I don’t know about you, but I am sooooo ready for spring! A telltale sign of spring for me is when I start getting the itch to clean and clear things out, which is likely why it’s called ‘Spring Cleaning’.
Spring is a great time to go through your closet and weed a few pieces out. This is good for a few reasons:
Move along pieces that you have not worn for a while, creating space
Get rid of the guilty feelings every time you look at those items and know you aren’t wearing them
Make room for ONLY pieces you love and that make you feel amazing
I read a book called ‘The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up’ by Marie Kondo. She talks about how to simplify your home by only keeping items you love. I admittedly have not done this on my entire home, however did do it with my closet. Here is what happened!
Start by taking EVERYTHING out of your closet, any stored bins, laundry...get any article of clothing into one space. It will look like chaos, but trust me, stick with it and the end result will be glorious!
Pile them by category...so tee's together, dresses together, etc. Once they are piled, start with your t-shirts. One by one hold each item and determine if you LOVE it or not. Do you feel amazing every time you wear it? If not, put it in the donate pile. Continue this with each category and each item.
This will take a while and if you are anything like me you will be ready to pull the plug in the middle of the disaster, but keep going. It's worth it in the end once you have a closet where things hang nicely and there's space.
After I finished this process I felt so fresh and excited about my wardrobe again. It was so much easier to see what was there and I knew whatever I reached for, I would feel great in.
Next question, what do you do with all the clothes that are still in good condition? I am a huge fan of re-purposing clothing and making sure we consider the environment when planning our closets (which starts with buying less and only pieces you love). Here are some suggestions of what to do with those pieces that no longer work for your wardrobe:
Take your clothes to a consignment store like: Red Pony, Vespucci, Plato's Closet, etc
Drop off at Goodwill or Salvation Army
If they just need a quick fix, go to your local seamstress or tailor
Have a grad dress? Bring to Cinderella's Closet
As with anything we go through, there are always learnings. I had to face off with the items in my closet that weren't my style, but I kept trying to force on myself. I had to come to terms with a few items that just didn't fit me well, like jeans. I have now found a style I feel amazing in, so can now move along those that don't work for my body shape. In doing that, I have become WAY more picky about what comes into my closet. I am constantly evaluating the pieces I don't wear (yes, there are pieces that stayed that I am still not wearing) and moving them along to someone who will love them.
If you need some help determining what to keep and what to get rid of, I can help! Book a complimentary consult with me and we can talk about how I can help you know what items you should keep and what you should move on.
Happy Cleaning!
XO
~Shelby