9 Ways to Simplify Your Wardrobe
Are you among the 93% of people who look at their closet on a consistent basis and feel like they have nothing to wear but are actually drowning in a sea of unused, cheap, and/or last season's clothes? (Don't search for that study...I just made it up).
Me too. Until I got serious about simplifying said ocean. I'm in the process of organizing, simplifying and otherwise chopping at my clothes and it's an amazing feeling.
While I will NEVER claim to be a fashion blogger or have any expertise in that realm, I do have a love for simplicity and I also like to look nice from time to time. If you've been following me for a few months, you've read about my first venture with capsule wardrobes. I'm getting ready to plan my Winter capsule and I can't wait to share it with you all! You also know how much more free I feel and, here's the best part, I ALWAYS know I have something to wear that I A.) will love and B.) will look good in.
BUT there are lots of ways to simplify your closet that don't include capsule wardrobes and I want to share a few of those ways with you all, my fellow lovers of simplicity.
First, though, why simplify in the first place?
I'm a huge believer in freeing yourself up to soak in all that life has to offer. Spending 30 minutes in your closet trying to decide what to wear is robbing you of time you could be spending else where (in clothes you didn't have to meditate over and still look great in).
Plus, clutter isn't fun. It stresses me out.
So here are 9 ways to simplify your wardrobe:
- Get rid of pieces you haven't worn in over a year. This is kind of the "gold standard" for getting rid of your clothes. If you haven't worn it in a year, then you probably never will. Donate it or sell it so someone else can make good use of it.
- Get rid of duplicates. No Olivia, you don't need 4 white t-shirts and 3 red and blue flannels. As I went through my clothes, I was amazed at how many things I had that were essentially exactly the same with a few tweaks. I talked myself into buying them because I liked how each one fit or I thought a certain flannel would look better with a certain pair of jeans....but why not just buy the one that fits best in the first place and save myself the $$ and closet space?
- Get rid of pieces that don't fit your lifestyle. This one can be hard. Until a few months ago, I still had dresses from weddings I was in and high school dances and college "parties" that in all honesty, I never wore again. Obviously, this will differ for each person, but my lifestyle is mostly jeans and t-shirts or easy dresses (on a good day) and yoga pants and the hubby's shirts on all of the rest. If you rarely dress up it doesn't make sense to have 10 different formal dresses.
- Define your style. Creating a capsule wardrobe was HUGE for me in discovering my style. Previously, I would see things that I liked in stores but never really wore them when it came to my day to day life. This isn't to say never branch out or be adventurous with your clothes, but if you're trying to simplify, make your purchases count.
- Make a list when you shop. Without a list I am nothing. Take an inventory (I know, such a fun word) of what you need and go buy it- but not everything else in the store along with it.
- Have a place for everything. This is the one I'm currently struggling the most with. My closet is a contruction zone at present and half of my clothes are upstairs in our guest room and the other half are in our bedroom. Once our office/closet is finished though, I swear on pain of death that everything will be in its place.
- Shop online. Does anyone else find this much easier than going to stores? I find that when I shop online, I spend less and don't buy things that I don't need.
- Buy pieces that can multitask. Once you've defined your style you can buy things that fit within that style and they'll automatically go well with the clothes you already have. Buy things that can be worn multiple different ways (ie. that beloved flannel, or a jean jacket) that way you can mix it up and not get bored.
- Buy things you LOVE not just like. Another key ingredient to a simple closet is being in love with you clothes, not just in like with them. If you don't get excited to wear it, throw it out. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.