Simple Steps to Declutter Your Wardrobe
I’ve spent the last few weeks going through my wardrobe with a fine-tooth comb, being more honest than usual about what I do and don’t want to wear again. The last year delivered more than a few outfit frustrations, and I’d like to avoid repeating them.
I don’t have a crystal-clear vision of how I want to dress in 2026, but I’m very clear about what I didn’t enjoy wearing in 2025. Since my personal style continues to evolve, staying on top of what no longer works has become part of the process.
Decluttering isn’t just about creating space. It’s a way to remove the distractions that make getting dressed harder than it needs to be and to take a closer look at what still aligns with how I want to live and dress now.
Before you declutter, be sure you don’t just need to reorganize what you own. If your closet is messy, it’s hard to find the right pieces to put together a cohesive look.
I’m updating this post from last year because this is not a one-and-done exercise. Our wardrobes change as we do, and a simple, thoughtful reset goes a long way.
How To Start
Many people like to attack their wardrobe, ala Marie Kondo, but that’s never appealed to me. It’s not realistic for me to take everything out of my closet at one time and toss it into a pile. That process creates a mountain of work, and it would depress me long before I finished it. If the job is overwhelming, decision fatigue can set in, so you end up rushing to finish and start making poor decisions.
I like to make this simple, so I start at one end of the rod or go through one drawer at a time.
Have four bags or boxes at the ready:
1- This box is for items you want to donate or send to consignment stores.
2- This bag is for things that are too worn to salvage or donate. Our landfills are clogged with discarded clothes, so you could also investigate non-profits that will accept textiles in any condition.
3- This bag is for garments you want to keep wearing but they’re in need of repair, cleaning, or alterations.
4- This not-sure box is for anything you’re on the fence about.
The not-sure box is super important! You can bravely place things into this box because you know it’s not leaving your house. The decision is temporary and allows you to revisit the pieces later, but they aren’t hanging in your closet to see each day. Tape the box closed and store it in a guest room closet or the garage to examine in 6+ months.
Questions To Ask as You Declutter Your Wardrobe
If your taste and style are evolving like mine, you may find it helpful to revisit the three-word method to find your personal style. I’m in the process of redefining my words this year, so I’m being extra careful about what I donate.
For each item you pick up, ask yourself:
- Does it fit you properly at your current weight?
- Do you have 5 or 6 multiples of the same type of garment?
- Is it expressing who you are now at this stage of life and with your current style goals?
- Is it still in good shape, or does it need repairing or altering?
- Does the color and style flatter your current hair color and body shape?
- Do you feel fabulous wearing it, or does it spark joy per the Konmari method?
- Is it still in style, or has the trend passed so you’ll look dated if you wear it?
- Have you reached for it in the last year or so? Some people recommend getting rid of things you haven’t worn in six months, but I disagree. There are several categories of clothes we need in our wardrobes that are rarely worn but invaluable to have on hand, such as formal wear or what to wear to a funeral.
Closet Cleanout Tips and Mistakes
Take Your Time
Listen to your intuition, and don’t be too hasty. If you’re unsure about an item, remember that it can go into your not-sure box #4 above.
Don’t Be Overly Emotional
Is this the scarf your friend gave you, but you dislike how it looks on you, and never wear it? Is this the suit you wore when you got that fabulous promotion, but you’ve retired and now live a casual lifestyle?
Decluttering Essentials
Have a notepad nearby to jot down items you need to add to your wardrobe. If you discover that your favorite black pants are looking a little worse for wear, make a note to keep an eye out for a new pair. Be sure to replace them before you donate your old ones.
Cost Does Not Equal Value
This is a slippery slope. Just because you paid a lot for something doesn’t mean you should keep it. And if you got a smokin’ hot deal on something that doesn’t look great on you, it’s not serving you well either. If you did pay a lot for something, sell it at a consignment shop to recoup some of your original investment.
Relying Solely On Joy
A functional wardrobe needs items that serve a purpose, and they don’t all have to spark joy…sorry, Marie Kondo. Wardrobes need functional basics that we may feel neutral about, but that are essential pieces for completing our outfits. That said, don’t keep anything you don’t like!
You Keep Too Many Duplicates.
My hand is raised on this one. It’s so easy to justify another great pair of black pants because I like and wear them so often. Keep a few of the best, and release the rest. Last year, I struggled to declutter my jeans collection. Surprise! I find myself in the same spot again this year, with multiple pairs in a donation bag!
You’re Overzealous
We often talk about finding your personal style here on AWSL. Our style evolves as we learn and grow, so getting rid of large portions of your wardrobe in one fell swoop can lead to remorse. I’d rather have three not-sure boxes than regret donating a piece prematurely. Packing things up and removing them from your daily wardrobe will help clear your mind so you can get a better idea of how you want to look going forward.
The one category I seldom declutter from my wardrobe is accessories. They take up very little space, and I often change my mind about them.
How To Organize Your Wardrobe
As you go through this process, begin to organize your wardrobe in a user-friendly way. Some people like to organize by color, and others use categories. I find that categories make the most sense, and then I further refine them by color within each category.
Hang all your shirts on the rod, facing in the same direction. Group all jeans together and all pants together. The same goes for skirts, jackets, sweaters, and knit tops. You can further categorize them by color (light to dark) or formality level (casual to dressy). This helps you see what you have, identify duplicates, and spot the things you’re missing from your wardrobe essentials.
Note – I no longer separate my items by formality because life is too short not to wear the good stuff. It’s fun to wear a silk blouse; add jeans, sneakers, some amazing earrings, and a faux fur vest. I firmly believe we should not save our best pieces. We deserve to enjoy them every chance we can get.
Get a good lint remover and fabric shaver to keep your clothes in good shape moving forward. My favorite is this Gleener and this shaver.
Wardrobe Storage Tools
Velvet hangers save a ton of room on your rods and virtually double your closet space. The flocked surface helps grip your tops so they don’t slip to the floor.
I like to hang my seasonal clothes, sweaters, and woolens in these clear wardrobe storage bags so I can see what I have while they keep the moths at bay. You can also use under-the-bed storage bins, but I fear I would forget what I own!
Hardest clothing to declutter
Some categories feel easier to declutter than others. The pieces you struggle with most will likely be your favorite types of garments. For me…it’s jeans because I wear them most days. Try not to justify keeping too many duplicates because it’ll make it harder to get dressed each morning.
The goal isn’t a perfect closet. It’s one that works better. A little space goes a long way, and you don’t have to be ruthless to get there. When something gives you pause, set it aside and move on.
What’s the category that’s hardest for you to declutter?
Jennifer…this was a wonderful post, so helpful. I’ve already started the process but the wardrobe is so hard for me to do. Thanks again!
I’m so glad it was helpful.
I find parting with special occasion pieces the most difficult. I also see that fancier occasions are not as common these days. A good jacket is like a work of art to me. Since my weight fluctuates and I am dealing with a larger waistline I did decide to treat myself to having a semi dressy jacket made to my own design. It was expensive but it is a forgiving swing jacket design which can easily accommodate fluctuations. It was a thrill to design and choose the colors and fabric I wanted.I made it reversible and I deserve it! All I can say to those who are struggling with weight for the first time…Be grateful you had the ease of wearing what you wanted for so long. I’m not sure you realize how lucky you are.
Your jacket sounds fabulous, Teri!
My hardest items to declutter is my dressy blouses. It is hard to find the right ones as a petite. So you have challenged me with the not sure box. Thanks
This works for me!
I tried various methods of sorting. Taking everything out of the closets at one time? Overwhelming. Minimalism? No, not for me. Do I love my socks or thermals? No, I need them.
I bought a half-dozen soft-sided transparent clothing storage bags with zippers from IKEA. I fold the out-of-season items and store them in the bags on shelves. These bags stack well. The weather here goes backward and forward during shoulder seasons, so I can easily take something out or put something in until the weather settles. Best of all, I can see what’s in each bag without taking them off the shelves.
I pull items that are no longer useful to me out of circulation in the season when I’m wearing them. This way I know if they fit or look worn without a mega try-on session. They go directly into a clear plastics bag. I wash them up and donate when the bag is full.
It would be so much easier to deal with one season all year long, but we do need clothing for all extremes here.
I love shoes, so they are the hardest to cull.
Ok…now I’m not only in the mood to purge – but motivated to start decluttering both mine and my hubby’s closet too! Great post, so thanks for the nudge…😉
It has been three years since a California wildfire burned down my house and “decluttered” for me. I’m now at the point where I need to refine my new closet and get rid of some stuff. I have things I bought without much thought right after the fire. When you need to start from scratch, you can’t be too picky. I have things donated to me from kind friends, but most of them are not “me.” I have also collected things I thought a wardrobe needs but turn out to be not necessary (mostly cold-weather accessories in this category.) I bought “cheap” in the beginning, and I regret several choices. So my new mantra is “If not now, when?” I was pulling something out of the closet, hesitating and putting it back, thinking I would wear it eventually, maybe. My new mantra is helping. If I can’t identify a time I would wear the garment, it goes into the donation pile. It’s a process, but I’m aiming for a useable wardrobe of things I really want.
I’m so sorry you went through that, Kay. I love your new mantra. We need to all have that attitude about our things.
A Plan! Now, if you cold only give me the energy to dig in! Happy New Year, and thanks for the inspiration!
Thank you very much for sharing your decluttering method! I feel ready to tackle this chore just knowing I don’t have to purge everything. I’m going to get that Not Sure tote ready now!
I will also give myself time to get out my rolling rack and array my jeans (and white tops) and try them on.
I have eclectic taste, but feel best in classic wear so I often love what I see (and buy)… on someone else. Does anyone else have trouble letting go of things you love… but don’t really love you?
I have eclectic taste too, and that’s what usually gets me into trouble.
Hi there
This should mean you will not be buying anything this year – right? Just kidding!
I’m always amazed as to how much clothes you have. I wish I enjoyed shopping.
Thanks for the tips.
Happy New Year to you.
I’m hoping for help here. Feeling desperate. Most sweaters and tees have big, round neck openings. My neck is thin and becoming very wrinkled and my most worrisome area. Only collared shirts help a bit. Turtlenecks catch on the wrinkles. Necklaces bring attention to the problem I would love to donate them all but I have to wear something. Help. Hi
I have a suggestion for you Verna. Perhaps try out some soft scarves, lightly tied. The scarf could add a pretty punch of colour near your face , which if it’s the right colours, would be very cheery. There’s fullness and softness .
I have had fun watching videos about ways to use different shaped scarves.
Hope this gives you some ideas. We all have areas we like to hide a bit. At 72+ my neck has changed a lot too!
Look for a crew neck or high v-necklines, which will be the most forgiving. You could also try scarves.
You could try a fake collar to put under the sweaters. There are lots on Amazon.
I lost a lot of weight in 2021 and 2022. Plus we moved 1,500 miles and the area is much more casual than city life and opposite in climate. I donated and sold a lot of clothes on Mercari. It is a wonderful site and easy to work with. Just an idea for others.
Thank you, Jennifer, for this wonderful post. So many helpful hints for decluttering.
Thanks for the decluttering tips. I need the nudge, and your tips were good! I really like the Not-Sure box (or boxes! 😅)! That could really help me. Lately, I feel so much guilt if I don’t try to sell items on Poshmark or ThredUp. And, gosh, that takes so much time and effort. Happy New Year!
Great post! And perfect time of year to do it!
12 years ago when we retired and relocated permanently from the Washington, DC area to SWFL I had a massive purging job to do since we already had a completely furnished house/wardrobe in FL at our part time home. I had to get rid of about 3/4 of my clothes since SWFL is pretty much summer all year with seasonal cooling at night. I had a sitting room attached to our bedroom where I laid all of one category of clothing on the floor on one side of the empty space at that point. I then walked down the room and moved everything to the opposite side of the room that I knew immediately I did not want to take with me. When the job got tough I left and went and did something else for a few hours or rest of the day. When I went back to the job at hand it was amazing how many additional items I could add to the “not take with me” side of the room. At the end of each day I bagged the “not take with me” items and donated them the following morning so I couldn’t change my mind. It took a while to go through my entire closet but at the end I tried all the “keeps” on and still donated some as they didn’t look as great as I remembered them. I still kept too many business type clothes as I retired when I left and I now have gotten rid of all but a very few of them for meetings I still attend now and again.
Now that I live in a pretty much 1 season climate I’m trying your process!
Great post! Jeans, sweaters and casual shoes are the things that accumulate in my wardrobe, mostly out of a fear that I won’t have enough choice when I get dressed every day. However, like many ( most?) of us, I constantly reach for the same few things, leaving the others languishing. I’m feeling inspired today to get “real” about these items, knowing that if I TRULY ever feel there’s not enough choice, I can go shopping!😂
I need this despite the fact that I have a smallish wardrobe I think. After retiring from teaching I donated bags and bags of blazers, skirts, dress pants and classic shirts. I kept 2 blazers. I need jeans that are smaller but I’m tough to fit. I own only 4 pair.
I invest in cashmere tops mainly and some cute work out clothes, but not too many of anything except sweaters
and unique tops. .
In my climate, I go from short sleeve tees to heavy gauge wool sweaters. There aren’t really shoulder seasons. I have too many pretty, J Crew, fine gauge sweaters and silk blouses. They don’t get worn but I love them. My rule is if I love it, it can stay.
I decluttered my overflowing cosmetic drawer over the weekend. My resolution is to throw out/assess it four times a year.
My makeup drawer got cleaned out too.
Magnificent column! Thank you! I retired exactly a year ago and am struggling with suits and blazers. I’ve decided to keep one winter suit and one summer suit—whichever ones fit best and look most classic. I’m allowing myself to keep only my four favorite blazers because I love to pair them with jeans. Ok, I’ve decided this without looking at my closet yet, but am doing so today—wish me luck!
Along with some of the other suggestions for donations, I like to also recommend Suits for Vets. These items go to service women (and men) who are re-entering the workforce after their service to our country.
Many times I take photos of myself with my phone in a mirror (front, back and side views). I then realize that a particular item I thought looked great really doesn’t
That’s a great way to determine how things look
I love the “not sure pile” idea. I will definitely use that when I get my courage up to tackle my closet.
Good advice that I’ll save for later. I declutter and examine my closet at the end of each season — we have 4 in the Northeast — and right now, we are in early winter with more to come. I would add one tip: ask yourself what you need BEFORE buying new clothes. This will save you money and keep you from having a dozen pairs of jeans. The ‘save for later’ tip doesn’t work for me. It simply kicks the can down the field, and I need to deal with things once and done.