Do you ever feel like you have too much stuff? Recently I've been on a huge minimizing kick, trying to cut down on the things that I own. Having less allows me to focus on the quality of things in my life rather than the quantity. I remember sitting in my dining room one night at the beginning of this year, looking around at my array of decor when suddenly it all struck me as cluttered, tacky and not representative of who I'm becoming. 'Cleaning out your closet' is not just a physical process, it's emotional too. If you're not ready to make mental changes, the mess will creep right back into your life. Excessive clutter is often a symptom of stress and it can negatively impact other parts of your life. For an extreme example of its destruction check out the definition of hoarding. I find myself guilty of some harmful behaviors I'd like to stop such as compulsive buying, never passing up a bargain and collecting unnecessary things (empty Starbucks gift cards...) so I've developed organizational strategies to reduce my inventory of possessions. Looking at my clustered apartment that night, I realized I was ready for a change: I wanted to see less, have less and in turn, enjoy more. I've included quotes from Marie Kondō, the author of The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing; Kondō helps the reader understand the mess, instead of just cleaning it up. I recommend reading this book as you begin to reduce the clutter in your life. A great place to start clearing the dead weight from your life is with your closet, here are 5 steps for minimizing your wardrobe:

1. Give away clothes that don't fit

The only way to know what actually fits is to try it on. It's very important to complete this step thoroughly, which means trying every single item on. This first step can be overwhelming to tackle, especially when you're staring into an endless sea of disorder. My strategy is to start one category at a time, for example: tops, which includes sub-categories of shirts, tank tops, blouses, sweaters etc. Take it one sub-section at a time, pulling the entire contents out and only adding things back into your closet or dresser once you've tried everything on and they pass this step. Try things on one by one in front of a mirror; if it fits great in one area but not in another--donate it. Be stricter than you've been in the past when evaluating the fit of each item, it's important it fits more than just one part of you. Having clothes that fit your body really well is crucial for a successful minimal wardrobe. You want to be able to grab anything from your closet and think "this is a strong piece that looks great on me!"

2. Give away clothes that are worn or damaged

The second step seems fairly easy but because our belongings can often hold sentimental value, letting go of certain articles of clothing can be difficult. I'll touch on this idea more in the next step but to start cutting emotional ties with things in my closet, I have created a strict rule for the quality of my garments. If the item has holes that are not easily fixable, a permanent stain, or is faded and pilled — it's time to move on. Even if it's your lucky jeans or your favorite old T-shirt, stay steadfast to the process and let them go. By clearing away clothes that are past their prime you'll create room for new, more durable pieces that will reflect who you've become. Moving forward, be mindful about what you buy; to build a wardrobe that lasts longer and looks better, focus just as much attention on the quality of fabric as you do on the overall style.

3. Give away clothes that you haven't worn in 6 months

Once you've gone through each category of your closet to evaluate the fit and condition of your clothes, it's time to consider their relevancy in your current life. 6 months may not seem like that long of a time to decide to let go of something but when you're trying to minimize your wardrobe in a big way, it's important to only keep what we that actually use, want or need in the present day. If it's been half of a year since you've rocked those tees on the bottom of the pile, donate and let someone else give them new life. Maybe you're hanging on to things that you don't wear because of the memory that they hold (for me that's a box of band tees from shows I've played). Kondō speaks to the underlying reasons we can feel compelled to keep things that serve no purpose in our lives today: attachment to the past or fear of the future. If it's been half a year since you've rocked a certain pair of jeans, they probably don't make you as happy as they once did. Don't wait around for your love to return, say good bye to those pieces and create closet space for outfits that you will wear more often. The exception to this step would be any formal or special occasion items that you know will be relevant in your life again like a fancy party outfit, a power suit for interviews or seasonal items like summer-time cover ups and winter gear.

4. Give away clothes that you've had for more than 5 years

Even though you can fit into your favorite jeans from college, it doesn't mean that you should continue to wear them throughout your 20's and 30's. Your first black blazer was definitely a safe staple to rely on but it's still looking less sharp these days. It would be surprising for many things in your closet to look and fit as well as they did 5 years ago. Even if the condition of the piece has survived the last 5 years, the design may now be dated. For example see the two denim skirts pictured above. I think we can all argue that denim anything can never truly go out of style, however, the cut and style of something can certainly become antiquated (and not in a cool vintage kind of way). Hopefully within the last 5 years as you've developed and grown, your style has also evolved to fit the person you are today. If you find yourself dressing in the exact same types of things that you wore 5 years ago, check in with yourself; do you want to continue expressing yourself with this style? Do you wear the same types of things because it's comfortable? Do you feel like you can't pull off anything else? Whatever the reason, take time to explore the way you'd dress if money was not an issue. Look at fashion photos for inspiration and create a vision board for future yourself. If you have a clear vision of your overall ideals you can work towards rebuilding wardrobe that represents your desired aesthetic. The skirt on the left was very hip in the early 2000s while the one of the right is more modern take. Get rid of your old Laguna Beach skirt and make room for a new, current version of yourself.

5. Give away clothes that you wear but don't really like

After going through your wardrobe you're now left with items that are in good condition and fit well but what if you find that you don't really like some of what's left? That's okay! Don't feel bad about giving away 'perfectly good clothes' if it's not something that you will enjoy wearing regularly, like the $10 dress that you 'scored' but doesn't fit the same since washing it or a sweater that someone gifted you for Christmas but haven't worn once. Don't allow yourself to feel guilty about giving away things you paid for or were given that you didn't get much (if any) use out of. If the piece of clothing doesn't make you feel good instantly when you pick it and try it on, be bold and donate it, even if it leaves your closet looking bare. Remember that one of the goals of living minimally is to enjoy less. Shedding old weight creates an opportunity for upgraded, lasting pieces that make you feel great.

Maintain

If you're like me, keeping your wardrobe slim and meaningful can be challenging. I love to shop and I'm always finding stupid good deals which means I accumulate a lot of crap that doesn't fit well or last long. The process of going through my entire wardrobe item by item, has opened my eyes to my over consumption. To prevent the clutter from taking over again, I apply these 5 steps to the potential purchases by asking myself the following questions:

Does it fit well all over? Don't buy any clothing item without trying them on first, even it it's a basic tee. Getting in the habit of trying on every item will immediately help you cut down on purchases. If there are areas that don't fit you well, reconsider a similar piece in a different cut or style. Don't settle for something that fits great in one place but not so well in another.
How long will this last? Step up your standards for quality by indulging in thicker and more luxurious fabrics that are less prone to fading and pilling. Stronger fabrics will conceal under garments better for a smoother fit and the original integrity of the piece will stay intact much longer. Ever had a shirt you love, then you wash once and it's a completely different shape? With nicer fabrics and proper care, clothes with stay true to their original design and fit longer.
How often will I wear this? How practical is this for my daily rotation? It's okay to get fabulous, one of a kind items sometimes, like a fancy evening coat or a sparkly dress but be careful of many "unique" pieces you collect. A minimal wardrobe must be coherent with clothes that can be easily mixed and matched.
How long will I wear this? Will it really serve a purpose in my wardrobe 6 months from now or next year? In the moment, you may answer "yes of course" to that question but you need to ask yourself again. When I am unsure of this question but still really want something, I usually put it back and come back the following week to evaluate it again.
How much do I love it and why? Do you love it because it's the style you've been dreaming of or is there a sale that's making the piece more appealing? Walk around the store with it and finish your other shopping. Does the item still feel just as special and exciting as when you first picked it out? If not put it back, you can always come back next week if you find yourself still yearning for it. After your deliberation, you may even find that item has been marked down!

The quote I chose for this final section is the major take away for me, to change my habits I must first change the way I think. If you can change the way you think about your wardrobe you can certainly change other beliefs and behaviors that negatively affect your life. Through carefully examining the thoughts behind our choices and actions we can develop new, more positive ways to experience ourselves and the world around us.

PS. Don't forget to use all of these rules to minimize your accessories: shoes, hats, bags, scarves, jewelry etc.

Thanks for reading, FJ