Reader Linda inspired me to take a look at my old posts on creating a wardrobe that works for you. So I wanted to put together a new tutorial on creating a wardrobe that is perfect for you: how to know what to keep and what to let go of; and how to create a shopping list that will prevent you from buying more “mistakes” in the future. How to create a wardrobe full of only things that you enjoy wearing. So no matter what you pull out of your closet, you’re going to be happy wearing it. There will be no more days of “ugh, I don’t really like this, but I haven’t worn it in forever, so I guess I should.” Because THAT’S not fun! Who wants that??

First of all, note that this post is about creating YOUR perfect wardrobe, not THE perfect wardrobe. There are NO “Ten Key Pieces You Must Have In Your Closet.” There is no Pinterest pin of the perfect wardrobe items. I know how appealing those graphics are, all color-coordinated, everything reduced to a simple formula: The Seven Neutral Pieces that Will Create the 7,259 Outfits You Will Need for Every Possible Scenario for the Rest of Your Life. Because everyone’s life consists of different scenarios, different needs, different tastes, different budgets, different size availabilities, etc. In fashion there is NO OSFA (One Size Fits All)…and I’m not just talking about measurements.

Anyway, I’ve said all that before. Right now I went to get into the STEPS. I’ve refined this process over the years – and right now, this is what is working for me. In five years it might be different again (!), but for right now, I like this process.

It’s the opposite of “take out everything you want to get rid of.” That’s a complex parameter. How do you know what you want to get rid of until you know what you want to keep?? So, let’s start at the other end.

STEP 1. Take out all the things you reach for and wear all the time. These might be things that go with 27 other items in your closet, or that always make you feel pretty or strong…or invisible…or however it is you want to feel. Only you know what that is. This is not “take out the things you LOVE.” This is “take out the things you WEAR.” I always have things I LOVE, that I just don’t seem to be able to wear, for whatever reason. And they taunt me, “If you LOVE ME, why aren’t you WEARING ME??” That makes me feel guilty. Your clothes should make you feel GOOD. We’re trying to create a workable wardrobe that you’ll feel good wearing. And, there’s no magic number for this…it might be five things, it might be twenty-five things. It might be ALL THE THINGS. In which case, You Win, now get away from the computer and go do something fun.

Note: It’s good to actually remove these items from your closet. Put them on your bed, a chair, the floor, another closet or clothing rack. But the following steps will be easier once there are fewer items hanging in the closet, especially if you’re starting with a tightly-packed closet.

Also – you’re doing this with all your clothes, not just “this season’s.” I know I always have a certain amount of cross-over from cold weather clothes to warm weather clothes, and you wouldn’t want to accidentally get rid of something that goes with your favorite winter cardigan because you don’t reach for it in the summer.

STEP 2. Take out all the things that GO with the things you took out in Step 1. The cardigan that goes with the dress you wear all the time. The tee that goes under the cardigan you reach for several times a month. There will probably be more items in this grouping than in the first. And remember, it doesn’t matter if you’re selecting something that you don’t necessarily LOVE. You’re selecting the things you wear. The things that create the outfits you wear all the time. There’s a reason you wear some things more than others.

Make sure you include accessories in this step. Pull out the shoes, bags, belts that go with the items you enjoy wearing.

Now…what’s LEFT hanging in your closet are the things that you rarely reach for, and that don’t complete outfits based around the things you wear the most. This is The Rack of Misfit Clothes. The mistakes, the gifts, items that hold sentiment or emotion, things that were in style then but appear dated now. Items you purchased out of necessity for a special event or occasion, that you don’t really like. The things that fit once but that don’t now…even the things that never fit but that you hoped would someday. They are things that are missing buttons or have a small stain you keep promising to work on, or that need ironing that you never get around to. These are the things that probably produce guilt or remorse every time you notice them hanging there. They’re the “shoulds,” the failures, the past, the thing that may happen…SOMEDAY.

STEP 3. Let them go. They’re not serving you. Separate them into whatever piles work for you. Donate, sell, pass-down, cut up for craft projects, masks, rags, etc. If “letting go” is the hardest part for you, store all these “misfits” in a box or tub, whatever, for a period of time – 3 months, 6 months, a year (this is will depend on the kind of storage space you have). Mark the date on your calendar or phone, that on November 3 (or whatever), you will revisit that box of clothes. If you find you have not missed or needed them, get them out. 

This is the stage where it’s useful to have help – a child, spouse, friend, neighbor, volunteer. This is where I usually get stuck, because lugging stuff to the car and delivering it wherever it needs to go…or photographing to list online, just feels like Such a Big Task…that the box gets left where it was…or I start defending those items, “well, I might wear this dress if I get invited to a party by a person I don’t even know yet,” and back it goes into the closet, because it’s an easier solution. But in the long run, it’s really not.

STEP 4: Put all the items from Steps 1 & 2 back into your closet. Appreciate how much room there is. In the coming days, enjoy how much easier it is to get dressed in the morning knowing that everything in there is part of an outfit you enjoy wearing. Notice how much better you feel when you go into your closet.

Caveat: These are just guidelines. If you want to keep that 1970s sequinned butterfly top just because, even though you KNOW will never, EVER wear it – then keep it. Give it a special spot. Hang it on a pretty hook on the closet door so you get to see and enjoy it all the time. Think of it as art.  Just don’t do that with everything 🙂

Okay, as noted in the title of this post, this was Part 1. This is how to whittle your wardrobe down to just the pieces that work for you. Part 2 will be how to fill in the gaps so you have complete outfits and never have to pass on wearing something because there’s a piece missing. AND how not to end up with all new things in your closet that you also won’t wear!

I hope you found this “backwards” method interesting or helpful. Let us know!

You can see it in action here…