One of the most important rules for creating the perfect wardrobe is editing your closet. It’s not an easy task for anyone — not even myself. I have a new place in my closet that’s now being edited because I have so many clothes. It’s a tough job, but it’s important. I don’t need a million pairs of sneakers. What I do need is to make sure my wardrobe is filled with the nicest (or cleanest!) ones. When you’re cleaning out your closet, you need to make sure you’re getting rid of the stuff that doesn’t fit you or is out of style. It’s important to keep those pieces that are timeless and classic — things that you can wear forever.
So, how do you know when it’s time to start editing your closet? I start when I can’t find things anymore! It gets to a point where I’m so overwhelmed by my wardrobe that I just wind up wearing the same clothes over and over again. But whatever the catalyst is for your mass closet cleanout, the most important rule to remember is that you can’t do it alone. I always need help and it’s important to have a friend there to offer a second opinion. Be sure you’re trying clothes on to make sure that they fit. A lot of times, I find things that have been sitting in my closet for a while and they fit differently. If it doesn’t fit you anymore, chuck it. Or, if you absolutely must keep it, take it to a tailor.
In fact, alterations are a great way to breathe new life into your wardrobe. I’m the kind of person that will take scissors to a piece and cut a sleeve off. Cut it, crop it is kind of my motto. But if the DIY route is not for you, again, a tailor may be a good option to help you salvage your old pieces. Another option is to sell your clothes. If you’ve got a closet full of luxury items you’re looking to get rid of, Vestiaire Collective is a great destination to sell luxury pre-owned fashion. And with all the cash you make off selling your stuff, you can afford to get a few new things. (We’re all shopping addicts here, right?)
Though editing my closet is a big must for me, I sometimes can’t let go of certain pieces. For me, it’s the real T-shirts. You know, the T-shirts that have been worn down so well that they’re just the perfect softness, the perfect wear. In general, I have so many clothes that come in and out of my life because people are always borrowing stuff or I’m always giving stuff away. But there are certain T-shirts I simply can’t let go of. I have this Michigan State tee that I think was my dad’s and it’s just so perfect and worn-in now and I just want to protect it with my life. I have this one Ann Demeulemeester tank top that I think when I first started styling that I actually bought at Barneys. It was one of my first purchases where I spent two or three hundred dollars (on a freakin’ tank top!). I bought it probably 10 or 11 years ago, but it’s so perfect now, though it’s hanging on by a thread! I don’t have the heart to get rid of it!
