How to Clean Out Your Closet, Shop, and Other Junk . . .

How to Clean Out Your Closet, and Other Junk . . .

I’m heading to a different school next yr so I’m cleaning out my closet, and I’ve also outgrown stuff (Ha! 2 inches! Beat that!) I wrote this using a couple of sites as a bibliography and then decided to post it here just in case any one else is going through a major change or something and want to shake things up with their style.

1. For a week—keep a style journal: of what you wore, the clothing condition, how you styled your face & hair, events of the day, how people look & respond to you, any comment or compliments (not just your clothes, everything related to you), how you felt in the morning and when you came home, how did it wear through the day.
2. Start purging you closet. Take out ALL the clothes in your closet and dump in it a large space. Grab a couple of thick bags too. Be ready to be ruthless and hella patient.
o Keep: Look through your journal and put pieces you love, make you feel beautiful, fit, and stuff you always into this pile. Check at end of procedure that you didn’t mix anything up.
o Donate: Anything uncomfy, outgrown, don’t love, it don’t you, don’t wear a lot, anything that gets uncomfy throughout a day. Don’t donate ENTIRE wardrobe!! And note why you chucked anything at all and avoid next time go shopping.
o Ruined: Recycle into rags, or something with this pile—stained, ripped, worn out, falling apart
o Maybe: Still fit and you like something > Always. Haven’t worn in forever but you think you might goes into closet. If haven’t worn in 6 months goes to Donate, then what you did wear goes to Always. If you think will go back in style but don’t like at all > Donate. DIY it? Give 2 weeks > Donate/Always
3. Know thyself. o Research designers you love, ‘zines, celebs, catalogs, people you know that you like their style—focus on clothes, not on how it looks on the person’s body. Note elements, and silhouettes that you really like and modify it to fit you, your style, and lifestyle (avoid exact same thing.)
o Learn style NOT fashion.
o Create a scrapbook from looks you like.
o Find your style—what you like, and what catches your eye.
4. Check your wardrobe. After you purged it, check you have these things.

Seasonless
2 nice bottoms: Skirt, black/dark grey trousers
1 oxford
1 black dress shoes
lingerie: 1-3 camis/tanks AKA undershirts
1 sweats/yoga/sports outfit
2 PJs-for Winter & Summer
1 great everyday bag: tote/big
1 backpack/messenger bag
1-2 casual flats
2 sneakers—cute, exercise
1-2 dressy tops
1 clutch/evening bag

Spring/Summer
1 classic dress (don’t have to be LBD)—also seasonless
4-6 basic long tanktops
3 shorts
3 Capris
2 jackets
1-3 skirts
4 solid Ts
2-4 polos
4-10 summery shirts-Tank/T: v-neck, crewneck, scoopneck
1 nice Summer shoes
1 sundress
1-2 swimsuits

Summer/Fall
1 well cut S/F jacket

Fall/Winter
4-5 fitted jeans—1 can be trendy
4 solid shirts
2-4 sweaters/sweatshirts
(assuming you have an actual winter season)
1-2 winter coats—1 sporty, 1 nice
1 winter shoes/boots

5. Make a list of what you have now in wardrobe. List essentials need. OPT: Ask a makeup counter person what are your best shades (face shades good, also good clothing shades)
6. Shop
Avoid mass chain stores (Hollister, A&F, Aeropostale, American Eagle)—except for basics
o Avoid prints.
o Buy only things most necessary and truly love—know thyself
o Try outlets, thrift shops, stores never go to, friend’s closets—avoid the store you got 95% of your wardrobe from.
o Fit, Flatter, Finance
o “Go either very cheap or very expensive. It’s the middle ground that is fashion nowhere.”
o Don’t be a label whore. Look @ fabric, cut, quality
o Invest
o Buy what you like—not what you think you like, and try it on.
o Item pricey but like? Note, and go somewhere cheaper and find something identical.
o Avoid anything from previous mistakes, chucked items

7. Mix and match—ask for opinions, try modified outfits. Invite friends over for mix and match fest. Create a look book or write it down in a small notebook. Create foolproof outfits AKA uniforms when you don’t have time to think or look thru your look book. Balance out skin, and proportion.

8. Finish up Take care of shoes.
 Try out a new hairstyle every year.
 Make sure when doing makeup it has clean lines (including foundation.
 Smile, stand up, confident, don’t ask whether or not you look good because people are known to lie, if you don’t have confidence it doesn’t matter how hot the outfit looks.
 Avoid looking sloppy all the time no one cares if you slack off once or twice, and avoid flaunting your money.
 Respect others—even if they do follow the trends, and by dressing appropriately for the occasion.

9. Evolve! Make mistakes!  This is where the fun part begins. Since you have your foundation, you can add print and trends to it that you really love. Make a wishlist of what you really love and want from #3.
 You can also buy optional but good stuff that didn’t make the essential list such as—a hot, super nice pair of jeans; sandals; black opaque tights; slippers; cute rain boots; cozy hoodie; cozy bathrobe; and thermals.
 Buy 3 new tops and bottoms, and 2 new shoes each season to freshen it up.
 If you want to make a major change write what your current interests are and the clothes that are associated with them.
 Ease into your new style if you don’t want to seem like a poser. If you don’t care and wanna go over-the-top—do it!!!
 Ask for opinions from close family and friends because maybe your new style or clothes doesn’t quite match your personality or looks horrible on you—make them be brutal.
 Whatever you wear make sure it’s always comfortable and you feel great in it.

ah, I like that you posted this. I've been doing summer shopping, and will use this [excuding the capris, not my thing]. thanks.

This is really cool. I've been meaning to clean out my closet for awhile, and this will definitely help. Thanks for posting this!

I dont know if its just me but I'm not a fan of this "wardrobe essentials" thing...I don't own a whole bunch of that stuff and have never needed it.

Bleh. I dunno. I find things like this silly I guess. Just my opinion.

I dont see the point in throwing stuff out just because you "dont love it !" I bought a dress 2 years ago, thought it was cute, NEVER wore it until last week and NOW I love it. So I'm very glad I didn't through it out just becasue I didn't like it all that much.

Shrugs. I don't mean to offend anyone, i just thought if any one's going through a hard time shopping for a new wardrobe or anything that this might help (that is if anyone has the same crazy mind as me!)

I go through phases like the dress you learned to re-love. But you thought it was cute, right? So you still loved it--so it would be in the maybe section for when if you still like a element of the cloth and think you'll wear it within a year or whatever.

I do that sometimes - I keep stuff because I think its cute - then I realize, it doesn't suit me at all, and then I give it to court, because she's smaller.

the "essentials," as in the long tanks, basic tops, polos and such - that's what I wear, because I like layering and creating tonnes of different looks. I occaisionally pick up an obnoxiously bright print for fun. I like this list, because its a great way to keep track. :]

You didn't offend anyone, I was just expressing my opinion on it.

The way I work my clothes/wardrobe, I don't agree with it is all.

And the dress...well if I was working according to this, nah, I really disliked it. I saw it and thought it was cute and tried it on and was a bit "meeeeh..." but bought it anyway, kept trying it on, didnt work, didnt think it suited me but after 2 years, I did find a way to wear it.
But anyhoo, doesn't matter.

I'm sure it'se useful for some people.

We are all unique!

But all the "basics" here might not work for everyone. I, personally, take out stuff i know won't fit into my lifestyle or personal style (i hate heels, and i don't need clutch bag since i don't attend a lot of fancy stuff.)

You can always switch out a number or clothing item if you need to.

Haha yeh....are multiple pairs of flats in EVERY COLOUR essential? (the answer is yes indeedy they are - especially at £5/$10 a pair! tho they cut my foot today breaking them in...)

But yeh I think it's a good idea and stuff, I'm just difficult.

Also I found the best dress in my wardrobe! Which I got bought for me and I really liked it but was like "nyeeeh" about wearing and its this hideously garish, sort of pucci print inspired sundress...and I just rediscovered it and think I might wear it!
So thats...something I thought was ugly...and insanely printed...thats 2 rules broken im kidding. well it is but im just being annoying!

I DO like the idea of keeping a journal of outfits and stuff tho. I'm attempting and failing to do that cos my camera isnt in my bedroom atm and i forget when i get home. sigh.

Informative and helpful post. Thanks Shar

2-4 polos??? Why any? Just one sundress? Ack, I hate reading it when people write those essential thing every woman needs. Because she doesn't. Just buy things you will wear, and some things that go with them in neutral colors. Everyone has different needs. For example, I lived 22 years without owning a black dress. My mom was against them when I was little, when I was older I found them boring. I got one recently to wear to work (I work in a chain cafe) but it's not a party dress, it's for work. Just saying LBD is not essential to everyone.

Louisette wrote:

2-4 polos??? Why any? Just one sundress? Ack, I hate reading it when people write those essential thing every woman needs. Because she doesn't. Just buy things you will wear, and some things that go with them in neutral colors. Everyone has different needs. For example, I lived 22 years without owning a black dress. My mom was against them when I was little, when I was older I found them boring. I got one recently to wear to work (I work in a chain cafe) but it's not a party dress, it's for work. Just saying LBD is not essential to everyone.

I agree. I didn't own a black dress and then I bought one...cos it was like £7...and I've never worn it. And I have tonnes of sundresses! In various colours! I couldn't just choose one.

I need a lot of polos for school [fucking uniforms]. hell, a lot of that list is stuff I could use for school.

Exactly, everyone has different needs.

i ahve like 6 summer dresses now, and three formal gowns... i guess im not a fan of basics... lukcy for me my school uniform is school bought

Edit*
We are all unique!

But all the "basics" here might not work for everyone. I, personally, take out stuff i know won't fit into my lifestyle or personal style (i hate heels, and i don't need clutch bag since i don't attend a lot of fancy stuff.)

You can always switch out a number or clothing item if you need to.