Since the beginning of the pandemic, I have been working from home. A lot of my wardrobe is packed and waiting for my time to return to the office. As long as I fit into those clothes and as long as I like them, I won’t throw them away even though I haven’t worn them in a season or two.
Hi Nana, You make a great point about the pandemic extending our time for keeping clothes and returning to work. I'm mostly referring to people who have been out of the workforce for 15-20 years and hold on to those clothes for when they return to the office. Thanks for the great comment! 😀
@@theresascheepers2407 I guess the best thing would be to look at each item and envision a situation you'd wear it. If you have 30 things that you'd only wear to go to work in an office, and not anywhere else, then you'll likely never wear them... maybe donate to a women's shelter for someone who is looking for a job and doesn't have that wardrobe?
Only one blouse, I thought I wouldn't fit back into it, but I lost weight when I recovered, but no big deal, there's always plenty of new stuff to replace it. I've found, go buy clothes that fit when you find them...trying to find and outfit because you're about to go to something, I can never find a thing!!
Great perspective! Just think, if you haven't worn it and you donate it, someone else will get to spend $3 on it and enjoy that item! Fill your closet only with items that work for your life today and bring you joy. 😃
This is Eileen. OK, I am ready to start the big clear out that I have been dreading as I haven't sorted my wardrobe for about eight years. I am now armed with your guidelines and rules and I'm goin' in!
Very helpful! I’ve got so much stuff to declutter in the whole house. I really dread the closets full of clothes. I’ve retired (years ago), but hate parting with perfectly good, classic dresses & other outfits. Good advice-especially the lifestyle tip. I enjoy your videos.
Hi Vivian, If the clothes are no longer of use to you, why keep them? Check out my latest video on this topic: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-9sl1RGGJzLg.html
‘Valuable real estate’ -closet space, is the whole key for me here. Thank you! I’ve given 11 boxes of clothes since Han to a friend. Getting fuen yo mire if what I wear. Pat in Colorado
I keep a charity bag in the bottom of the wardrobe and regularly put items in as I come across them, then at the end of EVERY month I take it to the charity and if it’s not full I’ll have a little rummage in my hubbies cupboard too 😉
Love this! I also remind myself that even if my kids want to wear my clothes, the technology has changed! My mom had awesome flairs that I would have kept had they not been so ridged. Now clothes have stretch and fabric technology is changing for the better. I love my clothes now. Also, for one thing I buy, I pull out another!
I put a pause on the “worn in a year” rule for the pandemic. I barely left the house for two years, even having my groceries delivered, so I just didn’t use a lot of my wardrobe as I normally would. I will resume this rule next spring, I think. I have seasonal weight changes because it’s too hot where I live to exercise in the warmer half of the year, so I do have two sizes. I don’t have AC, or any cooler option for summer exercise.
I really liked your advice on all of this process and how to look at things. Yes, my hanging space and space for everything else is precious real estate. If I love an item so much maybe a picture will keep me just as happy. Thank you. You are truly helping people.
This was such a great helpful video Nancy! I live in San Antonio and they have a group called Project Prom. They accept donations of pre-worn prom dresses,bridesmaid dress along with shoes, handbags and anything young girls might need for prom. It's a great way to give back and declutter your closet.
What you said makes sense. I'm sure you're a very practical person and it works for you. I don't think I could do several of the things you said. For instance the question: have you worn it in the last year? My question is: would I wear it again if the opportunity arose? If the answer is yes I keep it. If clothing no longer makes me feel good I ditch it. I also have I big closet and couldn't do it in one day. I do it by sections or it would never get done, one day blouses and shirts, Next day pants and jeans. Or I do seasonal clear outs. I try on decide if I can wear it or not. I do keep clothes that don't fit right now because if I love them I would wear them again. Weight goes up and down and I am usually happy to see them again. I have a spot I hide them in a bin in the back of my closet or on the bottom of a seasonal basket so i don't have to see them all the time. I lost weight over the winter and I can't wait to go in and check out my spring and summer basket. It will be like having new clothes i just shopped for. Of course this works best if you have a big closet. But i have lived in the past with small spaces and kept a smaller basket or bin hid out somewhere in my apartment. I think the important thing is to have a method that works for you and do it regularly. Watching your video helped me examine my method and tweak it. I appreciate your suggestions especially about clothes that hold sentimental attachments. I need to rethink that. Thanks for a great video.
Thank you so much, Yvonne, for taking the time to share all the tips that work for you! I like that even though you kept other sizes for gaining/losing weight you kept them hidden from everyday view. Excellent ideas! 😀
I live in Michigan and we definitely have 4 seasons. Most of the year I am wearing three pieces because of the temperatures. I love wearing a completer piece because I feel more put together. I love our summers but even then we often have days in which you at least want a top with sleeves just to be comfortable. If I lived in California or Florida I would miss my blazers!
Hi Sharon, thank you so much for your comment! As an East Coast transplant to Southern California, I completely understand the need to wear layers. I'll try and include more layering options in my capsule wardrobe videos! 😀
Great video! The suggestion to toss whatever you haven't worn in a year was something I was considering until I saw the tip about matching with other items in your wardrobe, perhaps we just hadn't tried to style it e.g. bought it as one complete outfit and never imagined how else it could be worn. I saved quite a few pieces by pairing them with things in my wardrobe. I love your videos as I too live in a warm climate (Australia) and its so good to see clothes that are not just black, white and grey. Thank you
Hi Karen, I'm so glad you found my videos helpful and that you've been able to expand your wardrobe by mixing and matching clothes you already own! I'll keep providing lots of colorful clothes in the videos...let me know what topic you'd like me to cover next! 😍
I mostly shop at Lilly Pulitzer and I provide links to all of my clothes in the video description. Here is a link to their site: rstyle.me/+z7ZO0wmk6iVlD-BwYDBdrw
Yes, they are hard to get rid of but do you still wear them? If not, make a keepsake book, or you could pick one or two pieces to keep, or even frame a small garment. I hope those ideas help. 🥰 Also if you donate them, someone else will be able to enjoy your mother's hard work.
After my mum died I found a dress that she had kept for over fifty years. She must have worn it a lot when I was a child because I recognised it immediately (I think it was her 'Sunday best') and I found a photo of her wearing it. There is a place where she repaired it with tiny little hand stitches. Said dress is now carefully stored on the top shelf of the guest closet and I wouldn't part with it for the world. Perhaps you could choose one or two of your mum's pieces to keep and make a memory album of the rest. Good luck.
@@yellowfuchsia1 That is lovely, Yellow Fuchsia! Thank you so much for sharing your memory and what you did with it! I think the key points are that you don't have the dress in your main closet and that you have narrowed it down to one or two special pieces. 💕
I Love your videos and your LP style!!! I recently got rid of lots of more formal clothing. I’m working from home now so it’s a good time to re-access what I really need.
Another idea I've used is to make things or have them made from your sentimental clothing. Such as a little quilt made from your or your daughters or even your granddaughters special dresses!!! They even make Teddy bears from children's clothing for girls and boys!!!! Even boys can have quilts made for them from their clothing!!!! They love their blankets too!!!! Also pillow covers can be made for their beds or throw pillows!!!!
@@shoppingonchampagne I just found your channel and I have subscribed. Your tips and thoughts on a wardrobe organization are spot on for me! I had my wardrobe sorted by colour, all tops, then slacks. Thanks to you I re-arranged it, still arranged by colour but now it is short sleeved T's, long sleeved T's, button down tops, oversized button downs (the 3rd piece). Pullovers and cardigans are folded on a shelf. That slight re-arrangement will help me get out of the rut of the same outfits day after day. Thank you. I will be spending the next few days reviewing all your earlier videos. You are priceless, thank you for stepping out into RU-vid.
This is great! But I do want to share a funny story about my hoarder grandma. She never threw anything away. Just so happened that in the 90s, I was the same size as she was in the 70s. I raided grandma's closet and my high school wardrobe was perfect😂
I do regular "emotional cleanouts" :) i always dont discard anything (just because i'm a picky buyer :D ), except pieces with bad memories... or excess use. Pieces with bad memories are a real trigger for me... They affect my mood big way!! I always try to make alterations (change buttons, etc.) of coats, shirts, etc. I have a lot of dresses, and i adore them :( i was a piano player and i weared them regularly because of it. With covid, things changed. I didnt wear them in a year :(
Hi Andreia, I love the idea of emotional cleanouts! It is amazing how much we tie events to what we wear. I also love how you change up your wardrobe by making alterations to your clothes. 😀
What about the every day - around the house clothes. I have many shirts and comfy pants that I keep on hand for when I’m just around the house or I’m gonna go out in the garden or I’m cleaning the house or I’m just lounging watching TV at night. I never hear this being addressed. Back in the day when I was a child, we had play clothes, church clothes, and school clothes and I think that’s where this idea comes from for me. I have a certain set of clothes just for around the house but if someone comes to the door or wants to come in I don’t feel presentable. What do I do. Should I keep these? How do I manage this dilemma.
These are excellent tips/questions! I have become a minimalist and currently all my clothes, handbag & shoes fits in the small guest bedroom closet. Everything fits and are being worn at least once or twice a month.
Most of my clothes are second hand. Last month I wore two dresses which are almost thread bare now from overuse. They will eventually become cleaning rags. Not working waiting for four surgeries - results unknown as yet. The new clothes not worn yet in over a year are the style I want to wear so are for best. As I’m not going anywhere for best for at least six months or more, I will still keep those clothes as they are stretchy, loose & practical & won’t date. Shoes are what goes out - high heels, & uncomfortable unable to walk in. Most dark clothes are going as eyesight goes as we age. Small waisted clothing & belts. Keep warm jackets & wool, cotton, natural fibres. Colour palette will be mostly neutral - easy to wash together with no dye running. Wearing one colour each month until the clothes wear out. Trying to get down to 24 sets of clothes, then less. Noticed you have 73 hangers - are your partner’s on the right or are they yours too? I only have two racks like your mobile white one with shelves so only fifteen hangers can fit on a rack with foldable clothes in drawers. A long way to go to whittle it down. Trying to get back to number of items worn as a teenager with two station wagon trips full of everything I owned. It’s Swedish Death Cleaning time now - so have to be super organised for easy cleaning & moving if necessary. I can still design, redesign & sew clothing if needed.
Great tips. However, I haven't been working since March 2020. I'm not yet sure if I will even be going back this year. I still like my work clothes and they still fit so I can't get rid of them yet. My other issue is that jeans go with everything. Even if I have a sweater that doesn't go with anything else it still goes with blue jeans. My other issue is that I am working on a more mature and classic wardrobe. I already have all the pieces, however, I seem to always find these items boring and choose something more colourful and fun. So I still have alot of work to do. Great tips.
Hi Sherry, Wow! So many good questions/issues I can't wait to add to my video list! As for work clothes, I should have clarified that it doesn't really include our current work-from-home situation. I'm mostly referring to people who have been out of the workforce for an extended period (10+ years or more) and are still holding on to old suits. As for the rest of your questions - I'll work on addressing them in upcoming videos. 😀
Another amazing video !.... Thank you for your great style, encouragement and direction with closet/ clothes purdging...I will look forward to doing this clean out very soon and will keep your videos on stand by!! Thank you so much for doing this video!!
My pleasure, Maureen! I also created a free printable that you can refer back to when cleaning your closet. Here's a link to download it: www.shoppingonchampagne.com/blog/when-to-get-rid-of-clothes-rule
Good questions to ask oneself but I hate the idea of just tossing the unsuitable garments Do one of three actions: chuck (irreparable so nobody would want this), cherish (love it and it fits) and charity (this isn't me but it could be yes for someone else at a thrift shop or women's shelter).
You could also sell your items at a consignment shop, on DePop, and ThredUp. I just sent ThredUp a bag of clothes and made over $200 while they listed and sold the items for me.
I'm literally laughing out loud - " are you going to keep clothes for 20 years in the off-chance that you're kids will want to wear it for a (theme day)?"
With fingers in my ears, La,La, La! I can't stand what I'm hearing about tossing out clothes, needing to curate a new wardrobe and having to clear the closet in one day! My closet rooom ( 16' of hanging space) looks like a bomb went off. I have a summer wardrobe in a trunk and a suitcase with closes I'm taking out, a trunk of winter I'm packing up and I've lost 50+ lbs and still plan on 50 more. Plus I still have to do laundry. I feel like I should just live wrapped up in a sheet while this whole episode is going on and set my room on fire.
Hi Shara, Congrats on your weight loss! 🤩I don't always get rid of my clothes; sometimes, I keep them in the garage for 6 months or so to see if I miss them. The goal is to not feel overwhelmed by your wardrobe. I also lost a lot of weight and feel a kindred spirit with you and your journey. You'll enjoy this video, and I'd love to hear what weight loss tips worked for you! 🥰 ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-yvfC2WSQSZY.html
If I tossed all the clothes I did not wear during the 2 Covid lockdowns, when I was working from home and living in loungewear most of the time, I would have hardly anything left in my wardrobe.
Off the bat: A lot of my favorite pieces i haven't worn in a long time because they're Buried, camouflaged by tons of "filler." I also should (but don't) plan my outfits the night before so I can try them out together and see if they work. Lots of times layering is a flop - the sleeves underneath too long, necklines don't match (v-neck vs round, boat, low cut vs high cut, etc). Then of course, living in NYC, there's the whole other issue of matching bag, scarf, shoes, hat & coat. So I normally just keep it Very basic (and boring).
Check out the thrift stores....i get a lot of good quality (often still with tags) items at good prices. Tag days, 99 cent Sundays, etc. make buying clothes budget friendly. Also if there is a Gabe's in your area check them out.
I’m scared to cleanout my closet because the majority of it I don’t like but I hold onto things so I have something to wear until I can afford to replace it or lose weight but I still dislike my clothes and it doesn’t make me feel great. Any suggestions would be appreciated ? 😍
I feel the same. When I did my big Konmari clear out about 6 years ago only two items of clothing sparked joy and one of those didn't fit. I feel like I should look nice but I have absolutely no interest in clothes. I hate shopping for clothes, I have no idea what my personal style is and none of the personal style videos have helped me. I have a wardrobe that isn't big and half of that I don't wear. I keep trying with this but it's really hard work. Another thing is I live in West Africa so there aren't new clothes shops. It's all random second-hand stuff from Europe usually thrown on a sheet on the floor in the street. Nowhere to try anything on, refunds are never given, the whole clothes experience is a nightmare for me.
I am going to adjust my closet after the covid-break - some clothes I did not wear when working from home - are there more people who plan to go back to the office?
Isn't it weird that we have a lot of clothes we haven't worn in two years? I think my group is going back to the office but I just have the feeling that we will dress more casually. We workers are alternating days so there will be less people in the building anyway. Our group was already dressing more casual BEFORE we started teleworking.
I have to say that EVEN during the pandemic, I have tried very hard not to live in sweats... I force myself to dress 'nicely' because I have all these things in my closet. But if it doesn't fit, is torn or stained, is hopelessly out of style (not a classic), or never made me feel good, it goes.
I strongly disagree that if you haven't worn it in the last year you should get rid of it!! You may not have had a chance to have worn it in the last year!! If it still fits you and you love it...keep it!!! All very special sentimental pieces need to be cleaned and stored with special acid free tissue paper!!! I agree completely with your other guidelines!!!!
That’s actually a great question! I’m wearing a slight scoop neck in this video which is much more open than a traditional crew neck. Notice how much more of my neck and upper chest area you can see. A crew neck sits much higher and creates a heavier look. I hope that clarifies it for you. Let me know if you have any other fashion questions! 😍
