Too Many Clothes?

Clothes. They are considered a necessity for survival. But what is one supposed to do when their collection of clothes spreads from the closet hangers, to the dresser, then the floor? What happens if someone has entirely too many clothes? I am going to give some pointers for solving this problem.

Disclaimer: I am no expert in the world of organization. These will solely be strategies that I personally use when downsizing my closet.

Stay or Go?

One great way to get rid of unwanted clothes is simply donating them, or using a resale service like Depop or ThreadUp. But this can be more of a process than just boxing up clothes and dropping them off. There is a moment of decision-making, of what to keep and what to give away. Everyone will have a different approach, but here is the process I use.

First. Section clothes out.

If they are hanging in the closet, start with just normal t-shirts, and continue from there. If clothes are nicely folded in a dresser drawers, take it one drawer at a time. This is a way to see everything, and be less overwhelmed by the process.

Second. Look and ask.

Do a quick look through, and take out items to be donated Ask these questions during this step.

• When was the last time I wore this?
• Does this still fit me?
• Am I ever going to wear this again?
• Is this outdated?

Of course every individual will have their own unique question set. Then start dividing clothes into a "stay" and "go" pile. Try and hold onto the clothing that is going to be worn multiple times, and that have a utilitarian purpose.

Third. Pack it up or put it back.

Start packing up the items that will be donated or resold, and try to make a run to the donation center as soon as possible.

Keep in mind that most donation centers have a standard of quality when it comes to clothing that comes into the centers. So make sure the clothes can actually be worn again, and refrain from donating incredibly dirty or torn clothes. Best to just throw those away or repurpose them as cleaning rags.

When putting back items that are being kept, arrange them in a way that makes sense. Maybe organize by causal or work clothes. Keep all tank tops, t-shirts, short, jeans, and dresses in the same area. Even divide the closet between work and causal clothes to find what to wear quicker.

Sensible Shopping

There is a tendency to overbuy nowadays. Shopping sprees and clothing hauls are on the rise. Showcasing the quantity of clothes purchased. One issues with this can be the amount of impulse buys, which can result in half of those items not being worn again. Which starts the "too many clothes" cycle all over again. Here are some ways to be sensible while shopping.

First. Is it cute or is it cheap?

Impulse buys are usually the case of getting an item purely on the price, and really no other reason. A way to prevent this action is to take a moment and think through the item. The number one question to as is: Am I ever going to wear this?

If the answer is no or maybe, best to just put it back on the shelf and move on. Buying clothes that will never be worn is just backtracking. Reducing impulse buys helps ensure that there is space and money for items that are going to be worn all the time.

Second. Less can be more.

Contrary to popular belief, when it comes to clothes and creating outfits, less is definitely more. Mixing and matching is a great way to find new outfits without having to buy an insane amount of items. Find tops that can be paired with jeans, skirts, and pants.

Having outfits that can be worn in different ways is beneficial too. Dressing up a plain shirt with a nice blazer or jacket can take it from casual to night out.

Accessorizing is a great way to liven up a drab outfit. Use belts to synch ill-fitting tops, and create division with dresses. Necklaces can be used to fill in negative space. Shoes bring the outfit together. Play around with tennis shoes, boots, and heels. Find the best combinations, and become a fashionista without overbuying.

Conclusion

Downsizing on clothes can be a complicated manner, and varies from person to person. At the end of the day, create a process that is most beneficial as an individual. Take the time to perfect this skill, and see how it can be applied to other areas in life.