The Simple and Lean Wardrobe: Purge Your Wardrobe Before the New Year
It hasn’t hit you yet, but you probably need to start thinking about 2018.
You might have some resolutions, some goals and maybe some plans too. Before looking too far ahead, let’s take a look at the present. The present state of the clothes you have, to be more exact.
A few months back I did this and it not only cleared out space in my closet but helped me streamline what I wear. When there’s less in front of you every morning, you typically make a decision faster.
Let’s walk through five steps you can take to remove unnecessary, under-used or worn down clothes and accessories.
1. The visual survey
Have you worn it in a year? Do you plan on wearing it? Are you even excited to wear it?
Look through all your clothes and answer those questions. We’ve all made clothing purchases that make sense at the time, but you never seem to find a solid reason to actually wear it. Time to part ways with it. It’s taking up space.
2. The try-on review
This is going to take some time, but it’s worth it to figure out what actually fits. It’s also a time to get real with yourself. Are you really going to lose the weight to fit back into that shirt or those pants? If so, that’s fantastic. Use it as motivation and make sure to keep trying those pants on until they fit again. If not, ditch ‘em.
Or maybe you’re in the other boat. You’ve lost some weight and that shirt is just too baggy. Awesome, toss it to the side and move on.
By trying everything on you can really get a sense if the fit is still how you like. Have you moved from a straight to slim fit in your pants? Or is the cuffed look not working as well in the winter? These are easy fixes you can take to your local tailor. A week later you’ve got better fitting pants.
3. The Gym Clothes Sniff Test
It’s hard to admit, but sometimes that perfect pair of workout shorts just can’t lose that rugged smell. You’ve tried every laundry detergent, but it just doesn’t stop lingering. The sweat-wicking workout apparel is a finicky product. While it does an amazing job of pulling sweat away from your body, it also can trap that sweat in the fibers of the material. Over time that can build up and retains that aroma no matter how hard they’re washed.
Instructions: Sniff. If rank. Toss it. Then find some new gear. The Nike Training collection has a some solid upgrade pieces this winter.
4. Sneaker and Loafer Audit
You’re in the middle of boots season, so it’s the perfect time to take stock of the state of your sneakers and loafers.
How beat up are those Vans or Stan Smiths you’ve got? Are they good after a good clean? Or does it make more sense to replace some time in the spring? Think through that and make the judgment call on if they stay or go.
Here a few options if you need to restock.
I’m going to take a good guess that those loafers or oxford dress shoes are a little rough around the edges. Any tears? Take them to a leather shop to get them stitched up. It’ll cost less $20 for that. Any scuffs or scrapes? Get yourself a shoe shine kit or find a local spot that shines and polishes.
You can do the same thing for your boots in the summer.
5. Clean, Wash and Properly Store
Does that blazer need to be dry-cleaned? Has that shirt been worn one too many time without being washed? Wash and dry clean whats left over after your purge. it’ll help with the next step of organizing.
Ditch the plastic and metal hangers, and use cedar hangers — Not only do they look better and keep the shape of your shirts and pants better, but they help with keeping a fresh smell in your closet.
Organize items that work best for you. I’m a little nutty and organize by casual or dressy, type of clothing item and then by color. You don’t need to go that extreme, but have a sense of where things go. Take the extra second or minute of putting away something, so it’s always easy to find what you’re looking for.
Remember to donate what you can before tossing in the trash. Find a local men’s shelter and see if they take clothing donations. Wash or dry-clean what you’re getting rid of and drop off at wherever they’re located. It doesn’t seem like much, but who knows how much a nice clean shirt or pair of pants could mean to someone trying to get on their feet again.
