How to Clean Out Your Closet

“The joy of dressing is an art. ”

— John Galliano

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Are your closets overflowing with clothing that you never wear? Have you gone through the motions of seasonal clean-outs, but find yourself still drowning in clothes and accessories?

Last week we talked about decision fatigue and some different ways that we can eliminate the number of decisions that we make each day. This week, I’m taking my own advice and cleaning out my closet. I thought it might be fun to have you all join me by providing a “behind the scenes” look at my closet clean-out method. In this post, I share a straightforward process for cleaning out your closet.

I have gotten in the habit of cleaning out my closets at least twice a year and it usually corresponds with the seasons. I’ll clean it out once in the spring, when the weather is getting warmer here in Waco, and once in the late fall, when the weather is getting cooler. Doing this in the late fall also helps me to make room in my closet for any birthday or Christmas gifts I might receive (or purchase for myself!).

The overarching goal is to create a closet that brings you joy when you open it (or walk into it) each morning. Now think about that for a minute. What does a joy-inducing closet look like for you? For me, it means that:

1.       My clothes are nicely displayed in a way that I can see each item and access it easily.

2.       I know that each item fits perfectly.

3.       I love to wear each item.

4.       Each item is purposeful, and I’m not bombarded with too many choices when I open the door.

I’ve had some iteration of a capsule wardrobe for the past 5 years. The idea is that you curate a closet of high quality, great fitting clothes that can mix and match. Now, even if you’re not interested in limiting yourself to a 10-item wardrobe, I hope that you’ll stick around because I believe these closet clean-out tips will be helpful whether you intend to hang on to 10 items or 100 items. However, did you know that a capsule wardrobe could possibly help you achieve a better work-life balance?

At first glance, it may seem like your wardrobe is completely unrelated to your work-life balance. But if you think about it, time is one of our most valuable resources. How much time do you spend choosing the perfect outfit for work each morning? What about time spent shopping? Washing or taking those clothes to the dry cleaners? Having a capsule wardrobe can eliminate a lot of the time spent on these activities. It also guarantees that you LOVE everything in your closet!

Further, think about how many decisions you make each morning when getting dressed. We learned last week that we are only capable of making so many decisions before we start to see the effects of decision fatigue. If you missed that episode, I highly recommend going back and listening to it. Think of it as extra motivation to clean out your closet! Why in the world would you want to waste your precious cognitive energy on something so simple as getting dressed in the morning?

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So, let’s jump into the 4-step process. Now, just to be clear, I did not make up this 4-step process. I actually learned it from Audrey Coyne who has a fabulous YouTube channel, Audrey á la mode, devoted to elegant and sustainable style. I really encourage you to check her out. I’ve taken the steps I’ve learned from her and elaborated to show you how I’ve actually implemented each one in my life.

1. Take Everything Out

Yes, you heard that correctly. Like your mother used to say, it only gets worse before it gets better. In true Marie Kondo style, the first step is to take everything out of your closet. Now, I’m not a huge fan of making a giant mess. I also tend to start something and then get distracted, which means that I’ve found myself with all of my clothes out on my bed at the end of the day and without any time or energy left to devote to my cleaning adventures. Thus, I highly suggest that you take everything out in groups. For example, you decide that you are going to clean out your shoe collection in the next 2 hours. So, you would pull out all of your shoes, not every last thing in your closet. Then once you’re done with the shoes you can move on to the dresses, handbags, blouses, scarves, etc. This will allow you to tackle the task one group at a time and prevent you from feeling too overwhelmed by the mess inevitably associated with pulling everything out.

2. Try It On

The second step is to try on each item. As you’re trying things on, you want to ask yourself some questions (and be completely honest with yourself).

1.       Does this fit me well?

2.       Do I love the way I look in this?

3.       Have I worn this in the last few months?

4.       If I didn’t already own this, would I buy it?

Like I said, you need to be honest with yourself. Don’t try to talk yourself into something just because you think you “should” like it or because you spent money on it 3 years ago. Also, as women, our bodies change during different seasons in life. If you’re anything like me, you might come across an item that you LOVED in a different season of life (e.g., pre-pregnancy) but that just doesn’t fit or flatter you now. Don’t beat yourself up over this. I repeat – DO NOT ENGAGE IN NEGATIVE SELF-TALK. Instead, accept that it doesn’t suit you in this current life stage and move on.

3. Place Each Item in the Appropriate Pile

As you are trying items on, you will want to separate each item into the appropriate pile. I like to create four piles:

1.       Definitely Yes – Current Season

The Definitely Yes – Current Season pile can be put back into your closet as you go. These are the items that you love. The items that flatter you. The ones that bring you joy and get you excited to get dressed each morning. Importantly, they are also the items appropriate for the current season. By eliminating any off-season clothing from our immediate view we are minimizing the “choices” that we see each morning.

2.       Definitely Yes – Off-Season

The Definitely Yes – Off-Season pile needs to be washed and/or dry-cleaned so that you can store them properly and then they will be ready to wear when you need them. Since this is springtime, my pile for this category will include my cashmere sweaters, my blazers, and my trench coat. Since many of these items require dry-cleaning, I will take them before I store them away so that I won’t have to worry about it when the weather gets cooler. Instead, I’ll just be ready to jump into pumpkin spice season! These items should be stored out of your immediate view in your closet, as they just create unnecessary choices to consider each morning when they are left with your other clothes. Put them in another closet, on a different rack, or in a plastic tub that slides under your bed – wherever you can store them so that they are not distracting. A side bonus of this? When it comes time to bust out these clothes, it will almost be like shopping your own closet!

3.       Definitely No

The Definitely No pile is for all the items that are worn-out, torn, tattered, and ill-fitting. This pile is also for the items that you don’t absolutely love. Seriously, life is too short to wear clothes that we don’t like. You can donate these items to Goodwill or Salvation Army. However, if they’re really worn out and you can’t imagine someone ever wanting to buy/wear it you can also just toss them. Put this on your calendar and follow through with taking them to the donation place. It never feels good to see a bag of unwanted clothes gathering dust in our closets (speaking from experience here). Get that stuff outta there!

4.       Maybe

Finally, we come to our Maybe pile. This pile is probably the hardest one for most women. This pile is often made up of the items that we have questions around. Will I ever want to wear this? Can I really pull this off? Will I be able to lose the weight to squeeze into it again? I have found that the best way to deal with these items is to pack them up and put them out of sight. Give yourself a month or two to see if you ever go digging for a specific item. If you do pull something out, add it back into your closet because you obviously like it and wear it. Set a deadline for yourself and anything that you didn’t grab before the deadline gets donated!

A note on weight loss and “goal clothing”: It’s a great thing to be motivated to fit back into that little black dress. However, think about how it makes you feel each time you see clothes hanging in your closet that you know are too small and don’t fit. If we’re anything alike, it doesn’t feel good. In fact, a simple quick glance of a dress that’s too small can immediately make me feel fat and frumpy; not the way I like to start my day. Much like the off-season clothes, I like to store any “goal clothing” out of sight. Then every month or two I can pull it out and try it on but I’m not being reminded each day when I open the closet that I’ve put on weight.

4. Create a Wish List

Now, some of you may have been more extreme in letting go of things than others. Regardless, you are likely going to find some holes in your wardrobe after getting rid of so many things. One thing I’ve learned from Audrey Coyne, who has an amazing YouTube channel dedicated to a minimal and sustainable approach to fashion, is to keep a running “Wish List”. By doing so, you can ensure that you’re not filling your closet aimlessly with items because they were on-sale. Instead, you are purposefully curating a wardrobe that you love. For example, as I’ve gone through my closet this week I’ve noticed that I only have 2 sundresses; a kelly green one and a royal blue one. Being inspired by the sundresses I keep seeing pop up on Instagram and the flowers blooming here in Waco, I have added a “Romantic Floral or Pastel Sundress” to my wish list. I love the idea of keeping a running list of items. It allows me to have guidance when shopping. It also helps me see what I need to be saving money for, especially if I want to invest in any designer pieces.

And that’s it! Those are the four steps to cleaning out your closet. But before you go, I have a few more things to mention. I want to talk about not just cleaning out our closets but making them as beautiful as possible. I mean, this is the Elegant Balance blog, and we love things to be both simple and beautiful, right?!

I believe that beautiful spaces can bring joy. Now, we may not all be blessed with Pinterest-worthy walk-in closets, but there are steps you can take to enhance the beauty of your closet.

1.       Store your accessories (e.g., belts, scarves) and undergarments (e.g., bras, undies, socks) in cute matching totes. These help keep things organized, contained, and are aesthetically pleasing. 

2.       Splurge on some matching hangers. Your closet will look so much more beautiful if everything is hanging on the same type of hanger. It provides consistency throughout the closet and just looks prettier! A few years ago, I finally upgraded from random dry-cleaner wire hangers to pink plastic ones. However, this week I’ve purchased some beautiful pastel pink velvet ones. This upgrade will have a big impact on the overall look of your closet and doesn’t cost that much – especially if you’ve embraced the capsule wardrobe!

3.       Display your shoes, hats, and handbags. Make the effort to display these items in a way that both looks nice and also allows you to see your options each day. For example, I have a small shoe rack that I arrange my shoes on so that I can see my full collection.

4.       If you have a dresser or any type of drawers that you store clothes in, consider using a scented sachet. This will keep the clothes in your drawers smelling fresh. It also feels so luxurious to pull out a simple white t-shirt that smells like lavender.

5.       Finally, just think about your closet as your own personal boutique shop and have fun with it!

If you follow these tips, I guarantee that you will feel less overwhelmed every time you get dressed. On the contrary, it will become something that you enjoy doing each morning. Further, you will end up saving time (no more trying on 5 outfits to find one that fits), energy (no more sifting through pieces that you don’t love), and money (no more aimlessly buying pieces that don’t have a place in your wardrobe); each of which are important resources we need to juggle all that work and life throw at us!

Some of my favorite resources for capsule wardrobes, elegance, and style:

Audrey Coyne

• Audrey a la mode (YouTube Channel)

Tonya Leigh

• The School of Self-Image (blog, podcast, and membership)

Jennifer Scott

• The Ten-Item Wardrobe (video)

• Lessons from Madame Chic - 20 Stylish Secrets I Learned while Living in Paris (book)

Is a better work-life balance one of your goals this year?

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If you’re interested in creating a work-life balance characterized by simplicity, joy, and beauty, why don’t you start by checking out my Elegant Balance Workbook? In it, I help you define what work-life balance looks like for you and share some tips on creating that balance. I’ve said it before, and I’ll keep saying it – Balance doesn’t happen by accident.

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