Traditionally, we use our “spring cleaning” time to spruce up the interior and exterior of our home. But what do you do about your wardrobe? Do you typically “spring clean” your closet? I’m here to say, if you don’t, you should. My recommendation is to go through your wardrobe twice a year; once as the weather begins to get warmer and when you know that much of what is hanging in your closet won’t get worn for the next four to six months, and once again as the cooler months approach to swap out your warm weather clothes. I know it takes time, but this process will help you get more familiar with your wardrobe. If you want to have a closet full of clothes that you love and look amazing on you, then you need to know exactly what clothes you have and what works well for you. You can accomplish this by actually touching every piece of clothing in your closet twice a year. If you really want to be thorough, consider also going through your jewelry, scarves, belts, and shoes.
For each article of clothing you have, consider these five criteria:
- Is the item appropriate for the current season? Am I going to wear it in the next four to six months? If you’re not going to put it on your body, it’s just clutter in your closet.
- Has your body changed? If you’re like me and you’ve put on some winter weight, make sure your clothes still fit you perfectly. There is nothing that can kill your image faster than ill-fitting clothes. If you have items that are too tight around the chest, there’s a button that looks like it might pop any minute, or it pulls from behind, don’t wear it. If you’re actively working on losing some weight, put those pieces away in an accessible place and try them on again after you’ve lost those extra 5, 10, 15 pounds, or whatever is necessary, for those items to fit you perfectly again. Don’t forget to look at your backside. People see you from behind at least as much as they see you from the front. Make sure you’re happy with that vantage point as well.
- Is every item in tip-top shape or are they scuffed, frayed, stained, or worn out in appearance? I seem to need to buy new white pants every summer for this very reason. If things no longer look like new, get them out of your closet, replace them with new things, and donate the old items to someone else. Your personal brand is not about looking worn out and tired!
- Speaking of personal brand, what’s yours? Do you know what image you’re trying to project? Do you know your personal style rules? Do your clothes mirror the image you are working so hard to create? Take a look at each item and ask yourself, “Is this really something that communicates who I am?” If it’s not right for you, it could be perfect for someone else.
- Do you have things that are no longer in style? You don’t have to be trendy unless, of course, that is part of your intentional image. But, you definitely don’t want to wear clothes that are out of style. If things have passed their heyday, remove them from your wardrobe.
Your wardrobe tells the world a lot about yourself. I believe you should bond with your things. Know what you own, what looks good on you, and how to wear things in a lot of different ways so that the cost per wear is of great value.
