I'm not sure who asked, but there was a question about how I decided what to chuck in my wardrobe. Bearing in mind that my goal was to seriously winnow out things, this is what I did.
I looked at each item and...
- Tried to picture it on me. If I couldn't visualize it, out it went.
- If I immediately thought, "Oh, X would love this," I put it in a gift pile to give to her.
- Remembered the last time I wore it and how I felt. If it had been even the slightest bit annoying, bye.
But! There are other rules for closet purging, like evaluating fit and condition. I would do these first. Mine was pretty nitpicky, because I'd already done all of the below.
- If it doesn't fit right, and can't be tailored/you won't ever tailor it...
- If it's in iffy shape and it can't be repaired/you won't ever repair it...
- If it seems old or dated to you...
- There's a detail about it that bugs you...
- You've reached for it, tried it, and put it back *several times* recently...
- You've *never* reached for it and it isn't a "special occasion" (party, wedding, event, interview, funeral etc.) item...
- It's the wrong color for you...
- It was a gift and you're keeping it out out guilt...
- It was expensive and you're keeping it out of guilt...
- It isn't a useful underpinning...
- It doesn't make you feel fab - but might make someone else's day...
- It in any way hurts, pinches, squeezes, or itches you...
CHUCK IT!
You can make holding bins for things you are hesitating on, if parting is too sweet sorrow for you. Then you can go through in a few months and see if you were wrong about anything and ditch everything else.
You can do a "Tonja Loan," which I mentioned in another post. This is named for a friend of mine from college. Basically, you give an item to a friend with the caveat that if you ever really need it, she has to give it back. (Trust me, you will never want it back.)
You can do a clothing swap with friends, with anything that isn't claimed going to a worthy charity. I will warn you now that non-vintage concert t-shirts seldom move at these events unless someone is making an ironic quilt or painting their house.
You can also take pictures of things. This sometimes helps for things that take up space, but you feel an attachment to for sentimental reasons. A picture takes up a lot less room and has the same feeling. A picture of you IN the item from when you actually rocked it is even better.
Hope this helps... if I think of more, will post.
Anyone else have useful tips?
