How to Feel Good about Clearing Out Your Closet

“Isn’t a wardrobe edit a waste of money?”

Recently we’ve been talking a lot about getting your closet ready for the fall and winter, and a lot of that means being brutally honest about what isn’t working in your wardrobe. Naturally, this leads to weeding out the clothes you aren’t (or shouldn’t be) wearing anymore. Going through this process could very well bring up feelings of resentment – after all, you paid good money for those clothes, so on some level it can feel like a waste to get rid of them.

However, this is the mentality that leads to closet clutter in the first place. We’re all guilty of it: thinking that next year you’ll lose thirty pounds and fit into those jeans again, or that the old jacket you loved a decade ago will eventually come back into style, or that someday you’ll get the courage to wear that red suit you though looked so good on the mannequin.

Don’t underestimate what a game-changer a wardrobe edit can be. Nothing saves you more time in the morning, or makes you feel as good about getting ready for work, than having an organized closet that only contains clothes that look great on you right now. Getting rid of what no longer suits you completely streamlines the process of getting dressed, as every single item in your closet is not only something you could wear, but something that will turn heads everywhere you go.

In addition, getting rid of clothes you aren’t or shouldn’t be wearing makes room for more appropriate items. That doesn’t mean that you should get rid of old clutter just to buy new clutter, though – it’s time to start valuing quality over quantity. A few strategically selected pieces will serve you a lot better than a closet crammed full of clothes that aren’t quite right. This means that you’ll be spending money less frequently, and getting a lot more mileage out of your clothes by making smarter choices.

But the fact remains that you’re still having to get rid of clothes that you feel some attachment to, and the best way around that is to donate them to a good cause. There are plenty of charities out there that specifically take donations of higher-quality second-hand clothes, and not only will you feel good about clearing them out of your closet, you’ll feel even better that they’re going someplace where they’ll be fully appreciated.

Clothes that you never wear or that aren’t right for you are a dead end, and the true waste is to leave them there gathering dust when they could get a second life in someone else’s closet. Just because certain clothes are no longer working for you doesn’t mean they’re wrong for everyone, and the fact that you can help a local charity is just icing on the cake. Once you get your closet cleared out and restocked with clothes that are truly perfect for you, your only regret will be that you didn’t do it sooner.