Enough is enough
When you have too much stuff dressing up just isn't fun anymore
It’s time
What I’ve learnt over time is that whether it’s fast fashion, high street, high-end or luxury goods too much is too much. There reached a time when I had to say no to buying, not because of finances, but space! I couldn’t enjoy what I had because I had too much and couldn’t even see a third of my clothing because it had to be tucked away. Whilst I’m still working on a physical solution what it did show me is that I couldn’t keep adding to what I already had.
Quality vs Quantity
I’ve been through the inevitable process of wanting better for myself and that meant switching out a lot of my pieces for better quality items or just getting rid of different pieces altogether. So now I’m in a pickle because everything has been “upgraded” and so that can no longer be my metric to purge my wardrobe but where do we go from here. I’m sure I’ve quoted Marie Kondo before but again
No matter how wonderful things used to be, we cannot live in the past and Keep only things that speak to your heart. Then take the plunge and discard all the rest.”
So nevertheless, even some high-quality or high-ticket items still need to go if it’s their time and below are some practical ways you can get into the habit of using.
Deciding factors you can use
If it’s time to declutter and get rid of pieces these are some thoughts that have helped me and points to consider:
The item doesn’t fit - Not in the way you may assume. But if an item is too small it’s easy to accept it’s time to let it go but an item can also be too big. Oversized pieces will always be a vibe but if you feel frumpy or not your best self them it may be time to let it go
Items with bad memories - It could be a break-up, an argument, a moment you received not-so-great news, a bad interview, the list goes on. For me, clothes have associations and sometimes it’s best to remove that cycle from the roster if you constantly avoid it or remember things when you see it
It’s no longer your style - Self-explanatory and of course things do come back into style and may trend again but if you know for you, you no longer feel comfortable or yourself wearing a piece then let it go
Someone can wear it better - I love giving clothes away, especially to family or friends if I have a piece that I’ve enjoyed but see that it may look or suit someone better I’ll happily pass it on. Not only do I get joy from passing it on, but it’s always top-tier when I see them rocking the hell out of it.
You have multiples of the same piece - Black blazer, white T-shirt, jeans etc. If I start accumulating similar pieces I’ll naturally create favourites and the others just won’t get worn as much. The caveat to this is some pieces form my uniform so yes I need an extra pair or similar piece. Excluding this, it’s best to keep duplicates to a minimum.
Your wardrobe/space makes you uneasy - You feel overwhelmed looking at your wardrobe or you don’t feel calm in your space. Personally, I declutter and purge quite frequently and it always feels like a weight off my shoulders. Being able to clearly see what you have and navigate it too will make you enjoy your wardrobe so much more.
Once is (usually) enough
Usually doing a huge clearout will suffice and then you can maintain it with mini clearouts or rearrangements throughout the year. if you have clothes stored in different spaces don’t forget these either! An awareness of what and how much you have will make shopping and outfit planning so much easier and is the next step to maximising your wardrobe. With all the points above and the information you have remember to take it and make it yours.
🔎 My latest uploads - Pieces that I’ve picked up that are working overtime