Style with Brains #2: How to Declutter your Closet?

In my previous blogpost I wrote about the usefulness of looking around carefully in your closet and getting rid of everything that is unnecessary. On one hand it is nice to discard all the "this will be good for something someday" items which only take up valuable space. On the other hand it is also nice if you don't try to push the newly bought items into an already full closet, to pull them out later with a definite need of ironing. More esoteric people say thet decluttering frees energies, let chi go freely on its way, so there are a number of reasons to try it.

 
To be totally honest I don't believe in the widely known rule of thumb which says that you should discard everything that you haven't worn in two years. If your closet is full of classic pieces, you don't have to be too strict on this. I have personally pulled out a jeans skirt from my closet, which is a total classic with its straight line, it can be worn on any occasion, and it laid there without being used for years. I remember buying it when I was a 18 year-old student! I also found a pair of black, classic trousers, which I discovered to be totally trendy these days, although it was there for at least 6 years. Fashion comes in cycles, clothes lines can go and come back again when you would least expect them to do it. Of course you must pay close attention to the details. Things are never exactly the same as they were years ago, so there can always be a tiny bit that reveals that you try to recycle your age-old items - in this case it is better to forget that particular piece.

Image courtesy of photostock/ FreeDigitalPhotos.net

But which is the best way to start? The first and most useful thing is to pick the outworn clothes. All shabby, elongated, formless, worn-out or stained items should go, no matter how much you love them. You love them, you wore them a lot, and that is easy to notice this on them. That's the way it goes with your favourite clothes.
You should always get rid of the following:
- bras that lost their original form, went greyish, or whose metal parts are poking out. Formless slips, socks, bathsuits.
- trousers which have worn spots on their knees or which lost their form in wearing, no matter if they are jeans or tweed ones
- t-shirts whose necks or torso is elongated, or which have permanent stains on them.
- formless and  fuzzy pullovers (fuzz removers are good for a while, but there is a limit)
- everything which lost its original form
- shoes with worn soles or heels, and those which are simply not comfortable enough to keep your feet healthy.

Now, that you are ready with the first round, there comes the tougher part. Here comes what I always tell everyone as a life coach and also as a style consultant: your style should be based on how well you know yourself. And you should also be ruthlessly honest to yourself. Because after getting rid of the items that look really bad, you should follow with the ones which look good enough and which you might as well keep. And this is the point when you must face yourself.
- For example you should be brave enough to confess if something landed in your closet as a result of a bad shopping decision. This is not always easy, we can reason and try to save our decision for quite a long time, like "it can be good together with this and that', or "it only needs some redesigning"... The truth is, these stuff is usually really only good for taking up space. If you feel in the bottom of your heart that it is not really yours, let it go.
- The same case applies for the changes our body goes through. We can keep the "after I get rid of those 5 kilos" stuff for a long time. You should admit honestly if your goal is to go from size 42 to 38. That's absolutely fine. Except if you keep guarding that pair of skinny jeans in size 36 which you wore for the university parties.
- And there are changes in our lifestyle, too. Maybe a few years ago you loved stuff with cute cats on it, but now you feel them childish. No problem, someone will love them. Maybe you could not imagine wearing other than skinny jeans and tight shirts when you were 20 years old, and now your favourite item is your boyfriend jeans. Nice. Or just the opposite: you wore nothing else than male shirts, and now you are much more feminine? That's fine as well, just dare to admit it. You don't have to feel ashamed for anything you do. You don't have to keep the same style for 30 years. Just feel free to let go everything that is not close to your heart and your style anymore.

Image courtesy of anankkml/ FreeDigitalPhotos.net

But what should you do with the stuff you selected?
- All that is in a good shape, and about which you think your girlfriends would love them, should go as a present. You can also organize a swap party, when everyone puts a few of their discarded items in a basket, and everyone is free to choose a few ones for themselves from the pile. Trying on each other's old clothes can lead to big laughs, and empowering positive criticism, so that everyone should take home those pieces, which are truly the best for them. Moreover, getting hold of new pieces of clothing doesn't cost a cent for anyone. The leftovers should be given to charity or put on ebay, with the clear intention of investing the incoming revenues into ice-cream together.
- The nicest items can be sold on online auctions or in Facebook groups. If it's fashionable and in fine state, it will find a new owner, and you'll have some cash to buy new stuff.
- You can also donate some of your items. If it's in a good state, it can be fine for someone less fortunate than you. The only thing you should be aware of: you should never donate old and shabby clothes. Give only those, which you would be happy with if you got them as a present.
- Old towels and bedlinen can find their use in animal shelters and veterinary clinics.
- H&M gives some discount coupons for every bag of old clothes returned to them, regardless of their label and state. The stuff goes for recycling.

Do you have any tried-and tested decluttering strategies? Please share it here in the comments section or on Facebook!