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I just moved into a new home, and moving is an excellent time to purge your closet of some clothing. You’ve probably let dozens of items stay in your wardrobe for years, all because you just didn’t have to deal with them. But now, you do. Are they going to take up precious real estate in one of your boxes and then in your new closets/dressers at the new home? Or, while they’re in your hand, right now, will they go in the “donate” bag? When you’re moving, you’re forced to make a decision about some of those items you’ve always felt so-so about. Which is a good thing, but never very easy.
Even if you aren’t moving, maybe you’d like to reduce and minimize. You have too much stuff. A cluttered home can cause what feels like a cluttered mind. And you may have some things you never use, that are just taking up space that things you love could have, and that somebody, somewhere, would be thrilled to receive. Your wardrobe is important, though. It’s not superficial. It’s about expressing who you are through your aesthetic. It’s about boosting your confidence and making you feel happy. Your wardrobe is an extension of who you are, which is why you feel such a buzz when you bring home that new perfect item, and why you feel so sad when you can’t find that one long-beloved piece. It’s all a part of you. So deciding what stays and what goes is tough.
I had to come up with a system to decide what I keep and what I donate, because packing and moving was taking too damn long without said system. So I compiled some questions that I ask myself when deciding whether or not to take or donate an item of clothing. Hopefully they can help you, too.
How often do you wear it?
How many times a year do you wear this thing? Even if you tell yourself, “This item is sort of blah,” but you realize you wear it almost every week, you may want to hang onto it. Maybe it isn’t spectacular, but it’s one of those pieces that ties other spectacular items together. It just goes with a lot, and you feel at home in it. But…if you can say you wore something once this year…or less that once…it’s probably time to get rid of it. Unless…
