There is something uniquely attractive about open space in a closet.
When was the last time you saw a staged photo of a closet stuffed to overflowing with clothes? Rarely, if ever. Instead, clothes hang neatly and are organized tidily–with room for air and energy and open spaces. This is attractive to most of us but many of us don’t bother with learning how to get rid of clothes for a minimalist closet.
Instead, our closets are stuffed full of shirts and pants and shoes and belts and jackets. We run out of hangers or shelf space, and then we shop for storage solutions so we can store even more clothes. Our closets become cluttered all too quickly.
Still, we are drawn to the idea of a thinned-out, minimalist closet.
Of course, they offer more benefits than simple beauty. It saves time in the morning (and sometimes, the evening). It reduces stress and frustration. It saves money. There is a special pleasure reserved for those who look in their closet and love everything they see.
If you are looking for help on how to get rid of clothes and form a more minimalist closet, here are nine simple tips to get you started:
1. Start easy. Begin by removing the clothes that are stained, ripped, or faded beyond recognition. Items that are no longer in wearable condition can still be donated.
2. Remove seasonal items. Remove off-season clothing from your closet to free up some needed space. If you didn’t wear an item at all last year, get rid of it. Then, store the remaining pieces in a separate closet where they will not be in your way cluttering up your closet.
3. Get rid of clothes that don’t fit once and for all. If you’re in-between sizes, certainly keep some clothing from both. But if you haven’t cleaned out your closet for quite some time, there are likely a number of ill-fitting items that can be removed entirely—whether you changed sizes, the item shrunk or stretched, or it never did fit quite right. Those ill-fitting items are weighing you down physically, mentally, and emotionally. Pass them on to someone who can use them.
4. Reduce your need for additional accessories. If you’re holding on to something until you find the “perfect accessory,” let it go. Clothes often multiply in our closets because of the Diderot effect (one purchase leads to another, which leads to another). In the future, look for pieces that compliment your existing accessory pile. After all, if you’re constantly adding things to your closet, you’ll never get ahead (not in your closet and not in your checkbook).
5. Consider the idea of one. If one can be enough, embrace it. Rather than owning an entire assortment, try owning just your favorite black dress, belt, handbag, or jacket (just to name a few ideas). A closet filled with only things you love and use will be a closet that you love to use.
6. Reassess current trend purchases. The fashion industry gets rich on one principle: constantly changing fashion trends. You see, the fashion industry cannot survive on people buying only the clothes they need. So the industry invents false need by boldly declaring new fashion trends and colors for every changing season. But you don’t to have fall for their tricks. Find your favorite timeless fashion and start playing by your own rules.
7. Physically handle every item. If you want to make significant progress thinning out your closet, remove every item entirely from the closet. Return only the pieces you truly love. If that task seems too overwhelming, complete the process in sections (i.e. shoes today, shirts tomorrow). However you seek to accomplish this project, it is important that you physically handle each item at some point. The physical touch forces decisions.
8. If all else fails, pick a number. To start, choose 10. Thumb through the clothes in your closet and remove 10 items—any 10 you want. Put them in a bag and drop off at your nearest donation center. Likely, you will find the task was not that difficult. In fact, once you get started, you may find 15 or 20 things to remove without even breaking a sweat.
9. Experiment with less. Test your assumptions about the optimal amount of clothing with a few, simple experiments. Try placing half of your clothing in a different room for two weeks. You will be surprised how much easier is to function and get ready with fewer clothes in your closet. Most of us wear 20% of our clothing 80% of the time and would live much happier with fewer wardrobe choices than we have now. But you’ll never realize that until you test it out.
There are many reasons the capsule wardrobe movement is growing so rapidly. A thinned out minimalist wardrobe is less stressful, less time-consuming, and more convenient. You’ll love it once you experience it yourself.
And there’s no time like the present to get started.
Mom2 says
I struggle with coveting clothing and hoarding. I love the clothes. Any clothing rental services around ? Want newness without adding to piles. Wear a variety of stuff but still not everything. Will be seeking help soon. Trauma digs holes that I can not possibly fill.
Courtney B says
There are clothing rental sites online I think Stich Fix is one. There is a fancier site like Rent the Runway. I think I saw one for Fashion to Figure which is plus sized fashionable clothes that I was interested in. Google clothing rentals.
You can also do clothes swaps with friends or coworkers. I’ve done that one time at work. Interestingly, I found getting a bunch of books on hold at the library for pickup sometimes feels like a shopping trip and it’s free (and you return them). Sounds weird but it helps.
That’s great you’re getting help though. You may want to start journaling about what it is that makes you want to hoard the clothes.
mike says
I am a bit of a clothing junky, but my biggest problem with pairing down my wardrobe is that I need a lot of clothing, because of all variety of things I am involved with. I work a professional job. I manage a large property, so I need outdoor work wear that can withstand abrasion and provide protection for some of the work I do on the property. I have to maintain a number of farm vehicles, so I have mechanics gear that can get dirty and oily. I coach my daughter’s soccer team and workout regularly, so I have soccer, running gear and swimming gear for lap swimming. I have several outfits of each to accomodate the several times a week that I do these activities. I also have all my casual clothing, such as jeans, chinos, t-shirts, etc.. Multiply that all times 4, because I live in an area that experiences 4 seasons. I have very few duplicates. So when I go through my closet, I see very few items that I have not actually warn in the last year. I am quick to get rid of anything that I have not warn or that does not fit or any nice clothing that gets stained. So I just don’t know how I get past that.
Jn says
I applaud you sir!
Flor says
Hi Joshua,
I’ve struggled with weight most of my life and I also perspire a lot.
I’ve tried to wear less of my tops, jackets and coats; but only to having to get rid of most of them due to the stains and odor. Then, I go back to buying more again to have some decent nicer smelling clothing.
I have also changed my eating habits, drink a lot of water and exercise.
The weight fluctuation is up and down for a few years off and on.
I like to reuse and recycle and stuff and purchase most of my clothes at Thrift stores and follow my own personal fashion trend.
What advise and help could you give me to become minimalist on my wardrobe in spite of what I shared here? Thank you in advance!
Meg says
There is medical help for excessive sweating. A family member was helped by the doctor and has no problems now.
Analou Alcantara says
Hi! Maybe you could send a box of donation in the Philippines. We need it here more than you guys there. Thank you.
Saydie Holland says
How do we do that?
Teresa says
Hi Analou. Do you happen to know how we can go about donating clothes in the Philippines?
clic aqui says
Es por eso que las personas deberían vestir lo que quieren reflejando quiénes son y expresándose de una manera unica esa es la gran importancia de la moda en la actualidad.
Celine says
Great content. Sorry, just had to point out there’s a typo on second-to-last sentence on part 6. I had to reread it a couple times to make sense of it. Thank you for the great tips!
goddessstyle says
Our collections is made to be as unique as those who wear it – clothing for independent women who defy expectations, move to their own beat and spread the love. We’re out here for the powerful free spirits out there.
madnature says
We aim to offer our customers a variety of clothing and accessories. We have come a long way, so we know exactly which direction to take when supplying you with high quality. We offer all of this while providing excellent customers services and friendly supports.
Ella Starr says
How helpful that you suggest to choose a number and take that number of clothes out of your closet. I want to get my closet very organized this summer. I will find a great closet organizer service in my area.
Eddie says
Wow, some of these comments/stories are sad. Lots of addiction. If your son or husband are bothered by it, you should be as well. They don’t care about the volume of stuff, they’re concerned about you, and responding with “sorry, it’s who I am, deal with it” is just plain selfish. Enabling this behavior with extra closet-rooms, garages, etc. is def. not normal…its hoarding, gluttony and it is enslaving you. The article discusses logical steps to minimize any trauma associated with change of these behaviors and it does ‘snowball’ in a very productive way for once you take the first step. We started 1-bin of baby/toddler clothes at a time.,,,our only child is 28 so we’ve been storing 7-8 bins of that stuff a long time! Finally, (we) realize, clothes are NOT keepsakes! We have progressed to other closets and realize how foolish accumulation is.