"Who could ever forget the [major life event] where I wore that [fill in the blank]?" "I'll try on these items again after I do Weight Watchers for three months...
" "But it's my [treasured piece of clothing]! I can't give this away...
" Any of these statements sound familiar? If you were able to fill in the blanks a little too easily, you just might be a closet case.
And you're not alone-most people wear 20% of their clothes 80% of the time.
It's time to hang up those habits and give your closet the complete overhaul it deserves.
Even if you love it, let it go.
Haven't worn an item in a year? Prepare to pitch it.
(The only exception should be still-stylish special occasion wear.
) If you must keep clothes that no longer fit "just in case," store them out of sight-that way, you'll be able to avoid the constant reminder that you're no longer the same size you once were.
I always use this litmus test: when you do get to your desired weight, will you still wear those clothes you can't bear to let go? Think about how much fun it would be to treat yourself to a brand-new wardrobe, and then get that Goodwill bag ready.
Take the test of time.
Not sure how often you do or don't wear something? Turn all of your hangers backwards, and then turn the hanger around once you've worn an item.
At the end of the season, take inventory of what you're actually wearing (or ignoring).
Tackle the task in chunks.
It's like training for a marathon and trying to run 26 miles during the first week-a complete closet overhaul takes time.
You'll have more luck taking on this daunting task by whittling down the workload.
Try on just five items per day, separating the items that will be donated or need dry cleaning/mending.
No doubt, it's hard to part with pricy items or clothes you've never worn, but console yourself with thoughts of the prime real estate you're freeing up in your closet.
Color your world.
By grouping items of like colors and prints, you can immediately see how much you have of each type and avoid buying duplicates or too many things in the same shade.
Must-Have Closet Tools: Slimline Hangers-one of my favorite triple threats! These maximize closet space, keep clothes from slipping off and don't damage clothing the way wire hangers do.
Basket-easy storage for items you no longer want.
Once it's full, take items to your local donation center.
Laundry Bag-great for gathering items that need mending or alterations until that trip to the tailor.
Hanging Jewelry Organizer-a one-stop shop for easily surveying everything you have; especially great for costume jewelry.
Clear Shoeboxes-perfect for protecting your out-of-season/special occasion shoes while keeping them in clear sight.
Handy Hint: What better incentive for de-cluttering than making moolah off the clothes and accessories you no longer want? Check out the Poshmark app for doing just that.