Earlier this year I decided to take a long hard look at my closet. When really getting down to the nitty gritty, there were a handful of items that were my go-to and a whole bunch of items that hadn’t seen the light of day in months or even years.
So I decided to purge. I donated, I sold a bunch of stuff on Poshmark, and even pitched a few items too banged up for Goodwill.
I went all Marie Kondo when tidying up my closet – so much so that it was time to make a decision. If my closet shouldn’t be like it was, how should it look?
There are some pretty great and really simple ideas floating around the wide world of fashion blogging that made building my new closet easier and in the long run, cheaper too.
Check out these ideas to inspire your own closet makeover.
1. Create a Capsule Wardrobe
Basically, a capsule wardrobe is a limited number of pieces you wear over the course of a season (Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter) in a variety of mix and match ways. Capsule champion, Caroline Rector from Un-Fancy explains the idea of a capsule wardrobe in five easy steps:
- Pare down your clothes to 37 items (not including workout clothes, accessories, underwear, etc.).
- Wear only those items for three months.
- Enjoy your wardrobe and do not buy more items during these three months.
- Plan and shop for the next season’s capsule in the last two weeks of the previous season.
- The amount you buy each season is up to you, but remember less is more!
Need more inspiration? Rector explains, “A capsule wardrobe represents more time, more money, more energy for the things in life that really matter.” Well, who could argue with that?
2. Take Advice From the French
The French Wardrobe is all about quality over quantity. First, make sure you have quality basics across all categories of apparel, and eliminate clothing from your closet that you no longer love or wear.
Buy new basics where lacking, and remember Q-U-A-L-I-T-Y. Second, only purchase five nonbasic, more trend-inspired items per season (spring/summer and fall/winter).
3. One In, One Out
Once your closet is stocked with the basics make it an exclusive club. For every new item you buy, you have to donate one item already in your closet.
This will curb impulse buys and help you make important shopping decisions. Like, what do I have to give up to purchase these vegan leather leggings?