We’re still working hard to simplify things around here. (In fact, after filling our crawl space with yard sale items, we started piling them in the garage. The Hubs informed me yesterday that the garage is now also full. Looks like we’ll start storing things in the living room now.)
I recently tackled my wardrobe, and reduced it by about 75%.
I started by bringing every last item of clothing and shoes down to the living room. It was easier to be ruthless when I couldn’t just turn around and put items back in the closet.
This was everything I owned:
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Fun fact! The orange and white dress on top was the inspiration for the miniature dress in my shop window.
The plan was to have three rounds of paring the pile down. I did the first two rounds, and then ran some errands before the last round so I could come back with fresh eyes. After round 2, I had cleaned out more than 50%.
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Leaving the house for a while did the trick. When I got home, I was able to reduce that pile by almost half.
When I counted what I had left, there were 45 items, so I pushed myself to toss out 5 more things.
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This is some of what is going away:
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It has been pretty easy to keep it up so far. I have decided to stay under 45 items, so if I buy a new piece, I have to get rid of an old one. That’s not so exciting.
Not only does it just feel good to have less, laundry is easier and getting dressed is easier. It’s odd that before, I would look in my closet and dresser and think “I have nothing to wear” on a regular basis, I haven’t felt that way once since tossing 75% of it. Another great benefit is that my dresser is empty, so that’s also going in the yard sale!
Do you keep stuff around that you don’t wear too? Have you ever gone extreme in cleaning out your clothes?
Wow! That is radical, even agressive, but not in a bad way. I have never done anything like that. I think I am ruthless but not in one go. I throw away clothes on a regular basis, but just one or two at a time. And even those usually end up on the crafts pile…
My approach to my clothes is that everything I own must fit to my closet (and it’s not a walk in closet), even jackets. Although I’ve taken the liberty to not count in the jackets or shoes of the season. But all out of season clothes must fit to my closet.
But what you’ve done is amazing!
Yes, I have saved so many for the craft pile. In fact, that’s where the miniature dress and most of the other fabric in the dollhouse came from.
I like your plan, confining them to a small space should keep things simple.
Did you keep the inspiration dress??!!
I HATE shopping!! I have 2 pair of jeans and sweatshirts from various states hubby has bought for me. Simple scrubs for work (5 sets for working 4 days a week). I have recently acquired some of my great aunts clothing after she passed – which is perfect.
Well your job sure makes it easy for you, so does hating to shop! 🙂
Yes, I definitely kept the inspiration dress–it’s one of my favorites.
I love the idea of cutting your wardrobe down to a set number of items. I will have to give it a try. I have lots of stuff I never wear that’s taking up space.
You’re going to love it.
Post about it if you do it, I’d love to see!
Ah I should really do this as well! Don’t think I can reduce it to 45 items tough haha
Done! Did this today and I feel awesome! Thanks for the inspiration.
Yay! That’s awesome to hear.