How to Declutter and Curate Your Wardrobe
5 steps to optimising it for you and your personal style.
Most of us have too much stuff. Clothes we bought years ago for ‘one day’ that we’ve never worn. Pieces bought in a sale because of a perceived bargain that we’ve worn once, then realised we didn’t actually like that much. Or items that we’ve bought on holiday, inspired by the locals and hot weather, only to realise that what looks great on a sunny day in Lisbon doesn’t exactly translate well to a drizzly day in Liverpool.
I’m guilty of all of the above but I’ve improved over the years as I’ve honed my style and become a lot more aware of the impact fashion has on our planet. I’ve also moved around a lot - various cities in the UK, a few years in Sydney, and a stint in the Channel Islands. I love exploring new places but I hate packing with a passion, so I’ve gradually come to learn what I need (or love so much I can’t bear to part with) and what doesn’t have a place.
When getting dressed, there’s nothing worse than opening up your wardrobe and being faced with pieces you don’t particularly like, or never wear because you’re stuck on how to. It can immediately leave you feeling uninspired and that’s not a great start to a day. So this post is dedicated to decluttering and refining your wardrobe, making sure you have pieces that you love, that fit everything that comes along with your lifestyle and help you feel good whatever you’re wearing.
I recommend setting an hour or two aside to go through this. It takes a bit of time in the beginning but it will make a huge difference - and a daily time saver - when you get dressed. I do this process a few times a year and it’s amazing how cathartic it is - plus it shows me that a lot of the time, my own wardrobe is the best place to ‘shop’.
Step 1: Sort your pieces into four piles
The pieces you wear all the time - even if these are your most ‘basic’ items.
Your seasonal pieces that you’ve got no need for at the moment.
The pieces you love but don’t wear that often, purely because you don’t know how or where to wear them.
The pieces you never wear.
Step 2: Pack your seasonal pieces away
Clearing some pieces out of your wardrobe makes a big difference to getting dressed every day, purely by creating a bit of space and leaving your wardrobe easy to navigate, rather than over-stuffed and overwhelming. We’re currently in the depths of winter and if you’re in the northern hemisphere like me, you’ll have no need for your summer shorts, light cotton sleeveless dresses, short-sleeved shirts, etc. Pack them away in a suitcase or storage boxes, and leave them out of sight until the warmer temperatures come back around.
Step 3: Get rid of your ‘never wears’
If you never wear them and don’t love them, it’s time to part with them. I have a rule that if I’ve forgotten about an item of clothing I own then I don’t love it. If it’s in good condition, sell it on a resale site like Depop or Vinted, or take it to a charity shop.
If an item has had its day, consider recycling it rather than chucking it (every second, the equivalent of a dump truck of textile waste goes to landfill or is incinerated). Teemill, which provides more than 10,000 brands with an open-access circular design and supply chain platform, has recently launched a clothing recycling program. They accept 100% cotton clothing (no denim or underwear) from any brand which is then spun into recycled yarn and remade into new clothing. In return, you’ll receive a credit to spend on circular products at participating Teemill stores (such as Rapanui). More information can be found here.
Step 4: Experiment with your ‘love but don’t know how’s
This is the fun bit: start creating some outfits with those pieces that you love but hardly wear because you don’t know how. This will probably be your more ‘out there’ pieces that are maybe outside your comfort zone or feel a bit daring to wear every day. Pair these with your ‘always’ pieces - those items you wear most days, like your go-to trousers, T-shirts or jumpers - and try out a few different combinations to come up with looks that you love.
Whenever I’m really stuck, I turn to Pinterest and search for ‘item + outfit’, e.g. ‘green trousers outfit’ and see what comes up. Normally, there’ll be a few elements of images that come up - maybe it’s a certain colour combination or type of footwear they’ve paired it with - that will spark inspiration and lead me to try things I haven’t before.
When you’ve created looks that you love, make a note of them. I use my Notes app to write down various combinations or sometimes I’ll take a picture and save it in a folder. That way I can look back whenever I need an inspirational nudge.
Step 5: Organise your wardrobe
My wardrobe is organised by item and colour. Dresses are in one section and start from dark colours to light, then I’ve done the same with my trousers, shirts, etc. It means when I open up my wardrobe, I know exactly what I’m looking at and I’m not spending too much time rifling through the hangers - or, more likely, only ever reaching for the closest thing and neglecting everything else.
Any items marked with * have been kindly gifted by brands. All thoughts, picks and reviews are my own.
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Really loved this post. I decluttered my wardrobe a few months ago but honestly, I don't think I was ruthless enough. Also, I'd never heard of Teemill before but this is definitely something I'll be looking into. Thanks for sharing!
Great tips for organizing!