How To Clear Your Wardrobe and Shop With Intention
I’m feeling like a bit of a fraud, because usually when editors and stylists talk about wardrobe clear-outs, they’re also promoting the benefits of a capsule wardrobe. In case you aren’t aware, capsule wardrobes are built on the premise that you fill your wardrobe with a set amount of items and pair them all back with each other. These usually consist of basics such as a white shirt, jeans, blazers, trench coats, sneakers, boots and fairly simple separates such as tees and knits. You don’t usually see a lot of prints or colours, nor is there much reference to current trends — for the most part, a capsule wardrobe means investing in classic items that will stand the test of time in terms of quality and style.
While undoubtedly a clever way to shop and dress, I’m not really on board with the entire idea and would feel disingenuous promoting it. Sure, having lovely items in your wardrobe that you wear forever is of course the end goal for most people, but sticking to a uniform-style wardrobe is also quite boring and uninspiring to me. As much as I may want to wear a shirt, jeans and a trench coat some days, I don’t want to look that way every day. I like and appreciate seasonal trends which show new iterations of those classic wardrobe items — give me a white shirt, but why not add a puff sleeve? — so I could never commit to wearing one style of outfit forever.
Which brings me to this post, which is exploring the notion of decluttering and also adding to your wardrobe. I’ve been going through my own wardrobe recently and have realised a few things I knew I had to share — firstly, the way you store and keep your clothing and accessories matters (a lot!), and secondly, it’s ok to not have a “signature style”.
That’s me next to my bulging wardrobe. I tackle it twice a year.
These past few years have undoubtedly changed the way I shop, and as I get older I am more considered about all my purchases. This past winter I bought less items than I ever have, and recycled the same few knits, jeans and jackets over and over again as I wasn’t feeling inspired. This was great for a range of reasons, but I can’t say I loved the way I looked and the outfits I was putting together. On the flip side, I’m really not on board with constant shopping and social media “hauls”, either. The idea of mindless spending and shopping gives me the ick, just quietly.
So, I’m hoping, if you’re reading this, that you feel a little like me and want to streamline your clothing and accessories without turning into a bonafide minimalist. I’m guessing you like shopping, whilst keeping budget, environment and longevity in mind, and don’t plan on giving up the joy that comes with a new purchase or feeling good in a particular item. It’s ok to love shopping and care about what you buy. It’s fine to mix and match styles and be classic, minimal and influenced by trends all at once. Basically, you do you!
Right, so that was a long way to introduce my tips on how to declutter and streamline your wardrobe! As it’s the beginning of spring, there’s never been a better time to give yourself a more purposeful wardrobe and shopping strategy for the future. Here’s what I swear by when diving in…
Decluttering takes time and can’t be half-arsed.
I recommend tackling your wardrobe in stages so you aren’t left with a huge mess to deal with in a short amount of time. Start by item-type, for example, shoes first, and work your way to clothing at the end as this is usually the biggest job.
Use this time to not only get rid of some items, but also deep-clean.
When I started with my shoes I had cleaning wipes, my Dyson and an old rag on hand. Also keep a bunch of garbage bags or storage tubs handy to sort things into categories, namely KEEP, DONATE and SELL. Here’s a fantastic resource on recycling and where to go.
If necessary, keep a wash/fix pile on hand for things you’d like to hold onto but have seen better days.
I put 3 pairs of shoes and a handbag into the wash when decluttering recently, and they’ve all come back good as new. This is my favourite laundry wash to use as the eucalyptus really helps with dust mite allergies. And yes, you can wash most leather things in the washing machine, it’s a little known secret that works a treat.
Be as ruthless as you want to be.
As I mentioned above, I don’t believe you need to only own a handful of items in order to be an intentional shopper. You can keep items because they have sentimental value, or because you love looking at them, or simply because they mean something to you. This is ok! I would, however, suggest being more ruthless with things that are broken beyond repair, or have served their time — i.e. that you once loved but will no longer wear. What you keep really does depend a lot on how much space you have, so try to be realistic, especially if you know you’ll be replacing items with new purchases.
If you can’t commit to getting rid of things but know you won’t be wearing them in the near-future, invest in some vacuum bags and store them out of sight.
I’ll speak from experience here and say do not bother scrimping on the quality — higher-end storage bags are just better, trust me.
If mould is an issue, stock up on moisture absorbing tubs and hangers, pronto.
Keep them in all sections of your wardrobe — shoes, bags and clothes — and keep mould and that rancid musty-smell at bay. A good way to ensure you don’t have this problem is by always storing clothes and shoes away when they are 100% dry — dampness leads to mould and smell — and having enough air flow around your items (i.e. not a jam-packed wardrobe).
Have a selling plan.
I’ve recently been reacquainted with eBay and have found great success in repurposing old items on there, while some friends swear by consignment stores and websites such as Depop and Poshmark to sell easily. Circular fashion really is the future so don’t ever think your old wares aren’t worthy to sell, they almost always are.
Treat your clothes, shoes and accessories with care.
Take the time to invest in proper hangers — flocked, thin ones for shirts and dresses, and thicker timber ones for coats and suits — and wash, store and repair accordingly. Let’s face it, washing is pretty easy, but it’s the folding and ironing and putting away that sucks, so have a strategy in place to make things easier. I hang shirts and tops on hangers when drying outside, as this smooths out wrinkles naturally, and only ever use the delicate cycle on our dryer. Steamers are a handy item to have if you hate ironing (me!), and this is the one we used on photo shoots. Small swaps make a huge difference to the longevity of your pieces, so take the time to launder and put away properly.
Once you’re done editing and storing, take note of what gaps you now have to fill in your wardrobe.
Start typing in the Notes section of your phone and make an ongoing list of items to look out for when shopping. This will eliminate panic buys and keep you on track to shop with purpose. Knowing that you need a white T-shirt and not a printed kaftan will be a godsend for the future, trust me.
Try and do a wardrobe clear-out twice a year.
Each time you tackle it the task should get easier and easier, and you should be left with a concise edit of pieces you love and wear regularly. It’s a commitment, but a worthwhile one.
