How To Pare Down Your Wardrobe

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We've all been there. You open the door to find a closet full of clothes staring out at you. You stand and survey your options for the day ahead. Ten minutes later you roll your eyes, slam the door, and pull your favorite outfit out of the dirty laundry - the same one you've worn it the past three days straight. It's fine! You're not going to see any of the same people four days in a row! 

 I've found that one of the best ways to solve the "nothing-to-wear" conundrum is to narrow down my options so that I have fewer clothes that all coordinate well. Then, I figure out what pieces I need to add to my closet in order to help tie everything together for easy outfit choices. The first step is to separate your clothes into the "yays" and the "nays."  So how do you go about sorting what to keep and want to let go? 

Recently, my friend Stacy asked for some help with her wardrobe, so last weekend we did some serious closet purging. We went piece by piece through her closet and talked through these simple questions:

1. Do you like it?

How many of us have an item (or two, or three) we don't like but have kept for years because it was a gift, or it was really expensive, or your great aunt told you it looked pretty on you? People, if you don't like something, don't keep it. Don't let a piece of clothing take up valuable real estate in your closet if you are never going to wear it. That being said, if the sentimental value of a garment outweighs the closet space you loose by keeping it, hang on to it.

2. Does it fit?
If something you own is two small, it's usually time to say goodbye. However, most clothes can be easily tailored to fit if they are too large. If you have a piece of clothing that is too big, decide if it is worth keeping, and then take it to your local tailor for some alterations. Skirts, dresses, jackets, and jeans are fairly easy to take in or hem, and alterations typically cost less than buying something new.

3. Do you have something to wear with it?

That sparkly sequence top and those sky-high stilettos may be fun, but if you don't have anything else in your closet that works with them, sometimes it's best to just let them go. If you decide you love that sparkly top too much to see it leave, than figure out what you might need to add to your closet to make it wearable for you.

4. Is it past its prime?

I have a few rules for getting rid of clothes that are just plain worn out:

• Pilling - if a sweater or shirt is covered in those little tiny matted-up balls, trash it. No reason to be wearing something that looks like a hand-me-down. (I have nothing against hand-me-downs - as long as they still look fresh, I'm a fan!) 
• Holes - some holes are easily repaired when they are along a seam. However, if the garment isn't worth repairing, into the trash bag it goes.
• Deodorant Stains - Gross! If you've tried to get them out and they still won't budge, get rid of that shirt- especially if it's a simple white tee. A silk shirt is probably worth trying to save, but a white tee is easily and inexpensively replaced.
• Stains or Discoloring - Sometimes no matter what you do, that pesky little stain just won't come out! If that's the case, its time to replace.

After going through her entire closet, Stacy and I came up with a list of a few simple pieces she could  purchase to provide more outfit options this fall. Stay tuned to find out what Stacy decided to add to her wardrobe!