declutter wardrobe

How to declutter your wardrobe like a pro

For many, a new year means a ‘new you’. Without taking it too seriously, it might be a great moment to get rid of the old and invest in something new – or cherish what you have. Whatever your status is, decluttering your wardrobe is always a great idea. Wondering how? Find out the best tips below.
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Wardrobe decluttering

Marie Kondo has been a great hit for many years know – she has taught us to get rid of unnecessary things like no other. And while we’re not in favor of purchasing a new wardrobe each season or year (you know, there’s no planet B), decluttering is a way to get your life in order. Therefore, we’ve gathered six tips that will help you to declutter your wardrobe, leaving you with a clear mind and tidy closet.

Wardrobe decluttering tips

1. Decide your goal

How do you feel when you open your drawers or step insight your closet? According to Nathalie Jane from Be Organised, a deorganized wardrobe can cause stress and anxiety. Therefore, it’s a good idea to start acknowledging how the current state of your wardrobe makes you feel. After you’re aware of your state of mind, decide how you want your wardrobe to make you feel. Do you want to feel calm, cheerful or organized? It says a lot about how to reorganize everything. For example, calmness can be reached by ordening your clothes based on color or length, while cheerfulness is more likely to be evoked by putting your brightest or favorite clothes in the front.

Another goal could be creating a minimalist wardrobe. In that case, start writing down what a minimalist wardrobe means to you. What do you need for your daily life, job, parties or other events? By writing these necessities down before you start, you have something to stick to. It prevents you from keeping clothes you don’t need or won’t wear.

2. Gather every item you own

After you’ve set your goals, gather every piece of clothing you own. Yes, also those who have been laying in the basement for years. It makes you realize how much you own – and, often, how much you actually need. Many only wear about one third of the clothes they own. Does that also count for you? By finding our how much you own, you become aware of the items you truly cherish – making it easier to get rid of the things you don’t truly want or need.

Once you gathered everything, create different piles:

  1. Keep
  2. Sell
  3. Donate

After you’re divided everything over these three piles, double check your keep-pile. Perhaps there’s something you would like to sell or donate after all.

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3. Stay consistent while wardrobe decluttering

This may sound obvious, but once you’re decluttering your wardrobe it might be hard to stick to your initial plan. Therefore, point one is so important. According to Marie Kondo a.k.a. the KonMarie method, you should never store items you will use ‘one day’. That ‘one day’ will probably never take place. On top of this, why do you need items that may be useful one day? Preferable, stick to items which spark joy – see next tip.

4. Keep items that spark joy

Marie Kondo is well known for her sayings about ‘items that spark joy’. As cheesy as it may sound, she’s right. While clutter has the potential to make you feel stressed (see tip one), a tidy closet full of items that spark joy has the potential to make you feel great. Therefore, be selective when deciding what to throw away and what to keep.

5. Owning versus renting

While you’re busy doing your wardrobe decluttering, there’s another pivotal question you should ask yourself: what items should you own and what items could be rented? Do you really need more party dresses, for example? Should you buy more wedding-guest outfits or could they be lent or rented as well? By being more critical about your next purchases, your wardrobe decluttering will be a one-time investment.

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6. Invest in smart, trans-seasonal items

Investing in trans-seasonal clothes will keep your wardrobe tidy. These type of items show you don’t truly as different wardrobe for each season. Invest smart and buy from (sustainable) brands that last a lifetime.

Also read: The complete list of 2021 fashion week schedules, dates and other events

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