairs of leggings (they don’t take up too much space)s
Donate: pants that simply don’t fit or your hot pink bedazzled Juicy tracksuit from 7th grade
Ditch: leggings that have become so worn that they have holes in the seams. Sometimes too much lounging can be a bad thing!
DRESSES
It seems as though Bucknell girls can never have enough dresses in their closets, which is why it’s important to own a variety of different dresses for different occasions.
Keep: formal dresses (they may come in handy some day!), sundresses, a maxi dress and a bodycon dress.
Donate: your homecoming dress from ninth grade, your cotton sundress that has pilled with age, that one lace frock that makes you look more like a cupcake than a collegiatte.
Ditch: anything with broken zippers or rips. While tailoring is always an option, it can be expensive and it might not be worth repairing your dress from 7th grade.
SHOES
Sometimes it seems as though it’s nearly impossible to organize your collection of shoes. The best thing to do in this situation is to question the comfort and purpose of the shoe (and, of course, how often you wear them!). If your pair of oxfords gives you painful blisters, they might belong in the Donate or Ditch bin.
Keep: winter boots, riding boots, leather booties, sneakers, flip-flops, neutral sandals, pumps or wedges and slippers
Donate: stained Uggs and Moon Boots that you thought were cool in 7th grade
Ditch: Faded or ripped boots, broken flip-flops or a pair of bunny slippers with holes in the toes
UNDERGARMENTS
Finally, it’s important to address what’s under the dress! It’s important to treat yourself to a trip to Victoria’s Secret every year; underwear and bras easily stretch out with use, and this can show when you put on an outfit!
Keep: neutral panties and bras, an adhesive bra, a strapless bra, ankle socks and wool socks for winter
Donate: your training bra or your neon yellow bedazzled underwear or pairs of socks you haven’t worn for three Christmases
Ditch: everything else! There’s no use in having old, ragged underwear and socks cluttering your closet.
After your closet purge, you might find that a few extra t-shirts, sweatshirts or jeans haven’t made it into a specific bin. The best thing to do is create a ‘Maybe’ drawer or bin in your closet for these items. If you don’t wear them by the time you go to school, it’s probably a good idea to ditch or donate them. Who knows, maybe when you’re finally done cleansing your closet, it’ll look like this!
Hey, a girl can dream.