Create personal uniforms based on your lifestyle that allow you to easily mix and match your clothes to create cohesive looks you love with a minimal set of pieces.
Wardrobe Decluttering: Step-by-step guide for a clutter-free closet that lasts
Welcome to my "Wardrobe Decluttering: Step-by-step guide for a clutter-free closet that lasts" series!
If the idea of decluttering overwhelms you, rest assured – I've successfully maintained a minimalist wardrobe for over a decade.
Beyond personal practice, I've helped others in achieving wardrobe simplicity through my process.
From wearing the same black dress for a month, a project featured in publications, to analyzing the average wardrobe size through data collection and visualizations, my projects have garnered global interest.
This series, taken from my experience, guides you through manageable steps. From defining personal uniforms to decluttering, filling wardrobe gaps, and establishing maintenance routines, these actions will reshape your relationship with clothing.
Here’s what you can expect in weekly posts:
Step 1: Find your personal uniforms: Create personal uniforms based on your lifestyle that allow you to easily mix and match your clothes to create cohesive looks you love with a minimal set of pieces.
Step 2: Declutter your closet: Remove pieces in your wardrobe that don’t align with your personal uniforms or are no longer wearable for you.
Step 3: Fill in wardrobe gaps: Shop, thrift, or trade with others to add the missing pieces for your personal uniforms.
Step 4: Maintain your wardrobe: Optimize what you have, repair what’s damaged, and track what you own to know what you have to maintain.
5) Retire wardrobe pieces: Donate, toss, or trade pieces with others that don’t fit your uniforms anymore or are no longer wearable for you.
Join me on this transformative journey towards a clutter-free, purposeful closet that reflects you!
Coming up next:
What is a uniform?
Unlock a clutter-free closet!
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Wardrobe 'basics' don't have to be boring!
Most of the clothes you wear in a given week are probably a “basic” piece of your wardrobe like a t-shirt, pair of slacks or walking shoes.
We wear these pieces the most, so buy ones that you love, blend well with your wardrobe and stand the test of time.
Tips for your next basics purchase:
What if 'this' doesn't fit in my wardrobe?
This hat isn’t necessary in the city (for me at least), but most wardrobes have pieces that are considered a “Specialty” and used for unique situations. For me, most of my “Specialty” pieces are used for hiking and outdoor work such as tactical boots, overalls and now…this hat!
When I do add a new “Specialty” piece to my wardrobe, I pick one that fits with my colors and general style.
How to create more outfits with less
The easiest place to start when shifting to a minimal wardrobe is to examine the “versatility” of each piece. Most of us have about five uniforms we need. Disclosure: You may have more, less, or different than mine, which are: