10 Reasons You’re Holding On To Clothing
I clean out at least one new wardrobe a week, and after years of doing this, I’ve noticed that the reason clients hold onto things longer than necessary is not because they don’t having time, or don’t know what to keep.
Because I’m exceptionally gifted at cutting through the clutter, b.s. and lapses of judgement in style – I’m here to shed some light on why you might be struggling to remove some things from your wardrobe and how you can work your way around it.
It's still got the tags on it.
It’s been sitting in there for a year, or maybe you got it on sale but it’s still not been worn. You might have been intending to return it but never got around to it or you might be unhappy idea you’ve wasted money and just to make a point to yourself you’ve decided to keep it because you’ll wear it ONE DAY - right?
THE FIX:
TRIAL IT: Try the item on as part of a full outfit. The full-outfit part is important. I want you to see it in it’s intended way, not with your pj pants and slippers, or half an outfit of gym gear - make an outfit. If it doesn’t go with anything, it’s time to sell it.
FEEL IT: If you just don’t feel good in it, maybe it’s the fabric on your skin, the cut or the colour - sell it and try to make a note of what it is you don’t like about it so next time you don’t make that mistake again.
FIT IT: If it’s just fit issue that can be solved with a simple alteration - consider if the additional investment is worth it and if so, put it in your car or by the door so you can visit a tailor next time you go out.
LEARN FROM IT: Even if you spent good money on that item, it wasn’t a total waste if it helped you work out what you don’t like, it’s gotten you closer to finding your style!
It was expensive.
We’ve all been in the situation where we’ve spent a little bit too much on an item, rarely worn it but can’t bear the thought of donating it or throwing it away because of how much we spent on it. Well consider this, wardrobe space (especially city wardrobe space) is expensive, filling up your wardrobe with things that don’t make you feel fabulous is not only taking up that valuable space – but contributing to the mental clutter you have to sift through of a morning to get dressed.
THE FIX:
SELL IT: Try selling the item on Facebook or Depop, or donate it to the Salvation Army or Dressed For Success.
REMIND YOURSELF: The price of the garment holds no value if you’re not getting anything from it. I want you to set a reminder on your calendar for six months from now, if you’ve not worn it by then - it’s time to let it go and let someone else get value from it.
It was a gift or bridesmaids dress.
Another frilly over-the-top scarf? Or a cast-off from your mother-in-law that for some reason she didn’t want but thought you would like? Everyone has gifted clothing they don’t wear because it’s really tough to get clothing gifts right.
THE FIX:
PHOTOGRAPH THEM: If you don’t want to keep the item and have not been asked about it by the gifter but fear you might; have a friend take some photos of you wearing that item. Have these photos on your phone for the odd occasion when the person who gave it to you asks if you’ve worn it recently.
DONATE: If you really hate the item and you’re still holding onto it – donate it. Someone else might love it and if the giftee asks, which is rare - promise, say you have enjoyed using it but you’re changing your style and wanted someone else to get use out of it.
SENTIMENTAL: If you don’t wear the item but you’re holding onto it because it’s sentimental, of course - keep it! But store it outside of your wardrobe. Your wardrobe is only for clothes you wear.
It fitted you when you were another size.
I remember keeping a pair of khaki coloured jeans in a size 7 for the day I thought I might miraculously lose my hip bones and be a size 7 again. Let’s all laugh about that for a moment because this booty isn’t fitting into anything in a size 7. I kept these jeans for about 4 years, from when I was a teenager with little hips to when I was a semi-adult with thighs, a bum and hips bigger than any other area of my body. While it may have seemed like a motivator to lose weight, it only reminded me that I wasn’t skinny enough. Mix these thoughts with working in the fashion industry and you start having some very unhealthy thoughts.
Don’t let your daily style routine involve a self-induced body shaming session. Banish the things that don’t fit and embrace your curves; they’re pretty damn fabulous.
THE FIX:
FIT NOW: You don’t need a daily reminder you’re not a certain weight. Aim to dress to feel good now. There’s nothing wrong with having fitness goals and looking good while you work towards them.
It’s sentimental.
You don’t need to throw away your wedding dress, your grandmother’s cardigan or your mother's denim jacket. You just don’t need to store them in the space you use every single day. If you don’t plan to wear these items in the near future, don’t store them in your everyday closet.
THE FIX:
STORE THEM: Find a cool and dry spot under your bed or in another part of your home that you can store these items and make a little extra room in your wardrobe. Storing them with your regular clothing will only create more of a treat for moths, silverfish and other nasty little closet critters.
It’s considered a core item.
Repeat after me, ‘the core wardrobe is not the same for everyone’. You don’t have to have the little black dress or the black blazer, you don’t always need jeans or a white cotton shirt. You need some basics that are plain, but your basics will be different to the next persons. Don’t hold on to an item just because it’s considered a basic when you’re not wearing it. Remember what I said about wardrobe space being expensive? Don’t waste it!
THE FIX:
DONATE: Just because you haven’t gotten use out of it, doesn’t mean someone else won’t.
MAKE A NOTE: You’re not wearing this specific piece, because it’s not your style. But what is your style? Consider making a pinterest board of looks you love to help you narrow that down.
It’s a formal item that everyone has seen you in too many times.
The dress is gorgeous, but you’ve worn it to every damn formal event for the last 3 years and now people just expect you to wear it and you’re thinking that they’re going to think ‘that dress again!’. It’s time you stop buying formal dresses and start renting them. GlamCorner and Your Closet can sort you out Australia wide.
It might come back in fashion.
Yes, fashion is a revolving door, but you want to be able to shut your closet doors. And holding onto an item because it might come back in fashion is like holding onto the size 7 jeans that just won’t fit. Sure one day, they might. It’s possible, but if the item does come back into fashion – remember that fashion is built on trends. Trends often last 3-6 months. Are you holding onto an item for years in case you might wear it for a few days over 3-6 months? That’s nonsense.
THE FIX:
FOCUS ON STYLE: Wardrobes can become chaotic with too many trend pieces, instead of buying trend items or waiting for something to come back in fashion, focus instead on your style. Your style has nothing to do with trends. Your style is simply what you gravitate towards most, that you feel most comfortable in.
Join The Closet Clean Out!
Get step-by-step instructions, worksheets and videos to help you edit your wardrobe, the same way I teach my clients.
You don’t have any items to match with it yet.
We’ve all purchased items with good intentions to wear them and realised we have maybe one item at home to go with it. If you’ve got something that you feel really fantastic in, but you don’t have anything to go with it – you should keep it BUT commit to making it work.
THE FIX:
BASICS: Get yourself at least three basics to go with it. This could be plain pants, a jacket, a top, plain items you can wear with it and style in different ways.
GET PINNING! Pinterest is a gold mine for items we don’t know how to wear. Try to describe the item to yourself and type that into pinterest, with the word outfits after it. For example: navy skirt outfits. Lots of ideas will come up to help you play with your wardrobe.
It needs to be altered or repaired.
We all put off going to the tailors, but if it’s worth the investment so you’ll wear the item then hop to it. Put the items in a bag by the door and drop them off on your next trip out. No excuses! If you still haven’t done it within the month, donate them. It’s clear you don’t need them.
Now that you’ve got this great list of excuses and ways to turn them into a nice neat wardrobe, jump into your wardrobe and start editing. If you still need help, join my DIY Closet Clean Out Course. It’s designed for people like yourself with cluttered wardrobes they’re struggling to edit!