5 EFFECTIVE STEPS TO DOWNSIZE YOUR CLOSET

 

Downsizing your closet can be an incredibly overwhelming task. This post is about the strategies that I found to be helpful in my journey to downsize my closet and keep it that way for many years to come.

 

 

Several years ago, I moved to a new apartment after getting my first job straight out of graduate school. After several days of unpacking, my closet was filled with mostly fast fashion clothes. I had a dreadful feeling every time I walked by my closet.

Something felt different this time, I was really looking to change how I shopped and what I collected. It took me 6 months to go through this process and I felt content every step of the way. I hope this helps you downsize your closet too.

 

This blog post is all about the best strategies to downsize your closet. I hope it helps you.

 

#1 LEARNING ABOUT THE EFFECTS OF FAST FASHION

Documentaries are great at showing us the impact of fast fashion on developing nations and how our landfills continue to be filled with textile from fast fashion clothes. I really believe in the power of seeing those documentaries and realizing how dramatically our planet has changed because of consumerism. Globalization once thought to be the way to bridge gaps, created a bigger global problem for all nations. Other documentaries focus on Minimalism, the negative effects of overconsumption and the benefits of minimalism. The idea is to identify what is valuable to you and live with less things.

Must watch documentaries are True Cost (2015) and Minimalism (2015), both are currently available on Netflix. Both are very inspiring, once done watching you will get up and collect 5 items to donate, I promise.

 

#2 LEARNING HOW TO LET GO OF THINGS

Marie Kondō’s The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up came out in 2014, I must have picked it up shortly after. I found this book to be fundamental in changing my perception on how to deal with things, which is why I recommend reading the actual book. I believe, there is so much more to her strategy than just going through your things and tossing or donating those that don’t spark joy.

At the beginning of the book, Marie Kondō talks about how owning less will set you free, allow you to have better relationships and enjoy life. I was very skeptical when I read this but I think this is very palpable in my life now.

She explains how the repeated attempts at organizing your home is a symptom of lack of proper system structures to keep it from being messy again. This really resonated with me as I spent a lot of time organizing, and moving things around from one place to another.

She then divides all items and clothes into sections and guides you how to manage them. She also tackles sentimental items, and this was important for me. I had clothing from my teenage years linked to beautiful memories. I took photos of those items and got rid of most of them and I never regretted it. She also mentions that it is important to organize each category separately at one time. For instance, taking all of your shoes out of your closet and laying them out will simultaneously show you that you have a lot more than you think or need, and that you have too many in the same category (for example too many heels, not enough flats for daily use).

 

#3 THE ACTUAL CLOSET CLEAN OUT

For most people this is a difficult step to get through. It was fun for me because I was on a different dimension. I was thinking differently and I wanted to step out of the fast fashion world I was in as fast as I could. This is why I started this post with all the things I watched and read to prepare me for this step.

I took everything out of my closet and laid them on my bed and floor (on top of a clean towel or sheet). As I was doing this, I grouped items together in categories. Most of us have our closets designed that way, so as you’re taking things out, stick to your closet organization, instead of piling it all up in one place, which can be overwhelming.

I got through my closet with three categories in mind. I would either (1) keep something because it brought me joy or because I wore it regularly; (2) Donate it; (3) Sell it (more on this later). The fact that I had the third option made this process easier for me. Otherwise, it is not easy letting go of things that are in brand new condition or with tags on.

I now continue to go through my closet and items in my house per category as divided in Marie Kondo’s book at the end of every season. It helps me identify things that I did not wear for an entire season, or those that are no longer wearable for the next season.

 

#4 SELLING YOUR CLOTHES

I must have been watching those documentaries and reading Marie Kondo’s book, when I started noticing Poshmark adds on the subway during my visits to New York City. I wanted to explore, so I posted a couple of items I wasn’t wearing at all at the time through the app and sold them rather quickly. It felt easy and fun. Poshmark is a California based company, operating through a platform where you can buy or sell, new or secondhand items. I’m sure you’ve heard of Poshmark by now, they are very popular. I am a Poshmark ambassador and have been on the platform for 8 years now. Anyone who knows me, knows that I encourage all my friends to join and sell the things that they do not want to keep. For almost 6 years, I sold exclusively on Poshmark. I have and continue to donate clothes to local Goodwill stores or through Thread (the online platform that will provide you with a shipping label so you can send your donations – how lovely!).

Being able to sell items online can make it easier to part from items. Let me explain. In the process of evaluating your items, you will find yourself more inclined to place items that are still in new condition or those with tags on back in your closet. This isn’t to say that selling on Poshmark guarantees you any profit. However, something about being able to recover some of the damages, can make you feel better about parting from that piece. Most fast fashion items don’t have a high resale value, the platform takes another 20% off of your profit. You can check out my closet @girlontheues for some inspiration. I also explain my Poshmark strategy in great detail in part I and part II, separate blog posts.

 

#5 RESPONSIBLE FASHION, SUSTAINABLE FASHION OR MINIMALISM

I am really not interested in having 10 pieces of clothing that I can call a capsule wardrobe, that’s not for me and has never been my aim. I love fashion! (just started a fashion and lifestyle blog). If you’re anything like me and never really follow trends, and certainly lean more towards timeless pieces; this process might just be a little bit easier for you. However, when I started this journey, I wanted to redefine my relationship with clothes and how I shopped. Because it is very easy to fall into the habit of purchasing and selling on second hand fashion websites, and while that might shrink your closet size, those pieces will still end up crowding someone else’s closet and later on in the landfill somewhere else. The only way to break this cycle is to really reduce your consumption.

 

CONCLUDING THOUGHTS

At the end of those 6 months, I was able to achieve my goal, get rid of things that I did not like or need, buy less and buy better quality things. I now purchase things that will last me two to ten years.

I wrote this blog post with the intention that you found these steps helpful to start your journey with downsizing your closet. My recommendation is that you do not skip the first steps, as it makes the entire process of going through your closet easier, more meaningful and more likely to last.

 

This blog post is all about the best strategies to downsize your closet. I hope it helps you.

 

As always, thank you for stopping by and reading. If this content interested you, you might want to follow my Instagram account @girlontheues

See you next time,

Girl on the Upper East Side

Xx

If this blog post interested you, you might want to read my Poshmark Strategy Part I, and Part II, and my blog post on Underconsumption Core.