Last week, we wrote about the importance of a thorough closet edit before hitting the shops for a fresh injection of spring pieces. We wrote, “Keep what you love, wear often, and feel great wearing. Get rid of pieces that don’t work for your shape, you don’t feel good in, or haven’t worn in years (and, let’s face it, you probably never will).”
Sounds simple enough, right? But in our experience, the task is harder than it seems. It’s common for someone to love or dislike 20% of their clothes, with 80% falling into the category of “maybe”: I want to keep this but I don’t know why. These “maybe” clothes can take up precious space in your closet for years, even decades (gasp)!
So let’s example this “maybe” pile further, and get to the root of why you’re holding on to your stuff. Here are four types of pieces people have a hard time letting go of – but once you do, we promise you won’t miss them at all!
- Sentimental items such as bridesmaid dresses, campy reindeer jumpers that your mother gave you for Christmas, the costume your friends made you wear during your stag. Studies support the theory that photographs of sentimental items can preserve the memories tied to them. In other words, that poofy bridesmaid dress from your sister’s wedding? A photo of it is enough to invoke the memories it represents! Donate.
- Pieces that need to go to the tailor / dry cleaner, but never make it there. The sleeves you need take up, the pants that need hemming, the shoes that need to be re-soled, the blouse with the armpit stain. Make a commitment today: either it gets fixed TODAY, or give it away.
- The big one: guilt items. Guilt for spending so much of your hard-earned money on clothes you don’t wear, or even like! But, consider another perspective. Everytime you look at that guilt piece, you’re continuing to pay for it, not with money, but with unnecessary negative energy and your precious time. It’s time to let it go and move on!
- Another big one: fear items. Maybe you fear that if you let something go, you won’t have anything to wear, and you’ll have to spend even more money buying stuff down the road. For these items, ask yourselves these questions: Would I buy this today? Will I wear this in the next 3-6 months (or ever)? And, for those who have read The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, as Marie Kondo would say, “does it spark joy”?
We understand it’s hard to part with our stuff, especially with clothes that have so much built-in subtext. If you can get rid of the above pieces, you’ll free up so much more space in your closet – and in your mind. The paradox of having less clothes, but loving and using everything, is that we end up feeling more abundant.
LA CLOSETTE believes the most successful style transformations begin in your closet. Contact us so we can help you!