How To Decide What Clothes To Keep

By Alex Assoune May 24, 2024

How do you decide what clothes to keep or to get rid of? If you don't feel like wearing certain pieces in your closet, you might consider selling or donating them. The item could no longer be your style or fit you as it should.

Perhaps you just decided to make room in your closet. Or follow a more minimalist approach to fashion, trying to only keep the essentials.

So many people have a hard time with this. You may find yourself wanting to keep all the items you source that fits you. It is difficult to find the courage to really sit down and decide if you will wear each item again or not.

Here are a few tips on how to decide what clothes to keep.

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How To Decide What Clothes To Get Rid Of

The best thing you can do is to never have regret. Make a decision and go with it. You will never know how the other way would have turned out. Get over the fear of wanting an item back.

There is definitely something liberating about getting rid of what you don't need anymore. Break out from your old habits of keeping everything if you have too. There are just things that you have to move on from.

Especially if you already have something that fulfills the same need. You will feel liberated as a result. Love and take care of your clothing. But don't feel too emotionally attached to it.

For every item, you could ask yourself if you would buy this item again if you didn't already own it. If it isn't the case, then you have your answer. You don't have to keep it.

Try to think of at least one occasion that you will wear each outfit. Then it is a good idea to try it on and see how you feel. If you don't like it or worse, if you feel uncomfortable about how you look, then donate or sell it.

On the other hand, if you enjoy wearing the outfit and how you look, then you can keep it. Ultimately, you want everything in your closet to fit you. You also want to feel comfortable without stressing out about it.

When To Get Rid Of Clothing I Don't Need

If you don't wear anything at the current moment, it is probably best to not keep it. Think of the good you can do by donating it. Think of the extra money you can make by selling it.

If the clothing piece is more than one size too big or too small, it is probably time to get rid of it. If it doesn't fit you, and you don't see it fitting you in the near future, get rid of it.

If the clothes still fit you perfectly, if you are very likely to wear it again soon, if it felt like an investment and is not disposable, then you might want to think twice before getting rid of it.

When one trend is gone and one item doesn't fit with the rest of your wardrobe anymore, it is not necessary to keep it.

For each piece in your closet, try to think quickly of something you already have in your wardrobe and want to wear it with. If I can’t think of anything right away, then it is a good sign that you don't need it anymore.

You have to decide for yourself if it makes sense to give something away that you think you will end up coming back to later. If an item is never in your rotation of clothes, decide to get rid of it. And try to not regret it afterward. But it is very likely that if you don't wear it now, you won't miss it. You likely won't even notice it's gone.

What Can I Do With Old Clothing I Don't Wear Anymore

Recycling old pieces is also an option. Learn to reuse and re-purpose clothing to keep it away from landfills. Don't throw it away in the trash!

With the extra space or money you make, you will find it easier to get a new piece that suits you best. If the item is basic enough, it is often very easy to find a similar piece in stores.

Donating or selling clothing is a good way to justify new purchases! Remember to donate or sell only clothes that are still in good condition. This is overall a good way to keep yourself from overspending and ending up with tons of clothes you don't wear.

How To Stay Away From This Problem In The Future

A good way to avoid this problem is to truly care about clothes! Don't buy clothing that goes out of style quickly. Prefer high-quality pieces than are also very durable. Make sure they are classic timeless pieces than you can combine easily.

You want to invest in clothing that fits your own unique style, that you will enjoy wearing over and over again. Look for pieces that match your needs and slots in the wardrobe. If you are located in places where trends don't change that often, you are in luck. It is best to ignore trends anyway and go back to basics!

When out shopping, if can think of many occasions where you would wear the clothes, then they probably fit your lifestyle well. However, if you can't think of when you would wear an item, don't purchase it.

This might be the most difficult to do. But try to never regret giving away any clothing. Don't get too sentimental about it. A good trick is to keep a bag or suitcase of clothes you still care about but are not wearing. When the bag gets full, it is time to donate or sell them. Think of it as a quarantine, stored away from your closet for a while before giving it away. If you miss an item, it may then come back to your closet.

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About the Author: Alex Assoune

Alex Assoune (MS) is a global health and environmental advocate. He founded Panaprium to inspire others with conscious living, ethical, and sustainable fashion. Alex has worked in many countries to address social and environmental issues. He speaks three languages and holds two Master of Science degrees in Engineering from SIGMA and IFPEN schools.

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