Fall is here and that means just one thing, time to go shopping! Well that and pumpkin lattes and better TV. Before hitting the shops this year, I decided I had better assess what I already had, considering I'm the type to pick up a sweater think, "Oh, that looks cute!" then come home to find its twin hiding out in the corner of my closet.
Here was my process: It's probably a little different for everyone so feel free to add your suggestions in the comments, but I think it's a good starting point.
1. Choose a charity to donate to and plan a time to stop by. I like to start with this one because if I don't I end up with my "to be donated" bag sitting around for weeks (ok, months) on end. It's also a good motivator to know it's for a cause. This time I did something a little different and signed up for my first clothing swap!
2. Do your laundry. Having everything clean and put away helps you to be thorough and really assess what you own. I also pulled all of my winter clothing out of storage so I could see what needed to be cleaned and replaced.
3. Sort everything into four categories: keep, mend, toss and donate.
• Keep: If it's in good condition, it fits and you'll actually wear it.
• Mend: If it's wrinkled, stained, dingy or has a tear that can be repaired.
• Toss: If it's ripped or stained beyond repair.
• Donate: If it's in otherwise good condition but doesn't fit or you just don't wear it.
4. Place the keepers back in your closet, take the mends to the cleaners/tailor/cobbler, and finally get ye to the nearest Goodwill (and don't forget to ask for the receipt).
Once your closet is edited down and cleaned up you can get a much better sense of what you actually have and need, and you'll save yourself time in the mornings when you don't need to sift through everything else. If there were things in my toss pile that I loved so much I just plain wore them out, finding a suitable replacement usually goes right to the top of my shopping list.
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That beach wardrobe photo is inspiring.
The closet photo made me grin-- the patterns and colors of its contents remind me of looking into my mom's closet back in the 70s. Somebody loves vintage here...
love the looks of that wardrobe!
i just cleaned out my closet but i'm still not feeling very inspired....
The 70's...high school, hitting the beach every Saturday morning with my then-boyfriend-now-husband. Good times!
"Toss: If it's ripped or stained beyond repair."
Or turn it into rags. Much more environmentally friendly than paper towels, or clothes in a landfill.
There are also some charities that will pick up donations- both a good motivator to get those donations together + out of the house and helpful for those without cars/easy access to donation locations!
Great article! I also love the photo here.
There are several big charities in the Bay Area here. Salvation Army, Good Will, Pecra. And my favorite these days: Pick of the Litter. Some of the proceed goes to humane society.
My biggest problem when sorting out my closet though is that I tend to talk myself into the clothes which I've outgrown, that I will fit into them one day.. well, those days usually never come. Or, when they finally arrived these clothes are no longer trendy.
That dresser in the closer is brilliant! Anyone know where it's from or where I could find something similar? In love with these ideas for organizing. Thank you!
I don't know the dresser, but using a two-drawer letter file cabinet similarly worked well for me.
I think closet cleaning is also a good time to take note of clothes you don't wear because you don't have anything to go with it. It can help you to make a shopping list.
Part of what makes the pictured closet so great is that there's a clear aesthetic to the clothes. Having a distinct style is more efficient than having lots of impulse buys and trends.
I agree with everything except the donate. I only get rid of things that don't fit, and never will. Otherwise, I keep things because fashion is cyclical and things my eye is trained to think of as "out" now, will eventually come back into style and I'll regret having thrown them out before. It's happened to me so many times and I've ended up re-buying new versions of things I already owned, but gave away.
I'd love to get a source on that dresser. Anybody know?
I have another category that falls before "donate" which is "sell". There are a few decent options in LA - Buffalo Exchange and Crossroads (among others) where you can sell pieces for either cash or store credit. They tend to buy pieces that are still fashionable so if you're willing to part with clothes that are fairly trendy, you can walk away with some extra spending cash. Any items they don't buy, I put in the donate bin.
Out Of The Closet is an excellent place both to donate and buy.
I did a "wardrobe re-evaluation" earlier this year. I suggest another category -- "upcycle." I loved the fabric of a dress I never work, so I cut and hemmed it into a tunic, which I lived in this summer. I also took the elastic out of the sleeves of a dress, turning too-young-looking puffy sleeves into 1970s butterfly sleeves. There are tons of blogs out there with upcycle projects for inspiration.
So funny - I actually cleaned out my closets last night and brought 8 bags of clothing to a women's shelter this afternoon!
I hate to sound like the woman who originally purchased the much admired vintage clothes above and although I draw the line at cobbling my own shoes, most simple mending is pretty easy to do at home. Sewing on a button, mending a rip, etc., can be completed in the time it would take you to drop it off at the tailor's, but you're watching that good Fall TV at the same time! I also agree about using some of the old clothes as rags. Lint-free t-shirts are ideal for cleaning all types of glass. . .
haha I know exactly what I own. Because I wear everything I own and at the end of every week I have to do laundry because there would be nothing left.
I think I need a shopping day. Maybe some money too. Shopping is scary.
I just did this today! I think I just need a few fall basics like some plain long sleeve T's and I'll be good to go. I always donate to AmVets.
+ Store: Sometimes you just get sick of clothes and need to take a break from them for a year. If the item is classic and well made, pack it away if you have the space. Go through these items again in a year, after one full season without them, and see if your interest is renewed. If not, then...
+ Sell: Check out local consignment and second hand stores. Unless you have really top of the line gear, (in which case, try Ebay before consignment), don't expect to get much. But something is better than nothing and you might just get a new dress out of that bag of clothes.
This is most auspicious feng shui--I heartily approve of the wardrobe decluttering! :)
I have been helping women in NYC sell their luxury designer bags, accessories, etc on eBay through my business www.taskalexis.com.
It is gratifying to work with people that get relief cleaning out their closets with items they don't wear anymore and making some nice $ in return.
Where can I buy those drawers?
One of the most important motivators for cleaning out your closet is definitely donating your used clothing to charity. But, did you know all the clothes you donate to charity are tax deductable? That's right, you not only feel good about donating to a good cause but you also get money back on your taxes! Not to mention that organized and spacious closet you will have after you donate. I used "MONEY For Your Used Clothing" a tax valuation guide that publishes the values for over 1,200 used clothing and household items. This book guarantees you save a minimum of at least $250 dollars! You can go ahead and purchase new clothes with money like this! Or, save this extra cash for that vacation you've wanted to go on. So HURRY, there are only 18 days left to make charitable donations in 2011! Here is the books website if anyone is interested! www.mfyuc.com
One of the most important motivators for cleaning out your closet is definitely donating your used clothing to charity. But, did you know all the clothes you donate to charity are tax deductable? That's right, you not only feel good about donating to a good cause but you also get money back on your taxes! Not to mention that organized and spacious closet you will have after you donate. I used "MONEY For Your Used Clothing" a tax valuation guide that pulishes the values for over 1,200 used clothing and household items. This book guarantees you save a minimum of at least $250 dollars! You can go ahead and purchase new clothes with money like this! Or, save this extra cash for that vacation you've wanted to go on. So HURRY, there are only 18 days left to make charitable donations in 2011! Here is the books website if anyone is interested! www.mfyuc.com
Check out this service, http://www.webthriftstore.com/, it creates an online thrift store for charities where you can donate and buy items and the proceeds from the items sold go to charity - cool!
The Mend pile ..can also be the "TO DRY CLEAN" pile. I just noticed ..that stuff also can build up! Get'er done! ;)