Budget Wardrobe Building: Clean Out That Closet!

Hopefully I have already convinced you of the importance of wardrobe building rather than collecting; now let's get down to business! The first step to building a wardrobe on a budget is to clean out the closet (to see the other steps, in list form, look here).  Do not skip this step, no matter how anxious you are to get planning and shopping! A closet purged of useless clutter is absolutely essential to a highly functioning wardrobe. To make today's task as painless and straightforward as possible, keep in mind a clear goal -  to get rid of any items that are of no use to you (read, they don't make you look and feel great).

Grab a beverage and head to the closet. If it isn't large and well lit, pull out items belonging to the current season (warm or cold) and put them on the bed. Go through the items adding them to one of four piles: KEEP, MAYBE, STORAGE, and GOODBYE (i.e. donate, consign, or trash).Let me give you a few guidelines to help you in the discernment process:

Add an item to the keep pile only if it fits, the color works for you, and you feel good in it.

Say goodbye if an item is worn out and cannot be fixed. Check pant hems and cuffs for fraying. Look for spots, pilling, fading, and stains (don't forget those armpit areas).

Say goodbye to any items that you just do not like (it sounds obvious, but you might be surprised).

If you love the color and fit, but still don't ever wear an item, ask yourself why. Is it because you don't have pants that work with it, or is it because it just feels too [insert any number of adjectives here]? Ask yourself if [that adjective] could be played down, or if it's a lost cause. For example, a dress has some frilly detailing around the neckline, and you aren't into frills. BUT, the dress fits in a flattering way and is obviously very high quality.  Could you throw a no-nonsense blazer over it and feel like yourself? You be the judge. If after some such grueling soul searching, you still don't know, put it in the maybe pile.

Put any items in the maybe pile that could have real potential with a little tweaking. For example, would you love that sweater if the buttons weren't so cheesy? Would you wear that skirt if it flattered your figure a bit more? Maybe it would if the hem hit an inch above the knee instead of right across it. Would that dress be in regular rotation if you weren't constantly worried about a wardrobe malfunction? Some fixes are not complicated or expensive. Take your item to a good seamstress and just ask what can be done (and for how much).

Beware of keeping items because you have a preconceived notion that no wardrobe is complete without X. If you haven't worn it in the last year, you probably don't need it in your wardrobe.

Beware of keeping an item simply because you may need it. If you haven't worn it in the last year, you probably don't need it. I used to be guilty of this; I was on such a tight budget during college that I was scared to get rid of anything. After awhile, the drawers were so packed and overflowing with stuff "I may need someday" that my wardrobe was not functioning. I kept up a steady rotation of the same few items that worked and missed out on some other great ones that were tucked in amidst a bunch of losers.

Put any keepers you aren't currently using into storage. For example, don't waste precious space on sweaters during the summer, or on maternity clothes if you're back to you pre-pregnancy size. While you're at it, remove anything from your drawers and clothing shelves that is not clothing. It's so easy to start using those nooks and crannies for other purposes ("husband will never find his birthday gift now!"); resist!

Now, by this point, everything should be in one of four piles. Go through the maybe pile one last time. Still not sure if this or that item looks great on you? Try it on and take a picture. A friend of mine suggested this practice to me, and it really is about as honest as it gets!

Don't worry if there isn't much in the keep pile. The items that are going weren't doing you any favors and you probably weren't wearing them (or shouldn't have been wearing them!) anyway. There is a tried and true wardrobe system that proposes eight pieces (!) plus shoes and accessories are enough for any given wardrobe (i.e. work, personal casual, etc). It sounds radical, but I guarantee you that you will dress more creatively (it's a paradox, I know), with greater ease, and with a better finished product - a super stylish you! So, get cleaning, ladies! Next week we'll talk about organizing what remains, and  taking stock of needs and wants.