Stop Saying “I have Nothing to Wear”

Do you know that only 20 per cent of garments in most closets get worn? That is a crazy statistic, but according to chief design officer for California Closets interviewed in The Wall Street Journal, 20 per cent is a very real number. Think about it for a second. Visualize the pants, blouses, jackets and scarves that your eyes barely focus on as you glance past them, thinking “not today” as you zero in on your ol’ faithful pieces.

It’s not done on purpose; you fully intend to wear each and everything you buy. There might be a particular purpose for the item, or you may lose five pounds, or emerald green may suddenly become your most flattering colour. Obviously, clothing and the very idea of fashion are important to you (that’s why you’re reading this article) but sometimes ‘for the love of fashion’ can lead to overabundance and a crowded closet, making getting dressed even more difficult. Pair the need to have multiple styles for different occasions with the pressure of keeping up with new trends, and the results can be catastrophic – a big investment into pieces that are never actually worn.

Read on to find out how you can manage your closet, put money back in your wallet (cha-ching!) and ensure you purchase only items that work for you while having a quality wardrobe that consists of nothing you would ignore. Let’s stand proudly together and declare to never say those dreaded words again, “I Have Nothing to Wear!”

Turn it Around

The very first step you can take to narrowing down your closet and discovering what you wear and what you wish you wore is simple. After every time you wear something and place it back into the closet, turn the hanger to face the opposite way of your other hangers. That will give you a clear visual reference instead of having to jog your memory for every item you have recently worn. Do this for six weeks, which should be enough time to have gone through most occasions that you would wear an item. After, you will clearly see what gets worn and what doesn’t.

Be a Detective, Find Clues & Take Notes

The next step? Take what doesn’t get worn and lay it out so you can see it. Eye up the unworn items with a detective’s eye, look for clues as to why you don’t wear it and notice patterns. Are there recurring colours that you’re purchasing but not wearing? Maybe you love the idea of wearing a sexy form fitting red dress (which, by the way, is a man’s favourite colour on a woman). However, the colour just doesn’t do it for you despite the fact that it fits snug in all the right places.

Beyond colours and patterns, focus on repeated styles. Are there multiple items with the same design detail? Maybe you have a pile of high waist jeans or scoop neck tops. You like the design, but never feel one hundred per cent comfortable wearing it. Be truthful with yourself about why you don’t wear something and accept the possibility that the styles you like most may not work for your body.

Next, notice if items are too worn or outdated and if you are merely keeping them for memory’s sake. Sure, you used to love that sweater. But is it serving you any longer or just taking up precious closet space? Holding onto items that are overlooked because they are too worn or stained is like keeping a car that doesn’t drive – it’s not getting you anywhere. If you cannot mend it, get rid of it – or frame it if it means that much to you.

Take note of what you have discovered. Quickly jot down the recurring reasons you don’t wear something so you can avoid it when shopping. Whether it be specific colours, design details, something you already have enough of (ahem, scarves) or skirt lengths. It can be as easy as a note in your phone titled “When Shopping” with a “Do’s and Don’ts List” that you can quickly glance at while shopping to keep yourself on track. Knowing your buying habits will ensure that you don’t make the same mistakes repeatedly so you can target the wardrobe you need and want.

Divide & Conquer

Now that you have made visual notes, it is time to try on the garments and divide your unworn items into separate piles.

Pile #1: Discard. These are the items that you never wear and, if you’re honest with yourself, do not foresee yourself wearing. Give them away, donate them, have a garage sale but do not put these items back in your closet. It will only lead to more indecision and clutter.

Pile #2: Consignment. If you have designer threads that aren’t serving you any longer, somebody else may be interested and willing to spend a few bucks to get them. Consignment shops will take gently used garments of designer brands. Some will even take lesser designer brands such as labels from Urban Outfitters, American Eagle and J.Crew, as well as vintage finds.

What they want are quality garments that are not overly worn and have been well taken care of (no missing buttons or broken closures, no rips or stains). What won’t they want? Damaged or disposable fashions from stores such as Forever 21, H&M and Zara. Just another reason to invest in a few quality pieces rather than large amounts of fast fashion finds.

Go online and do some quick research on what consignment boutiques are available in your city and what their standard practices are. Bring your things to the store and let the shop take care of the rest. Make sure you know their specific consignment process beforehand so you understand how you will receive compensation.

Pile #3: Alterations. When reviewing the discard pile, remember the power of tailoring. When purchasing off the rack garments made to a universal measurement, rather than your specific body measurements, slight alterations will ensure a proper fit. If you don’t wear those pants because they’re too long, get them hemmed. Got a jacket you love, but the shoulders just aren’t right or are overpowering? Remove the shoulder pads or have the tailor take up the shoulders. Little tweaks to a garment cost much less than buying an entirely new piece and can transform them from something you almost like into something you love.

Pile #4: Keep. There are going to be things you hardly wear that you will wear or, at least, will try to wear again. And that’s ok. The idea isn’t to get rid of everything and buy an entirely new wardrobe, but rather to remove the items that are not serving you and make room for clothes that do. For everything that you keep, try to visualize a real-life scenario where you will wear it to ensure that it actually gets worn. If there are things you didn’t wear because a key piece is missing, like a dress that needs a slip, add the needed piece to your shopping list.

Fool Me Once, Shame on You. Fool me Twice, Shame on Me

Often, we get into buying ruts, shopping for fun instead of with a purpose and not paying attention to our buying habits, making the same mistakes that create a closet full of clothes with the tags still on. It is time to make peace with the fact that sometimes what we want and what looks good are two separate ideas. Deal with this reality and move on to something fantastic.

Also, don’t buy things just because they are on sale and try to limit shopping of cheap, fast fashion and disposable clothing. An abundance of cheap clothing will only feed into the cycle of buy-don’t wear-give away or buy-wear once-throw out. You can sneak in a few of those items, sure, but avoid making it the bulk of your purchases. Like a cookie here and there while dieting, sporadic shopping slips aren’t going to add unnecessary weight to your closet. But, don’t make a habit of binge shopping or you will see the negative side effects.

Stay focused and take the stress out of getting dressed by following these steps to simplify your closet. You will build a strong wardrobe which is the foundation of an organized and seamless closet. Although it may consist of less than before, it will have more to offer.