There has never been a better time to declutter your wardrobe (and make a little extra income).
Firstly, many of us are at home with the current pandemic, and decluttering your wardrobe is very therapeutic and a good distraction! It can even be fun!
Secondly, for many of us we are at the time of changing seasons, and it’s often a time when we review our wardrobe as we change from Winter to Spring/Summer or Summer to Autumn/ Winter.
And thirdly, it’s a great way to generate a little extra income! So, let’s get started!
The thought of decluttering an entire wardrobe can be a little overwhelming though, especially if you’ve never done a “wardrobe detox” before.
I get it! I’ve been there.
So, I’ve made this simple 5 step guide that you can follow step by step to declutter your wardrobe and make some income at the same time!
How to declutter your wardrobe
Step 1 – Take everything out of your wardrobe!
I mean everything – everything that’s hanging in your closet, folded in drawers, stacked on shelves.
Yes, it will be a huge mess, but that’s OK – it’s only temporary and it’s the only way you can really sort all your clothes and take account of everything you own (I bet you had forgotten about some things!)
If this is really just too overwhelming, you can leave jackets, coats and accessories (shoes/ bags/ jewellery), and underwear for another day but it ALL has to be tackled!
Step 2 – Sort into categories and try on every item
I like to sort my clothes into piles when I take them out. For now, I’m not making any value judgment about whether to keep them, but I like to have all the T-shirts together, all the skirts together, all the jeans together …..
The reason for this is to avoid ending up with 15 almost identical white tees, 12 black pencil skirts… When I evaluate, I can then choose my 3 favourite in each sub-category (am I really going to wear all 15 white tees?), and a spare.
Step 3 – Evaluate the piles
So, now we have the piles we can start to go through them, and this is what you should be removing from your closet!
i) Get rid of anything that doesn’t fit you.
If it’s too big, then either have it altered to fit, or if you can’t get it altered, then just sell or donate it!
If it’s too small and you are genuinely motivated to lose weight and you really LOVE the clothes, then take them out of your wardrobe and put them in a suitcase or a storage box. I call this creating a “time capsule” wardrobe, and when you have achieved your target weight you can revisit and decide if you still like the clothes.
ii) Remove anything that doesn’t flatter you (doesn’t suit your body shape or your colouring)
If something doesn’t make you feel great, then don’t keep it!
iii) Get rid of emotional “baggage” items (items
Remove any items that have a sentimental value, but that you will never wear. Hanging onto items that are no longer serving you can feel like a burden.
If you’re prone to regret – think about will you regret it more if you keep it?
iv) Remove anything that is torn, damaged or stained
My advice is to follow one of the three R’s – Renew (ie. restyle – transform a dress into a skirt, for example)- Repair or- Reject (throw away)
v) Remove any items you haven’t worn in the last year
If you haven’t worn something in the last year then you’re probably not going to!
Even, if it was really expensive, if you’re not wearing it, then it has to go! You can sell it on a designer sale site or a preloved store and you will at least get some of your money back!
vi) Get rid of anything that doesn’t align with your lifestyle or your goals
We are all constantly changing and something that was perfect when you were a student is not necessarily a good fit now you are a professional “girl boss”. Similarly, something that looked great when you were a “girl boss” might not look great now you’re retired and playing golf!
Step 4 – Put away the “Keep” pile
The ‘keep’ pile now has to be put away, but we’re not just going to throw it all randomly back in the closet!
The key to having a wardrobe you love and to being able to find clothes easily, create beautiful outfits and feel inspired is to organise all these pieces.
I like to organise my wardrobe by type of clothing, (so all the tops together, all the skirts together, all the trousers together ….etc.), and then within the types I like to organise by colour, going from light to dark.
I also create subcategories (so my tops are sorted by spaghettis strap, short sleeved, and then long sleeved to make choosing for the weather that day much easier.).
Have a look here for some closet organisation inspiration.
Step 5 – List the “Sell” pile or take it to a consignment store.
You can sell your used clothes a few different ways.
i) Consignment/ Second hand / Preloved Shop.
Most places now have a consignment or preloved store, and this is the quickest and easiest way to sell your clothes and make some money. You just drop them off and then the store does the rest. The disadvantage is that the store will take a commision for their service and this can be quite pricy
There are also online consignments stores (such as ThredUp) that will ship you a pre-paid bag to fill with clothes to send back to them.
ii) Host a garage sale
This is a fun way to make some money and meet people! You can do this on your own or with a group of friends. You set the price yourself and of course, you get to keep all the profits.
However, the rules differ depending on your local area, so make sure to check these before you set a date!
iii) Sell on Facebook
Facebook Marketplace is a great way to sell too, and you can specify your shipping/ collection area if you want to save on shipping costs.
iv) Use Specialised websites and apps
There are now a wide range of webites and apps which make it super easy to sell your used clothing.
You just take photos of your clothing and then follow the step by step instructions to list your items in just a couple of minutes.
A few you might like to check out are Poshmark, Vinted, Tradesy and of course, eBay.
If your items aren’t selling, try reducing the price, and if they still aren’t selling, then consider donating them and making someone happy! Under no circumstances, should you stuffing them back into the depths of your closet never to be worn again!
I hope you enjoyed this post about “How to declutter your wardrobe and make some income, and you may also be interested in this post about how to dress like a Parisian.
But, remember that the key to any style is to wear what feels good on you and what makes you happy !
These are good guidelines what to put away and keep. I like to sort into function and colour.
http://www.busyandfab.com
It’s great to be organised! It makes life so much less stressful each morning x
Such great tips! i’ve been giving all of my decluttered clothes to charity, it’s good to make a difference 🙂 xo
Makeup Muddle
That’s awesome! It’s great to declutter your life and make a positive difference to someone else’s 🙂
Oh I personally love organizing my wardrobe and do it every 2-3 months cause I find it kind of relaxing. Great tips! 🙂
I find it relaxing too! I think the first time is a bit difficult but then it becomes fun 🙂
I cleaned my closet recently and am selling a lot of pieces on my facebook.
http://www.fashionradi.com
Great! I hope you are successful selling them xo
Thanks for sharing all these fantastic tips! I think it is important that we take care in that way of our wardrobe, because our wardrobes should make us happy and give us inspirations!
xx from Bavaria/Germany, Rena
Totally agree Rena! Our wardrobes should make us happy 🙂
Such a timely post for the current lockdown. The list looks endless and so many helpful tips to declutter and true , we should wear what suits us and make us happy, instead of just following big brands that are heavy on wallet and distasteful on body. Thanks for an amazing post again.
So glad you enjoyed the post! Thanks for your feedback x
Selling items we no longer wear is such a great idea. You’re right that this is a perfect time for decluttering our wardrobe. Awesome tips.
Thanks Ivana! I’m so glad you think so x
very good tips ♥
glad you think so xo
I did this recently, and have bags pull of things to donate and try to sell to consignment stores!
That’s great! Well done! I hope you manage to sell your pieces at the consignment stores 🙂
I love the idea of decluttering and re-organising my closet but I just need to find the time! It definitely sounds like a big and slightly overwhelming process the first time around but I expect it feels so good to have it all sorted afterwards (and then becomes easier every year). Thank you for the inspiration, Julia!
It does feel really good when you have a wardrobe full of clothes that you can actually wear! And, yes, it does get easier each time xo
This is a very useful post… will keep this in mind while organising my wardrobe 🙂
http://www.beautyandfashionfreaks.com
So glad you found it helpful Rashmi xo
These are wonderful tips Julia, it’s always a good idea to go through ones closet and declutter from time to time!
xoxo
Lovely
http://www.mynameislovely.com
Thanks Lovely! I find it very therapeutic xoxo
Thanks for your guidance and tips!
Glad you liked the tips 🙂
I’m on my way learning how to minimalize my life and this article is really helpful to me! Thank you so much for sharing!
Glad you found it helpful Elizabeth x
Great tips! I did this before we moved recently and took several bags to Goodwill. I also have several other bags of things I want to sell. Now I just need to get motivated to list them!
Jill – Doused in Pink
Thanks Jill! Decluttering is so therapeutic, but I agree it’s not easy to find the time to list them. Why not join with some friends and do a garage sale? xo
These are EXCELLENT rules and guidelines for a successful closet cleanout!
-Ashley
Le Stylo Rouge
Thank you Ashley! I’m so glad you think so x
Such a great post! I love doing this!
xx- Nina
http://www.stylingwithnina.com/
Thanks Nina! It feels good when it’s done! And it can be quite fun doing it too x
This really inspired me to clean out my closet! Something I have been meaning to do for a long time and now is a great time to do it!
Tay
It’s definitely a great time to do it! So glad I inspired you 🙂
I keep thinking I should start selling things on Poshmark…it would be a great way to keep my closet cleaned out.
Thanks for these tips,
XOXO
Jodie
http://www.jtouchofstyle.com
Yes, making a little extra income is a great motivator!
I just decluttered one of my closet today and I feel so good about myself. Thanks for this tips. Unto the next closet tomorrow if God permits.
So glad you decluttered your first closet and hope you’re carrying on with the rest x
yes! Such great tips! As a professional wardrobe auditer and stylist I couldn’t agree more and love the feeling of when I, or my clients, just fully love EVERYTHING in the wardrobe!
XO Sahra
Yes, it’s great to open your wardrobe and know that everything in it looks great on you xo
Great tips,
so useful in these weird times…
have a great week!
S
Thank you ! GLad you found the tips useful x
Oh this could not be more timely, I soooooo need to do this. Great advice and tips here.
Allie of
http://www.allienyc.com
Thank you Allie xo
This is so important, and it is nice that we have more than enough time to do it now. Thanks for sharing such great tips!
Lindifique
Yes, it’s definitely the perfect time to tackle it !
I need to do it too but I always have such a hard time decluttering my wardrobe!
-Didier
http://www.didieryhc.com
I used to, until I started applying the rule that I can’t buy anything new until I’ve removed something! 🙂
Love your process of decluttering! I use several of these with my clients. This is a perfect time to do this.
https://www.kathrineeldridge.com
Yes, it really is the perfect time, and very rewarding! xo
I love how you broke this down into smaller, manageable steps! I have to admit, I tend to get a little overwhelmed when I’m trying to decide what I want to keep, where it needs to go, etc. So I will definitely be using this as my resource to get my closet decluttered, and organized. 🙂
Make Life Marvelous
Thank you Ashley! I’m so glad you found it a useful ressource! I always like to break things down into bitesize steps! 🙂
I just decluttered my closet this weekend! So helpful!
Glad you found it helpful Rach xo
Such amazing tips to declutter a wardrobe !
I love to do it sometimes. It always feel better to only have clothes I can’t fit in and I love in my closet.
xx
Margot
Yes! Totally agree – it’s horrible opening your wardrobe only to find tons of clothes that don’t fit 🙁