Lifestyle: The Wardrobe Purge: Trimming Down Your Wardrobe.

Hello, party people!

Toward the beginning of the month I introduced my new series, called The Wardrobe Purge, in the hopes of enlightening those poor souls that, like me, became slaves of consumerism to the point of hoarding unnecessary stuff.

Don't get me wrong, I'm happy to live in a place that gives me so many choices and allows me to be stylish on a poor college girl budget, but there comes a time when hoarder girl over here needs to put on her big girl panties and stop spending money on irrelevant things.

My first purge post goes into a bit of detail about the decision-making process for the purge, but I felt that a more complete overview was needed. So, here we go!

First off, pick your purging time wisely. Long weekends, summer break, winter break, anytime you are likely to be bored and therefore stick with the task at hand. Summer + winter are also prime motivational purging time since most people see back-to-school and the new year as a fresh start.

Now that you've worked out the motivation, it's time to start the process. We've got 4 piles to work with: keepers, maybes, donation/sale, trash. 

You've got a keeper if:

• it's a basic piece that fits you well and can be paired with loads of things in your closet,
• it's something you find yourself going back to and wearing constantly,
• it's something comfortable that you love to gravitate toward on lazy days,
• it's a special-ish occasion item that you're not crazy over on a day-to-day basis, but you don't have anything else of the sort (e.g. job interview outfit- if the job interview comes up and you find yourself buying items that you like better, this moves to the donation pile- but just as a backup, it should stay for the time being).

Remember, everyone's basic pieces and preferences are different. Go with your own opinion, not your friend's.

You've got a maybe if:

• it's something you've worn once or twice but is never your absolute first choice when creating your outfit,
• it's something that you haven't worn because you didn't know it existed in your overflowing closet, but now that you've rediscovered it, you find yourself excited about the item,
• it's something that you're feeling iffy about, but you can imagine it paired up with at least 3 different items in your keepers pile.

You've got a donation/potential sale if:

• it's something that has been gently worn, not your style, but you could see someone else rocking it,
• it's something that hasn't been worn and still has the tag on after a few months, 
• it's something formal that you've already worn but don't want to part with because it's pretty,
• it's something ill-fitting on you, but still in wearable condition with the potential to work on other body types,
• it's something you've been wanting to part with for a while, but haven't yet for fear of your mother's wrath- "but it's so beautiful and you look like an adult in it and yadda yadda yadda" (this one was the determining factor in plenty of my discards),
• basically, if it's in good condition and you're over it, don't throw it in the trash- one man's trash is another man's treasure.

And finally, you've got a trash contender if:

• it's unintentionally ripped (i.e. not distressed boyfriend jeans, etc.) or has wear holes in it,
• it's stained beyond repair (e.g. yellowing from deodorant stains...or plenty types of different alcohol stains on the pretty red formal dress that I wore to my cousin's wedding- HARDEST GOODBYE),
• it's an undergarment that has touched your body (underwear, bathing suits, socks, etc.) 

I hope you enjoyed the second part of my Wardrobe Purge, and you're at least mildly inspired to make a change in your wardrobe. Next up in the series: what to do with your unwanted clothing! Stay tuned!

As usual, thank you for stopping by! 

Lifestyle: The Wardrobe Purge: Part 1.

Greetings, friends! I'd like to introduce you to my new blog series, The Wardrobe Purge.

Having to pack my stuff and move this summer, I realized that I own an excessive amount of things that I, for some reason or another, never get to wear. Seeing the huge pile of stuff in my room, most of which is absolutely beautiful and absolutely not me, inspired me to take on an important project for any clothing-loving woman- The Wardrobe Purge. Allow me to expand:

What is The Wardrobe Purge?

-The Wardrobe Purge is the realization that you own an impossibly large amount of stuff that's cluttering your life rather than making it enjoyable. Upon coming to this realization, the purge is completed by committing to rid of everything that has proven useless throughout the years, and working on building a timeless, versatile wardrobe that matches your personal style. 

When should you purge?

-Whenever there is a 'new beginnings' type episode in your life. Packing for college? Purge. Moving to a different home? Purge more. Feeling depressed and stressed and don't know why? Well, maybe your life is a bit too cluttered- and purging will make you feel much better! 

What should you purge?

-Well, for starters, there's all the stuff that's not up for debate:

• anything that's damaged or stained beyond repair. anything that can be fixed but you're avoiding as well- if you're not willing to take action in this very moment, you obviously don't care enough about an item and will be avoiding it continuously.
• anything ill-fitting- too big, too small, cardigans that form that awkward hole in between buttons, everything of the sort. unless it's something big that you enjoy styling as an oversized item, let go. 
• anything that you feel you've outgrown in terms of shape and color. over your pink Barbie phase? so am I. and most of the pink items are long gone by now (except for the fancier ones that can be styled in a decently adult-looking manner).
• anything that doesn't feel 'you'. no matter how beautiful an item is, if you don't feel comfortable or yourself while wearing it, the discomfort will show. if it seems like an item is wearing you rather than the other way around, let go.
• anything formal that you've already worn to an event and are too sentimentally attached to part with. I get it. it's a pretty item, but what good does it do if it's tucked away in your closet? unless you put it on a mannequin and use it as room decor, just discard. give it to a relative that has admired your wardrobe before. prom dresses can be donated, giving you a chance to make a girl feel like a princess. the possibilities are endless!
• anything that you kind of just purchased and stashed away in a bag, or haven't worn in 2 years (I don't believe in the 1 year rule, just because if you own a lot of stuff that's not always on display, you might forget about those pieces hidden in the very back of your closet.

- Anything that's made it passed this stage goes into probation period. Those things that you find yourself wearing constantly are off-limit. Those are your wardrobe staples- from now on, you should look at purchasing items that you see yourself wearing with at least 3 different wardrobe staples. Everything else enters probation period. With a smaller wardrobe, you're able to see more of the items you own and think of new ways to combine them. Take about 6 months to test out your remaining clothes, and then purge again once you have a grasp on your personal style and what items you actually wear. During this time, be mindful about anything you purchase- make sure to keep impulse purchases to a minimum!

Good luck!

I hope my wardrobe purge introduction has inspired you to tackle the clutter in your closet! Stay tuned for Part 2, where I will be sharing some ideas on what to do with your unwanted clothing!

Thanks for stopping by! :)