Did you ever look in your closet and think I have too much? Then feel completely lost as to what to do next?
Yes? Yes! I am a former shopaholic and know how overwhelming it is to have too many things. I once had more than 100 pairs of shoes, and a closet full of items I didn’t wear (many still with tags). ).
Things are very different these days. I have embraced a minimalistic wardrobe and learned that less is more. These tips will help you start if you are overwhelmed by clothes.
How many clothes is too many?
I’m a minimalist and many people expect me say “you should only have 30 pieces of clothing.” This is a farce.
Instead, I believe there is no one size fits all answer to the question of how much is too much. Different people have different needs, depending on their lifestyle, environment, values and priorities.
As a mom to young and messy children, I have to wash and change my clothes frequently. To have less would be to stress about laundry and run out of clothes.
Let’s go back a few years. I didn’t have children and lived in a tiny studio apartment. It’s amazing how fast things can change! It would have been stressful to have as many clothes back then as there is now, since there was nowhere else to store them all.
I also didn’t have to buy as many because I could wear them more than once before they got washed. There are no sticky fingers or snotty nostrils to contend with!
This is to say that what’s right for one person might not be enough for another. There are many things that can go wrong, and we all have different needs. So stop worrying about How many clothes you should be wearing.
You might instead find this question more useful: “Is it greater to keep all my clothes than the value they bring to my life?”
Attention to the effect on your wardrobe
- Does your closet stress you out?
- Are you having trouble finding what you are looking for?
- Are you feeling guilty or sad because you don’t have the clothes you want?
These are all signs that you may have more than you need and it is time to let go.
How to Decide Which Clothes To Keep?
So, once you decide that you have too many clothes what do you do?
You can begin by getting rid of the obvious stuff, such as worn or damaged clothes. These can be recycled in many cases, rather than being donated to charities that will end up throwing them away.
After that is done, it’s time to identify your personal style. There are many ways to do this. However, the following is what I have found to be most effective.
You don’t have to try and put a label or name on your style. Stop looking at Pinterest or magazines for inspiration. Instead, be curious about what clothes you already own.
What are you most passionate about? What are you most afraid to wear? What do these items have in common? Patterns can be found in fit, fabric and hemlines as well as colours and patterns.
You will soon discover that you have certain things you love and some things you don’t. This is your style. Although it might not be what you see in fashion magazines or fit into a neat box, it is what you really like to wear.
Accept it and use it to determine what to keep and which to let go.
“I have too many clothes, but I like them all!”
This is a problem that I am often asked about. Many people struggle with too many clothes . They like all of them and don’t know what to do.
If you feel you can relate, let us start by asking you a simple question: Are you wearing all your clothes?
Here’s the hard truth: They won’t be your favorite, or at least not for you.
This is a crucial lesson, and it was something I had to learn over time. It’s possible to love a style and admire its looks on women. But this doesn’t necessarily mean you will like the way it looks on you.
The proof is in what you eat. You’re not wearing what you wear! You might not like the fit, the colour isn’t for you, the hemline is too low, or something other just doesn’t feel right.
You might already be aware of this on some level. However, it can feel safer to say “I love my clothes” rather than accept that our lives have changed. Or to feel guilty for spending too much money on clothes that are never worn. Although it’s difficult, facing the truths head on is the first step in letting go.
Let’s now look at the opposite scenario. What if all your clothes were truly loved and worn by you?
Why do you want to downsize? Are you feeling overwhelmed by your space? Are you feeling overwhelmed by your closet? Be specific about why you are decluttering.
Compare the joy you feel when you achieve your goals with the pain that comes from letting go of some special items. It’s hard to decide, but sometimes it’s worth making sacrifices in order to get what is most important to you.
