Decluttering/refining your wardrobe
Part of fashion is purchasing pieces and feeling the joy of how it fits in your style and the potential of how it'll make you feel. Also part of one's fashion is the process of letting go of pieces that no longer fit your current lifestyle or aesthetic. What have you removed from your wardrobe and what was the story behind it or interesting tales.
7 Replies
Earlier in the year, I did a sweep of easy to remove items from the wardrobe. The common thread among this iteration was that they were just were just uncomfortable, either fit or material. No pieces that were of any note. Just a lot of "itchy sweaters amirite?"
Surprised this isn’t a more popular topic.
Rant incoming
I’ve been thinking about this a lot this year. Near the end of 2022 I started a new job (significant $ increase) and moved into a bigger place. This caused me to go a bit crazy purchasing all sorts of clothing. I had to be back in office too which didn’t help as I had gotten rid of most of my work clothes over the pandemic.
I realized my closet had been filled up yet again but there was so much stuff competing. I had streetwear / mfa 2013-2016 era clothing / techwear / heritage / etc clothing. I was still wearing basically the same thing everyday which was just blue jeans and t shirts. For awhile I was trying to purchase things to try and expand the categories I liked but now I hardly wear some of it.
Decided to make 2023 a no purchase year. I knew I wanted to get rid of a lot but also had to work on furnishing the new place so it made sense to take a break. I have been chasing the fashion dragon for 10 years at this point so figured this could be a good change of pace.
Thinking about the things I got rid of a lot of it comes down to 2 categories.
Out of styles stuff, lots here from my streetwear days lingering in my closet. Wasn’t a huge trend chaser but stuff that as I get closer to 30 doesn’t speak to me anymore.
Stuff that doesn’t fit, god so many pants including those purchased near the end of 2022. I had these Foret studio pants I consulted the style chart and lied to myself I could still wear 34 waist. Ordered 2 pairs and while I can get into both of them one pair is much tighter than the other. I’ve realized I was a victim of skinny pant trend as I’ve always had big thighs. The big pants revival reminded me why I was late to the skinny trend in the first place.
Lol, yeah I'd imagine this post would get traction for someone after they immediately after they threw something out instead of sometime afterwards in reflection.
The point about having clothes in the closet "competing" was definitely a part of the process of looking at something right now. My wardrobe is at the point now where a large part of keeping something is kind of dwindled to: "Would I wear this over anything else I currently have?"
But I think I can only judge by "competition" now because I've already trimmed the amount of clothes by so much and at this point it's about wearing the stuff I really love or gravitate towards, rather than the "maybe".
so what's the closet curated down towards now, if it could be described?
Lol, I’m decluttering right now… and now I can actually answer this question. Lots of the stuff I got rid of were things that I outgrew (either size-wise or style-wise), or things that I bought excited to find a fit for it but never actually figuring out something that worked. In particular, I had a turtleneck from Uniqlo that I kept trying to make happen (it’s my favorite color and so comfortable!) but it was just a tad too large and looked awkward any way I wore it, so that was that :/ But doing this has helped me look at old pieces in a new light too; I had a pair of pants that I was struggling to find a fit for and after looking at it a bit more I realized that I can piece together a lot of great looks with it. Same goes for a denim jacket that at the time I bought it thought it was incredibly bulky but also simultaneously short in length - like magic, as trends have evolved, this has come into its own and I can see it for what it is, a more boxy cropped jacket. And it looks great (still not sold on the color, but I’m keeping it around)
Right now it’s mostly just high quality basics. Still end up wearing the same pair of jeans and a tucked in t shirt most days but now all the clutter is gone which should leave me up to experimenting more next year when I allow myself more purchases.
Trying to get more value out of my whole closet that I still have left so I can really be precise with what I pickup
Don’t you love it when a piece you have held onto for no reason comes into trend and now you get to look like you were way ahead of the trend? I had a pair of sambas as my beaters forever now I look like a style genius
I've gotten rid of pretty much all items i used to own with large logos on them, and a lot of the lower quality items have been either donated or sold. Downsized my denim from about 40 or so pairs to maybe 20. As I get older, I've become more 'modest' and stick to basics with subtle or no visible branding that aren't as flashy as some of my older items used to be. I've gotten a lot more casual with my work wardrobe and have purged the majority of the more formal items in my closet as well. Even my accessories (rings, bracelets, watches, necklaces) have been way decluttered. As BlueisPurple stated, trying to move toward high quality basics.
My entire closet is black now.