Closet Cleanse

Decluttering your closet can give you a sense of freedom and rejuvenation. I do a major closet clear out twice a year. But when doing so, I remember to declutter mindfully. I keep those precious or hard to find items that I may later regret disposing of.

I start my decluttering process by eliminating items that do not fit my color pallet. I have chosen a light color pallet, such as soft pink, cream and beige. I love dark colors as well, but I tend to never use those colors because I own a chihuahua that has light brown fur and it really shows on my clothes.

If you want to look elegant but still be comfortable, you need to be realistic about your lifestyle and the life you want to live. I like nice things but I do not want to sacrifice my comfort or always be worried that I’m covered in dog fur.

Also consider your hobbies, work wear and lounge wear. I don’t workout regularly but I do like to garden. Therefore, I only own a few workout pieces that double as my gardening outfits. I also don’t splurge on these items as I know they are going to get dirty or damaged. I buy items that I know look and feel nice and that can take a beating.

My work wear and lounge wear are interchangeable. I work from home and my colleagues usually only see me from the waist up via teleconference. 

After I cleansed my closet, I only kept two dresses that are appropriate for the office. That’s all I need after all. I have many more summer dresses. Since I live in the warmer region of California,  my dresses are for warmer climates. I try to be mindful that I may be called into a last minute conference call while I’m wear a strappy  summer dress, so I keep a tan colored light weight cardigan at a hands reach if the situation calls for it. 

Shoes are usually the last thing I declutter. I “try” to purchase shoes that I think will go with everything in my closet. I don’t always succeed. I consider myself an impulse buyer. If the shoes spark joy, I tend to purchase them, later I regret when I can’t use them because either the heel is too high and they hurt my back, the material can get damaged easily or I don’t have any where special to wear them. That has been my main issue lately. I have no where to wear them and if I did, I probably still wouldn’t wear them because they are uncomfortable or out of fear they will be damaged.

Since the pandemic, my lifestyle has changed drastically. Check out my About page to know how its changed. I have donated 95% of my heels including work shoes because I basically live in flats. I’m still holding on to five pairs of high heeled shoes that I just can’t seem to part with just yet, but I’m working up to it. The next pair of high heeled shoes to go are a pair tan suede Coach boots and lilac suede Stuart Weizmann boots that I NEVER wear. I think you can guess why? They have a tall heel and they are suede. I consider these to be a bad purchase since I never wear them. I only hold on to them for the time being because they look pretty in my closet. Since I still have room for them in my closet, I won’t part with them until I find other boots just as pretty to replace them. However, this time, I’ll be mindful  and make sure they are made from durable material and have a lower heel.

I hope my process helps you when its time to cleanse your closet. 

You can always email me if you have have any questions.