Ok – so I know this isn’t exactly ‘medical’ or even health related – but then, it seems that staying sane in a ridiculously insane world counts a little bit, right? Here’s the back story: I’ve been in a little bit of a rut lately and lots of chaos is happening in my life. The second edition of my book is getting closer to completion, I’m doing a kitchen remodel (god save me), my car is wheezing it’s last breaths and forcing me to compare cars online (I’d rather eat all the dirt in my garden.) In short, life is happening and the only thing that’s predictable is the unpredictability.
One of my dearest friends was telling me about a friend of hers who hired a style consultant to go through their closet and streamline and how much it’s made her life easier. A style consultant would be a ridiculous extravagance in my life right now, but cleaning out the closet sounded like the perfect thing! Honestly I wasn’t expecting much, but it’s a great thing that I could do and still feel productive, even though I was obviously avoiding the 20 things I should have been doing at that time. As it turns out it was TOTALLY worth it.
Here’s what I did:
- Set aside my absolutely can’t-live-without favorites and if anything needs mending or attention put it on a pile of things that need to have something done to them (i.e. button sewn back on, hem repaired, etc…)
- Try on the different pieces in your closet and look at yourself in them with new eyes. Then ask these questions:
- Does it flatter your body shape? If no, then put it in the goodwill pile. No matter how fabulous or expensive or wonderful it is, if it doesn’t suit you then it has to go.
- Is it comfortable to wear? If it isn’t then goodwill it! If you feel uncomfortable you also don’t look right. Just let it go.
- Do you always have to adjust it to make it stay in place? That’s the worst, most annoying thing ever. Goodwill!
- Have you worn it in the last year? If not, then chances are you’re not going to. Sure – probably you’ve got a cocktail dress or a tuxedo that might stay even though you haven’t worn it in a year, but if it’s just a shirt then goodwill it.
- Has it been waiting for a repair for ages? You know the thing in the back of your closet that needs a button? Yeah. Unless it’s a can’t-live-without then chuck it.
- Does it go with anything else in your closet? If you’re anything like me you have that adorable skirt that you’ve never worn because nothing really goes with it. Goodwill baby.
- Are you still waiting to squeeze back into it? Look – if it’s been more than 5 years since you’ve been that size then let it go. I’m not saying you won’t be that size again, but by the time you are you’re not going to want to wear that. I promise. Someone at goodwill needs it more than you.
- Do you have another one almost exactly like it? If you do then pick your favorite and ditch the other one.
- Is it the ‘guilt’ shirt? You know the one I mean – The one with the designer label that you bought on sale because it was on sale (but not really your style) and you’ve never worn it but occasionally you pull it out just to admire it? Um… Yeah. I had a couple of these and some lucky person at goodwill just got them this morning.
Now we start on the shoes:
- Do they pinch, rub, cause blisters, create foot aches or otherwise bite in some unpleasant way? Life is too damn short for that.
- Are they even your size? My feet have grown as an adult but I was hanging on to those expensive boots, just in case they decided to shrink again. It doesn’t seem to be happening.
- Have you worn them in a year? Sure – they were great at that fabulous party in 1992. So were lots of things.
- Do they match anything you own? I had the inexplicable green-grey pair. Totally great shoes that match absolutely nothing in my closet. Goodwill pile!
For me that got rid of probably a quarter of my clothing and shoes and also allowed me to rediscover some hidden treasures that were buried under things I never moved (how sad is that?) Now the hard part… Look at everything that’s left and for every 5 similar things take out your least favorite. So fore every 5 pairs of dark slacks, one of them should go. Likewise for every 5 blouses, every 5 tank tops, every 5 t-shirts, every 5 pairs of jeans. Seriously how many do you think you need? This part is harder, but SO worth it.
Now you’re left with pieces that fit you perfectly, look great, match other things and are comfortable to wear. Best of all, there is breathing room in your closet. Actual air space. This means your choices when you get up in the morning are so much more simple – everything is already fabulous, you just have to put it on. Every choice you make no matter how simple or small or meaningless (like picking out your outfit) adds a burden of stress to your day. The more of those choices you can make easier, the less stress you have to endure. Plus you can release all of the guilt you’ve been carrying for not wearing that thing you got on sale, or for not mending that button or whatever. Just let it go and move on with your newer, sleeker, more fabulous wardrobe.










