Closet Cleanse the Right Way
“I have nothing to wear.”
I’m sure you have uttered these words at least once or twice in your lifetime. Well, I’ve been saying them at least several times since the new year started, which proves that something needed to be done ASAP. With the joy of 'spring cleaning' currently in the air, cleaning out my closet was the obvious answer.
The usual questions that pop up when I'm in standing in front of my closet perplexed, not knowing where to start, would be whether or not I have sufficient space to hold more clothes or which items I should hide away until fall weather returns. I'd also run into impeding questions like, "Should I really get rid of this?" or "Will I honestly wear this within the next six months?" There's nothing worst than keeping something you will never use. Sometimes, you may even feel like throwing everything out and starting all over again, but let's be real. I'm sure there are a good amount of things in your closet that can last you for a few more years to come.
If you are on the fence like I was on revamping your wardrobe for the better, here are 3 ways you can improve your overall spring closet cleaning experience:
- INVEST | Think about the investments you made or are going to make. Keep what you can't live without. Get rid of what you can.
- As an influencer and blogger who is really into fashion, there will always be a number of clothes in my closet that I'll get very few wears out of. This process is very similar to how fast fashion stores like Forever 21 and Zara, stock new arrivals every week with general names like, 'Sheer Maxi Dress' or 'Twist-Front Crop Top'. They look cute for a period of time, but go out of style before you know it. The best solutions for this is to invest in quality timeless pieces that will last you a long time and to not fall into what I like to call, 'the daily trend trap', which encourages trends over value. If you follow me on Instagram, you'll notice by the amount of times I've worn my Gucci Belt Bag, it's the perfect example of a good investment.
- CHOOSE NATURAL FIBERS | Which clothes are deteriorating and looking far worse than when you purchased them?
- Natural fibers such as cotton, linen, silk, wool, cashmere etc. are what I pay most attention to when shopping for clothes. Since they are made from plants, they last longer in my closet (even through frequent washes) and are great for the environment as they decompose easily. On the other hand, synthetic fibers like acrylic, spandex and polyester, take much longer to decompose because they are made from a mixture of toxic chemicals. A lot of the time, I find myself choosing natural wools over acrylic/viscose materials for the winter because they pill a lot less over time. Would you rather spend $300 on a 100% wool cardigan that will last you forever or $100 on one made of Acrylic that you'd probably dispose of before the end of the season. These are important things to think about on your next shopping trip.
- DONATE OR SELL | Recycle the clothes you don't want. Give them to someone who would cherish them the way you once did.
- Now if you don't have all the money in the world and occasionally fall into the 'daily trend trap' while purchasing clothes that are in between blends like 50% wool and 50% acrylic etc., when you are ready to clean your closet, try your best to avoid disposing your clothes in the trash. At best, hand them down to a relative, donate or sell a much as you can. This will benefit not only you, but mother nature as well, as your items become several less environmental hazards waiting to happen. The great thing about this day and age is that there are plenty of mobile apps you can use to sell your items easily from the click of a button (Try Ebay or Mercari!). If you're lucky enough to have a designer piece or two and have fallen out of love with it, you're highly likely to get a decent return on investment if you sell it to the right buyer. Choose your options wisely.
Overall, it's important that we educate ourselves as much as we can in these cases. It'll make our lives easier for us in the future. What are some ways you improve your closet cleaning experience? Comment below!
