Maybe it's that 'back-to-school' mentality, but it seems like there is a lot of buzz across style blogs about streamlining and culling your wardrobe - but in very specific terms. Mostly via Recovering Shopaholic, which is one of my very favorite blogs.

So this last week of July, I tried an exercise and wound up doing a massive closet purge. I have written more about this on my blog, but the short version is this: I have culled at least 50 items out of my closet... pulled everything together, one category at a time, (similar to what I did for Marie Kondo), and asked myself two questions:

1. I started with my inventory spreadsheet (I use Excel) and I asked myself, What would I take from this list, if I had to relocate someplace for a year and store the rest?


I created a new spreadsheet based on this question. I didn't set limits or anything, I simply asked myself, What are my favorites that I would hate to lose for a year?

2. I pulled everything together, physically, by category, so I could eyeball what I had, and I tried on everything that didn't make the original cut, and took photos.

I also took photos of some things that did make the original cut, but that were similar duplicates of other things (I have a lot of black sweaters and tops, for example).

I am still very surprised at how effective this was, for trimming out a lot of excess 'white noise'. I tend to be very emotional and reluctant to purge items, past a certain point.

I am loving the extra space I have gained in my closet(s) and packing and getting dressed in the morning has become a LOT easier.

I'm always looking for new insights. What is working for you, when it comes to getting rid of excess, unnecessary clothing?