While many New Year’s resolutions generally don’t last past February, here’s one resolution you can make that will have a lasting impact on your wardrobe, your wallet, and possibly your sanity—clean out your closet. As a self-confessed clothes hoarder, I have way too many articles of clothing that simply hang at the back of my closet all year. But to usher in 2012, I have decided to purge myself of all those clothes that I simply don’t need, and here’s why:
Get rid of the clutter: The more clothes you own, the greater the chances that your closet appear messy and cluttered. While some Duke dorm rooms are equipped with walk-in closets that would please any fashionista, most of us are not so lucky, and instead are stuck with small closets that have only a single rod and little space for excess. Therefore, it is so easy to overstuff your closet, which in turn can lead to an untidy and disorganized black hole of clothes that makes it impossible to find that specific shirt you want to wear out tonight. Thus, by removing the clothes that you have no memory of ever wearing, you free up space and will likely have a much easier time locating your favorite items.
You can see what you actually need: In general, I don’t really discriminate when it comes to shopping. However, I often end up buying a lot of the same things (most of which I don’t really need) and other significant gaps in my wardrobe. By cleaning out all of the clothes that you don’t actually need, you can see clearly which key pieces you are missing. That way, you’ll know what you actually need the next time you go shopping, and you can refrain from buying that shirt that you just have to have (but don’t).
Make money: Cleaning out your closet can actually make you a few bucks richer. Once you’ve compiled all of the clothes you want to get rid of, pack ‘em up, and bring them to a consignment store. Consignment stores will sell your used clothes at a reduced price, and once the clothes sell, you get a cut of the profits. Pay attention to the specific policies and small print at each individual store, but in general consignment stores are a great way to make a little extra cash when you’re looking to dump all those old clothes.
Photo source: http://www.36broadway.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/img_3571.jpg