How To Declutter Your Wardrobe For The New Season

"I love this pair of jeans so much. I should keep it for some vintage-themed soiree," I said to myself as I kept the 1489th piece of clothing back in my closet instead of giving it away. Realistically speaking, it was the 23rd, but even so, that's a lot. I have a tendency to keep buying clothes without realising that I already have a collection of outfits gathering spiderwebs in the lower section of my wardrobe. Yet, hey! You must admit that the year-end discount and the clearance sale are too alluring to even consider these things.

If you too, just like me, are a compulsive shopper and find it extremely hard to declutter your closet, then my friend, read on, ‘cause your prodigal friend has arrived with some nifty solutions for you all that’ll make your life (and your closet!) better than ever. Read on. 

To be honest, every wardrobe needs a periodic re-edit, especially if you are a fast-fashion shopaholic or a little hoarder. Do you feel overburdened by the "stuff" in your closet? Are you giving up trying to locate that one thing you know you have somewhere? 

It's time to organise your closet. I want you to save time looking through unnecessary clothing and give you ideas for the upcoming season. If your wardrobe is organised and designed specifically for the cold months you'll have the room and comfort you need for your everyday activities.

But first, let’s talk about why cluttered closets are bad Feng Shui

When your closets are cluttered and disorganised, the auspicious chi energy cannot freely travel through your house. Your home may have the ideal feng shui layout for the rest of it, but if the closets are a jumbled mess (which mine is), your feng shui energy is far from adequate.

• The collection of clothing and other stuff in the closet will prevent the chi energy from passing through.
• Constant chi is produced by clutter, which also prevents fresh chi from entering your home.
• An otherwise feng shui home would have the same overall effect as working all day in the garden while wearing clean clothes without having a shower.

Impact Of A Cluttered Closet

The cause and consequence of a cluttered, disorganised closet might not be apparent until the symptoms start to appear. This is especially true if the rest of your home is decorated according to feng shui concepts. All crowded closets are considered negative in feng shui. The impact on particular aspects of your life based on the closet sector is the only distinction.

• You may be exhibiting signs of a messy closet if you frequently become sick or see a gradual decline in your health.
• If you're confused about the reason for problems and barriers at work, look in your closets for potential offenders.
• The effects of unorganised closets may be slowly but steadily lowering your income and wealth.
• It could be time to rearrange your closets if you've noticed more frequent disputes in your family.
• When chi energy becomes stagnant as a result of stuffed closets, there may be a general feeling of unease and discomfort.

Here’s How You Can Benefit Yourself By Decluttering Your Wardrobe 

I wasn't quite convinced when I initially started reading about decluttering. Could removing a few items from your closet truly make a significant difference? I felt what all I had let go and was feeling burdened by my possessions and had been getting frustrated when I couldn't find items. It took time and effort to simplify and declutter. Before I started, I had no idea how the benefits of decluttering would alter not only my closet but also my way of life.

I’ve already talked about decluttered closets and their adverse effects on Feng Shui but they also hamper your fashion choices. It's crucial to remember that just because we recognise the value of clothing doesn't imply we have to keep it around forever. We never want to equate our clothing with the phrase "bursting at the seams." By adhering to a few straightforward rules, you may organise your closet and make your clothing collection look entirely more fantastic. Here are some useful suggestions to help you organise your clothes.

• Saves Money

When you start decluttering your closet, you ponder upon your past purchases. You may continue to accumulate clutter because of emotions like guilt and remorse that can accompany such situations. I became much more cautious when buying as I processed those sensations and thoughts and learned to let go. 

• Become More Mentally Calm

The true challenge is actually achieving the same fulfilment in your current life because your old clothes actually signify a time when you were content with your life. If you feel that you are missing out on your pals, make time in your daily schedule to catch up with them.

• Fewer Decisions

Making decisions is challenging when there are so many options. It made getting dressed so much easier when I cut in half my wardrobe and only kept items that I liked and felt good wearing. As you organise your closet, you may build a wardrobe that inspires confidence. It is much simpler to get ready every morning when you have fewer options to select from (and they are all ones you enjoy!). You decide what stays and what goes as you organise your space. You make the greatest item selections along the procedure. By frontloading those choices, you can make fewer choices when you use household goods.

• Takes Less Time Finding 

Did you know that Indians spend, on average, 2.5 days a year looking for lost items? Additionally, we all spend crores annually on replacements for things we can't find. These facts are really startling. Your closet will be a lot easier to find clothes in once you have cleaned it out. Finding goods quickly not only saves you time but also money because you don't have to buy duplicates.

When decluttering, people are frequently shocked to find out how many duplicates they have for various kinds of products. You can assess how much of each item you have and make appropriate reductions by organising your belongings into categories.

• Easier To Dress Up

It is simpler to identify the pieces you currently own when your closet is less cluttered and contains fewer stuff. It's simple to see how many shirts, pants, and jeans you have, making it quicker and easier to decide on a dressing up look. You can categorise the closet's smaller objects more appropriately as there are fewer of them. For instance, pants and jeans can be folded, and shirts and sweaters can be hung up. This makes getting ready more simpler and quicker, especially when you're pressed for time in the morning.

How To Declutter Your Closet

It's time to declutter your closet using a few simple yet functional steps. First and foremost, keep in mind that the goal of this exercise is to organise your clothing. Sometimes we have a sentimental attachment to the clothing and accessories we own and find it impossible to part with them. Prepare your bags or bins for the "sell," "donation," and "throw out" categories first. You are less likely to stop decluttering to look for the bins or bags to put the clothing in when everything is prepared.

• Let’s Start From The Beginning: Organising

The first guideline of decluttering is to remove every article of clothes and accessory from the closet or cabinet and arrange it on the floor or your bed. Sort goods into groups like casual, business, workout, party, and festive attire. Depending on how many garments and accessories you own, this could take you between 30 and 60 minutes.

• Reduce The Items

Be honest with yourself when purging your wardrobe if something no longer fits. Why not sell it on OLX if it's brand new? It could be better to find a new home through a charity shop. You can come to regret getting rid of vintage goods, such as your aunt's 1960s saree that you only wear once a year. Ask yourself: Do I love it? . Do I put it on? Do I require it? It's time to let go if you answered "no" to any of these three questions. Keep in mind that donations to charities and clothing are always welcome.

• Make A Separate Space For Seasonal/Occasional Clothes

You can demand less storage space by separating your clothing into summer and winter garments. Out-of-season clothing should be kept in vacuum bags to prevent creases, protect against dust and moths, and conserve storage space. This procedure provides what's left more room, reduces creases, and makes it easier to view.

For instance, the pile of festive clothing may contain a lehenga, a top, and a jacket or dupatta as one set. Don't assume you can pair your favourite crop top with the indo-western jacket from the party wear section. The items in the "Keep" pile must be necessities that you are confident you will continue to wear.

• Clean The Wardrobe

Once emptied, wipe your dresser or drawers by rubbing a moist cloth across all of the surfaces. Sort the hangers into a sensible order and discard those that are broken or made of cheap wire. Vacuum the wardrobe thoroughly to remove any remaining fluff.

• Rearrange Items 

Put the clothes you've decided to keep back in the closet, putting the ones you wear the most in front. To make it easier to grab items, make sure all of the hangers are facing the same direction. For the final stage of cleaning your wardrobe, build a shoe rack to hold shoes.

Last But Not The Least… Donate, Recycle, Trash

Trust me, this step is regarded as entering the zen state. Occasionally, we glance at an old garment and think, "One day, I'll fit into that again or one day, I’ll wear those neon shoes." I'm sorry to burst your bubble, but it won't happen. Donate it, please. For instance, those neon shoes you bought in 2015 still look brand new but trust me, neons are done for good and they aren’t coming back in vogue. You can donate them or recycle them. However, only if you intend to use it. 

If you've been saving your old saris and lehengas but haven't had an opportunity to wear them.  Ask your tailor to upcycle a traditional Banarasi sari into a tote bag, a lehenga skirt, or wide-leg pants, or to adapt the heavy border of your lehenga into a gorgeous off-shoulder shirt. Take inspo from Maitrey Ramakrishnan.

The most difficult step of all. Giving up a piece of your heart is painful, especially if it will end up in the trash. We are all aware that before becoming trash in an Indian home, a new T-shirt goes through three stages. Most of my t-shirts are used as a cleaning cloth on the kitchen counter. When getting rid of clothing, resist the want to hold onto the sentimental worth of it. If you are having problems getting rid of something, say five times in your head, "I don't need that anymore!"

Getting your life in order and organising your closet can be excellent ways to start the fall. Step into your authentic self when you put on your knee-high boots. As you choose your daily attire, discover who you are supposed to be.