If your closet is bursting at the seams but you often feel like you have “nothing to wear,” it may be time for some serious intervention: a wardrobe detox. The goal? A wardrobe that includes only what you love and wear.
Photo: Annie Castaño, used with permission.
This article was published at an earlier date and has since been updated. I’ve left prior reader comments in place.
I find the tail end of a season is a perfect time to clear out and reorganize my wardrobe. The current season is fresh in my mind: what didn’t I wear & why? And taking a look at my wardrobe for the upcoming season helps me see what gaps I may have, or what may need to be replaced or repaired.
Why “detox” your wardrobe?
An oft-quoted statistic says that most of us wear 20% of our clothes 80% of the time. “Detoxing” your wardrobe means clearing out the unworn 60-80%. There are many reasons we hang onto clothes and accessories that we no longer wear. Some are emotional, some are financial.
But here are a few of the reasons I love a good wardrobe detox, and find it essential to personal style.
✨Too much choice can be overwhelming and paralyzing. Our brains can only handle so much stimuli. In what’s known as “decision fatigue,” the quality of our decision-making deteriorates when we are presented with too many choices or decisions.
✨Mood lifter. Having too much “stuff” weighs us down emotionally. Maybe we’re confronted with those shopping mistakes, or the clothes that no longer fit. Clearing out the “stuff” can make us feel lighter and more confident.
✨Reduce spending. How many times have you bought something, only to later realize that you already have a similar item in your wardrobe? Once you can SEE what you have, it’s easier to assess what you really need.
✨Someone else might benefit from what you’re no longer wearing. Organizations like Dress for Success can often make good use of business and business casual wear. Many brands like Madewell will accept your used jeans and recycle them.
How to detox your wardrobe (without getting overwhelmed)
Prepare
✅ Block out time and remove distractions. Set the “do not disturb” feature on your phone, shut the door, let your family know you’re “in a meeting” for a few hours.
✅ Have on hand:
- a full-length mirror
- a rolling rack (helpful to organize and see what you have)
- bags or storage boxes for items you’ll be tossing or storing out of sight.
✅ Break it down. It might take several sessions to go through your entire wardrobe. I like to work by item type (pants, sweaters, jackets, shoes). If you have seasonal wardrobes, you can also work by season. Finish whatever section you start…don’t leave it in a pile for another day.
✅ Get a friend to help. This process can be physically and mentally demanding. Having someone help bag up clothes and lend a loving but objective eye can help with decision-making.
✅ Open the windows, let air circulate. Clothing that’s been sitting in a closet for some time may have developed a stale smell, which can negatively impact your assessment. Fresh air will also help your focus and attention.
The Process
👗 The Good, The Bad, The Ugly. Don’t overcomplicate the process.
- The Good: it fits, I love it, I wear it. Keep. (This can also include items you don’t necessarily love but need for work or a specific situation.)
- The Bad: doesn’t fit, worn out, wrong color, wrong style, never wear. Toss.
- The Ugly: needs alterations to fit properly or be updated. Put aside and decide if it’s worth being altered.
🧥 If you aren’t sure...maybe it’s a special occasion piece you may or may not wear again, or something you have an emotional attachment to. Store somewhere out of sight and re-visit again in a few months.
👒 Also if you aren’t sure: try it on with some of your “keepers.” You’ll usually get a clearer sense of which pile it belongs in.
💦 Drink lots of water and take a break or two to eat. Being hungry or dehydrated can lead to overwhelm and poor decision-making.
Click to visit The Style Hub for more style and wardrobe tips!
Organizing what’s left
Everyone has their own system for organizing, depending on your closet space and needs. I’d suggest having current season items in the most visible and accessible space. I don’t have separate work and off-duty wardrobes, so organize everything by item type, then color, with patterns and solids each grouped together.
A few more wardrobe organization tips:
🪐 Spaced out. You want some space between items. Not only does it help you to better see what you have, but air circulation is good for your clothes. I find it so soothing to open up a closet with items neatly spaced!
🙀 No wire hangers! Mommy Dearest aside 😉, get rid of the wire hangers and invest in some rubber or velvet hangers. (I use some that are similar to these for tops, and these for pants.) Having all of your clothes hanging at the same level and with the same dimensions makes my closet feel more like a lovely boutique. And they’ll keep clothes from slipping off and winding up on the closet floor.
🦋 Storing sweaters. Before you put your sweaters in storage, be sure they’re clean! Moths are attracted to oils and dirt in the fibers. (Annie recommends these storage bags from Total Clothing Care.) We don’t have a lot of shelf space in our closet, so I use this method to hang my sweaters without stretching.
👡 Shoes. I keep my shoes in clear plastic boxes to keep the dust off. Some people store in their original boxes with a photo of the shoes taped to the side. My experience is “out of sight, out of mind,” so I like to have everything visible.
Closet & storage solutions
More wardrobe detox tips
If you missed it, here’s the Instagram LIVE with Annie Castaño of Castanohel, sharing lots more tips for a successful wardrobe detox:
I am trying to buy less plastic and keep my shoes on open shelves in my closet. A quick dusting with a feather or synthetic duster keeps everything dust free and tidy in between deeper cleanings (clearing the shelves and damp dusting, about twice a year.) Only a very small percentage of recyclable plastic actually gets recycled so I believe we all should think carefully about whether we really need to purchase certain plastic items.
I use wooden hangers. Not plastic ones with or without “velvet”. I don’t have enough shoes to need to put them in plastic boxes. (My feet are hard to fit, and I have no occasions requiring heels, etc.)
After a major detox, I only hang up my current season favorites in my closet, and use another closet for everything else. Now it’s so easy & fun creating outfits from my favorites!
This was so very helpful, excellent information thank you. Lately I’ve been going through and finding things I totally forgot I had. I definitely need to detox my closet. I am going to buy the slimline hangers I know they will help.
Appreciating your sound advice for purging and organizing the closet. I think it’s time for just that. Always enjoy your blog immensely.
This is a great post! One thing I would add that works for me: if you live in an area with distinct seasons weather-wise, do not cull the opposite season. If I tried on any of my wool sweaters in this Summer heat, I’d want to donate them all!
I heartily agree. Here in the sweltering South I can’t even look at the impossibly early “new fall arrivals”.
Well, I live in Montréal. Winters very cold, but summers can be sweltering with climate change. There has been extreme heat in northern Canada and in Siberia. I lost a lot of weight (I was ill, hospitalised). Divested myself of several jeans and a couple of coats – those can’t really be altered. Made someone happy at the charity shop.
I don’t really have (paid or volunteer) work vs non-work clothes, but I do have some stained or worn clothing that I use for housework or gardening.
I used to save worn clothes for gardening, etc., until I was called on to do something very important wearing old clothes. I went to the sporting goods store and bought durable and yes, fashionable work clothes. We deserve that.
Susan, I regularly benefit from content on your blog. Today, particularly so. All of the information was useful, but your instructions for hanging sweaters alone was worth the reading time. Thank you.
I really enjoyed your instagram live! I have been detoxing over the last year, and it’s incredibly freeing to get rid of stuff! I love looking into my 1/2 empty closet, because EVERYTHING in there is now something I love. Somebody once said, opening your closet should be like walking into a party and seeing a roomful of dear friends you are happy to see 🙂
I realize that it’s only $24.00, but a rolling rack? My feeling is if you need a rolling rack you are either a fashion blogger or have way too many clothes. The purchase of a rolling rack is just buying another “thing” which is the opposite of what your post is about!
I use my rolling rack every day, and I am neither a fashion blogger nor do I have way too many clothes (not anymore!) I have a rolling rack I keep set up in my garage next to my washer/dryer. It’s super handy to hang things to dry that shouldn’t be put in the dryer. I have also found it to be really handy to hang out of season clothes so I don’t have to tap into my limited closet space!
Same here, Mary Alice. The rolling rack in my laundry room is used on the regular.
Goodness. How could a rolling rack NOT be helpful?!
Mine is currently in use drying my dog’s vests and leashes.
That means you have a garage, something I neither have, need nor want. We have a garden shed at our co-op, but it isn’t for clothing except sturdy gloves and kneepads.
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I find it very helpful for travel wardrobe planning, closet re-organizing, and doing seasonal evaluations. (Our closet is small and dark, and I prefer to work in natural light.) Mine folds away when not in use. But it’s a personal preference, and not everyone may find it helpful.
Susan, REALLY enjoyed the closet detox with Annie! Thank you for giving us food for thought. I am confused about what season I am…I’ve decided I am gamine….and need to detox the closet. For what it’s worth, I would keep the Eileen Fisher jacket…I thought it suited you.
Hi Susan: loved the live IG with you and Annie about detoxing the closet. I’ve made my first pass now and am considering shoe boxes and sweater bags. I love the bags from Total Closet and used to have a couple from years ago (before the Tubb’s fire). I’m just wondering about the taxes and shipping from the UK at this point…..are there options from the US that you like?
I use sweater bags from the Container Store. They are canvas on the bottom half, for breathability, and clear vinyl on the top half so you can see what’s in there. And a zipper half way around. Works well for me.
“Detox” is a great term. There are toxic clothes in my wardrobe. I bought them, they fit well, and there is nothing wrong with them other than that I simply don’t like them. They make me feel guilty. My parents grew up in the Depression, and some of that mentality rubs off. It’s hard for me to own up to wasting the money it took to buy them.
If you can give them to someone who needs them, then they are no longer wasted!
Absolutely, Janet, regarding your comments about not buying plastic. Thank you for mentioning this!!
I buy too many clothes I like, that fit and are a good color but you can’t own everything and there’s my problem. Deciding what to get rid of when I like them but there’s just not enough days in a year to wear everything. How do you pick favorites if you like everything? It’s like choosing between your children. LOL
I did pick up some helpful tips though. I probably do have things that don’t reflect my personality and no doubt there are duplicates. Too much color I think could be a problem. Thanks for this post. Hopefully it will help me detox.
Susan, I can safely say that your blog post of 5 years ago on how you hang your sweaters has to be the most useful fashion post I have ever read!!
Motivated by your IG chat with Annie and excellent follow up notes, I spent three 2 hour sessions today on my spring/summer detox. A final salute to the dearly departed with Maker’s Mark tonight didn’t hurt! Although I didn’t follow every tip, the general guidance was extremely helpful. First, I cleared out all the worn out tops that had more than done their duty. I don’t know why I’ve kept them so long! Next, I separated all the cheaper tees and tops, putting them in a donation pile. But my big ‘a-ha’ was moving jeans and Eileen Fisher crepe pants from fold over to clip on hangers that allowed them to hang straight. So enlightening! They took the closet space that my former work jackets and suits once occupied. Thanks, as always, Susan for your inspiration. You are hitting it out of the park these days with all your new social media tools, love them all!
Motivated by your IG chat with Annie and excellent follow up notes, I spent three 2 hour sessions today on my spring/summer detox. A final salute to the dearly departed with Maker’s Mark tonight didn’t hurt! Although I didn’t follow every tip, the general guidance was extremely helpful. First, I cleared out all the worn out tops that had more than done their duty. I don’t know why I’ve kept them so long! Next, I separated all the cheaper tees and tops, putting them in a donation pile. But my big ‘a-ha’ was moving jeans and Eileen Fisher crepe pants from fold over to clip on hangers that allowed them to hang straight. So enlightening! They took the closet space that my former work jackets and suits once occupied. Thanks, as always, Susan for your inspiration. You are hitting it out of the park these days with all your new social media tools, love them all!
I got another good tip. Do you have clothes for an aspiring style? For a lifestyle you would like to lead but aren’t? Get rid of them. You will never wear them. It came as a shock to me, but I do have those items: the high heels, the dresses. Now that my life is so different, I need to adjust. I will start by letting my wide trousers be hemmed to suit lower heeled shoes.
Greetje
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That’s a good one! It took me a while to let go of some of my “office clothes.”
I’m sooooo guilty of this. I’m retired and spend most of my days involved in leisure or volunteer activities that, at most, may occasionally require “business casual” attire. I have donated most of my former work and special occasion clothes but I still have some that I need to get out of my closet because they really don’t suit my current lifestyle. It can be hard to let go but I am encouraged by articles and feedback like this and I continue to make [slow, but sure] progress.
Adding a photo to the end of a shoe box or replacing shoes in their original box, in my opinion, creates a problem. You have to match the shoe to the box. Clear plastic boxes are the way to go.
I enjoy seeing your posts everyday! So much good and inspirational information!
I’m struggling with the detox. Like many, my social life since COVID has been curtailed. There are pieces that I have “loved” but now haven’t worn in almost three years! Any advice how to move forward? Thank you!
I want every single top in that first picture! Each & every one. Are there any links with details available by chance? ♥️
Author
If you’re referring to the image from Annie’s closet, my guess is most of the pieces there are either from prior seasons or are bespoke.
I totally agree. I want them all!
My biggest culling problem is color. Last summer was my green summer. The fall/winter were burgundy and fig. This summer is blue and white and green and fig. My color preferences within the realm of colors I can wear shifts from year to year. I keep clothes I love in each color, not knowing what my preferences will be. That leads to a very full closet. And many daily choices are just that…today’s color preferences based on mood and weather. When I let my hair go white 3 years ago, I added a new range of shades.
I highly recommend Project 333 and the associated videos, articles, IG stories, etc. I think the creator, Courtney Carver, has covered pretty much every contingency out there. IMO, her best idea is to pile everything on your bed — that way, you are forced to finish in one day, LOL.
My own tip is to try on your clothing wearing your best face and body — hair, makeup if you wear any, earrings, decent bra. I find I don’t like anything when I look like crap.
Interesting post. I probably saw this last year but I always learn something new. In the video with Annie she mentioned there are not a lot of summers. Well I’m considered a summer and wonder if it is wrong. I do feel washed out most of the time. No color. But I feel some of the bold winter colors are wrong. Too much color.
Where can I get some hep with this? I know you do some color analysis but I don’t live in California.
Thank you. Im very interested in this topic because it can save you a lot of money and time.
Most of the people I know are either summers or winters. If you want to have trouble finding clothes in your season, try being a spring!
I have a new strategy that isn’t quite so overwhelming. Just getting rid of the bad is the best place to start. We all have things that don’t fit anymore. That’s where I start. Anytime I pull one of these items out to wear, into a clear plastic bag it goes. When the bag is full, I launder the items and donate them. Most of my clothes aren’t resale quality by the time I finish with them. I also keep a bag of chore clothes for items that still fit but have seen better days.
When this is done first, it’s often enough to clear the space. Works for me, anyways.
Great info! My specific question today is regarding hangers for tops. You recommend these: tinyurl.com/yx3xdz Does this style of hangar prevent bumps on the shoulders for knit tops and sweaters?
Thanks!
Author
Thanks! The hangers I have are a few years old, but I don’t find I have problems with shoulder bumps on my tee shirts or knit blouses. I hang sweaters differently (see HERE) to prevent shoulder bumps and stretching. If you’re concerned about shoulder bumps, here’s another style of hanger that may help prevent them as well: https://amzn.to/3Spki5p
Thanks for the hanger referral – will try these – I actually fold my sweaters and store in drawers, but occasionally there are cardigans or other types that I hang.
The sweater hanger technique works for Aran fisherman knit cardigans, thank you Susan!
Susan, I love that you called this a “detox”—not an exaggeration at all! I just went through my closet again, first time since a bit before the pandemic, and felt compelled to blog about it—which was odd because I’m a food blogger and had never blogged about anything not food-related in the entire 12.5 years. I definitely felt “detoxed” afterward, though the word “detox” hadn’t occurred to me. In my pre-pandemic purge, I got rid of my shoe boxes and put all my shoes, toes in the front, on open shelving, which solved the out-of-sight-out-of-mind problem that had led to the deterioration of a few pairs. Glad I found your blog today! Can’t wait to try that genius sweater technique since I keep all my clothes on hangers.