JuicyTalk
This is where I think a lot of closet cleanouts go sideways.
Everything does not belong in one of two dramatic categories: KEEP FOREVER or GET OUT OF MY HOUSE.
I use five:
KEEP
Things you wear, like and can realistically style this season.
STORE
Pieces you still want but do not need accessible right now
DONATE OR SELL
Things that are in usable condition but no longer make sense for you.
REPAIR OR CLEAN
The boots that need new heel caps. The sweater that needs de-pilling. The coat that needs dry cleaning. The button that has somehow been waiting six months for you to acknowledge its absence.
REPLACE
Items that filled a real role in your wardrobe but are now too worn, uncomfortable or impractical to keep doing that job.
That last category is important because getting rid of something does not always mean you no longer need that type of item.
If your everyday black trousers are worn out, donating them creates a legitimate wardrobe gap. If you donate a sequined top you haven’t worn since 2019 and cannot imagine wearing again, you probably do not need to immediately purchase Sequined Top 2.0.
For a deeper decluttering session, I have an entire non-minimalist approach to cleaning out your closet. The goal there isn’t to own as little as possible. It’s to make sure the wardrobe you keep still belongs to your life.
RELATED: The Non-Minimalist Approach to Decluttering Your Closet
