“The Ultimate Guide to Refreshing Your Closet: Easy Steps for a Curated, Stylish Wardrobe”
I once helped a friend move and was shocked by how many clothes she had. The pieces she was holding onto went back decades! Some of them were very nice, and certainly worthy of keeping, while others had clearly seen better days. The task of going through her clothes seemed daunting, and fraught with emotion.
“This is my good luck suit,” she told me, “I got my first promotion in it.” Other pieces had price tags dangling and clearly had never been worn. I wondered why. Some of the clothes were several sizes smaller than her current size, others were a little larger as her weight fluctuated over the years. Even with her huge closet, she often complained she had nothing to wear. Several times a year, she would excitedly shop and purchase piles of new clothing.
I on the other hand had a different approach. I enjoyed nice things and often saved up for key pieces to add to my wardrobe. I carefully and systematically built a wardrobe around colors that looked good on me and worked together. I had far less money to spend, and felt I had to be careful what I chose. I shopped the sales at high end stores, and often waited until the end of the season to make new purchases. As clothes wore out, I had them mended or altered until they had seen their best days. Quarterly, I went through my closet making sure to get rid of old damaged pieces and thoughtfully add new pieces as I could afford them.
My friend clearly needed a closet refresh, a good old clear-out to make space for what she really needed. It would be a big job, but I felt it would help her find her style, and help her budget by working with some of the clothing she already owned before going out to get more. We worked on her closet over time, step by step. The following are the steps we used and the steps I use seasonally to keep my closet updated and wearable.
Another friend’s wardrobe conundrum was due to weight gain. She held on to her pre-pregnancy wardrobe hoping that she would one day fit back into the clothing she had enjoyed wearing before her children were born. She longed to feel and be seen as she had been as a fit slim woman. After many years, she lost the weight only to find that the pre-pregnancy wardrobe was ten years out of style. Not only that, her life had changed and with it, her sense of style. Holding on to clothes she thought she’d love ten to fifteen years later, turned out to just take up space. It has been established that purchasing clothing that is too small as an incentive to lose weight, or holding on to clothing hoping you will fit into them at some point in the future only makes us feel bad about ourselves. Let go, work on your wardrobe in the size you are now, and if you lose weight, you can celebrate by getting fresh stylish pieces in the new size, and in keeping with the person you have become rather than the person you once were.
A closet refresh is one of the best ways to bring new energy into your personal style. If it’s been a long time since you last did a closet cleanout, or if you’re holding onto old pieces from last year (or even longer!), this guide will help you build a solid foundation for a stylish, curated closet. Think of it as a great time to evaluate your wardrobe, rediscover favorite pieces, and maybe introduce a new item or two to create different looks that feel fresh.
Step 1: The First Step – Take Everything Out
Wait…Take everything out? All of it? Right now, in a big overwhelming pile on my bed? Hear me out. I advocate for two methods. The first is a mini clean-out. I created a YouTube video on the subject. I started with easy items I knew I’d never wear. I packed them right into bags and got them right to a charity shop. Each day, I tackled a little more.
However, you may be the type who prefers to jump right into the deep end. In which case you will want to pull everything out of your closet—all your clothing items from blue jeans to pencil skirts, from trendy tops to classic pieces like a black blazer or white shirt. This is a daunting task, but it’s the best way to see what you have and assess what you own already and what you really need. As you do this task regularly, the process with go much faster, and you will become much more clear on your style and what works in your wardrobe. You will also be able to clear out your wardrobe without having to remove everything every time.
Make it fun, invite a good friend over or hire a stylist to help you work through this process. I always look at it as a learning opportunity–a way to see where I have been and where I want to go with my style. Its always interesting to remember when certain looks were so important to me, and how they are less so now–or how right I was–when I see pieces I bought years ago and am still wearing and enjoying. It’s also fun to try older pieces in new ways combined with modern pieces or with different colors than the way we wore them when we got them. I love looking for new pieces to go with older ones. Here in America we tend to want to look like everyone else. I find myself admiring women who successfully mix and match old with new. I also love it when women accessorize their outfits with vintage pieces or other interesting accessories.
Step 2: Declutter Your Closet Mindfully
First, remove all the low-hanging fruit, all the items that clearly don’t fit, are old or have seen better days. These are pieces that will be tossed out. Next is a donation pile, these are pieces that are in good enough shape to be passed on. Get rid of these pieces right away, either by putting them into the trash or driving them to a charity shop. You will be left with two piles: a “not sure” pile, and a “loves” pile. Take note of the colors and styles you gravitate toward–is it a specific color pattern or style that you repeatedly drawn to?
Ask yourself: when was the last time you wore each piece? Are these old clothes or items that fit your current style? Is that skinny jeans or tank top in good shape and a good fit? Divide everything into piles: Keep, Donate (maybe to a charity shop or thrift store), and Repair. Say goodbye to outdated styles or anything in the wrong size or wrong color for your skin tone. Your own personal style is evolving, and your closet should reflect that. Do you repeatedly purchase items you never wear? Do you purchase the same styles over and over?
Step 3: Think About Your Lifestyle:
I the reason you are no longer wearing some of the things in your wardrobe because your lifestyle has changed? As we enter new chapters in our lives, we often find that clothes from prior chapters no longer work or need to be reimagined to work in your new lifestyle. For example, when I left corporate life to work from home, a much more casual wardrobe was needed. I first restyled pieces into new combinations that worked better with my new role as a consultant. I also became a new mom at the same time, and needed wash and wear items and pieces that were less fussy than my corporate wardrobe.
Many of us move to very casual wardrobes when we retire, or we resort to wearing sportswear all the time. If this is the case, try mixing some of those pieces with less casual pieces. Take a photo each day of what you are wearing in a month to get an idea of how often you are wearing sportswear, pjs, or other super casual pieces, and see if you can exchange them for more elevated pieces that are equally as comfortable.
Step 4: Assess Your Wardrobe Needs
After you’ve narrowed down your clothing items, take a look at what’s missing. For example, a great pair of jeans, black pants, or high-quality pieces like a black blazer or knee-high boots are key elements in any stylish capsule wardrobe. Are there statement pieces you’d like to add? Or maybe seasonal pieces for the colder months ahead? This is a great way to ensure you’re not only following current trends but also building a wardrobe that suits every occasion, from special occasions to everyday wear.
Step 5: Organize with Style
Organizing your whole wardrobe is more than just hanging things neatly; it’s about creating an easy-to-navigate space that works for you. Hang classic pieces and seasonal pieces where they’re visible, keep work clothes within reach, and store your lesser-used items safely out of the way. Make sure each piece has a good fit and is easily accessible, whether it’s your favorite white shirt or a little black dress for special occasions.
Style Tip: Organizing by outfit, color, or type can save you a lot of time in the mornings and keep your closet visually appealing. I have been enjoying putting outfits together in groups along with the accessories I like to wear with them, making it easy to pull outfits together. My daughter likes to take pictures of outfits she creates on a “try on” day so that when she is uncertain as to what to wear she can simply scroll through her phone for inspiration.
I like to create mini capsules built around color each season. If a trend color or item captures my imagination, I can simply stand in my closet with a photo of the time I want to add. Right away, I am able to see if it actually goes with my with my existing clothing.
Step 6: Bring in New Pieces and Trends
Now comes the fun part—deciding if there’s room for a few new pieces! Look at fashion magazines or social media for style tips on current season favorites, like new silhouettes, animal print accents, or fresh colors. Pick new clothes carefully, focusing on great styles that can blend with your signature style. This could mean adding a new look with trendy tops or a small change like a statement necklace or blue jeans in a fresh cut.
Pro Tip: Make “mood boards” using Pinterest or Canva. Identify outfits you love, places that inspire you, and color schemes. Cut out pictures of movie stars from days gone by or current celebrities or influencers whose styles you like. Think about the various eras in time–is there one that inspires you? Cut out images, arrange them and look for patterns and clues that will give you insight into your unique style.
Try on clothes or borrow clothes from a friend or family member if they wear a style you would like to try. This will allow you to see if it “feels” like you and if it looks the way you imagine it would look. This is an important step because sometimes we have an idea of what we’d like to look like, but when we try it, we discover we don’t look quite the way we hoped. This allows us to tweak our style and make it uniquely our own.
Step 7: Create a Go-To Capsule Collection
Assembling a stylish capsule wardrobe is a great way to keep a selection of best-quality essentials at your fingertips. Choose classic style staples that are part of your wardrobe year-round, like black pants, a white shirt, and pencil skirts. These high-quality pieces serve as the building blocks for creating different ways to style outfits for any special occasion or everyday look.
Pro Tip: While we often think of a large capsule that is built to encompass your whole wardrobe, I’d encourage you to make smaller capsules, built around two colors that work well together and a hand full of pieces. For example, I have a blue capsule and a beige/brown capsule. I can wear them individually, or I can put them together because the two colors look very good together. This gives me a wider range of potential outfits, and as I tend to get bored easily, I can easily make lots of different outfits. I also have slightly different colors for each season, again, I like to mix things up.
Step 8: Maintain Your Curated Closet
A closet refresh isn’t a one-time event—it’s something to revisit with each new year or current season. Schedule regular mini-refreshes, whether it’s sending items to the dry cleaners, repairing minor tears, or simply reevaluating your current trends. This way, you keep your closet filled with favorite pieces that fit well and reflect your own personal style.
Pro tip: Going back to the “Not sure” pile. I like to hang those pieces in my closet with the hanger turned backward. If, the next time I do a closet clear out, I haven’t worn the piece, I put it in the donate or sell pile.
I also keep a basket in my closet where I put clothing I know I want to donate. I simply take a look through my closet, add anything else I want to donate and within a couple of minutes, the “declutter” part of the job is already done.
Finally, I move quickly. If I am going to donate or sell, I do so right away instead of letting the clothing pile up. If you are selling, you will make more money from more current wardrobe pieces. I don’t let myself get bogged down by how much an item cost when I originally bought it. If it doesn’t work with my current style, no longer fits, or is out of fashion I let it go. I had a friend at one point who gave me a pile of “designer” clothing she was no longer wearing and was struggling to get rid of because of the original cost. Unfortunately, the clothing was so far out of date, and heavily worn I immediately donated it without even trying the pieces on, which is what she should have done.
Now, there are pieces I hold on to. I hold on to vintage classic pieces that are standouts–even if I don’t wear them every season. These pieces were beautifully made, and fit me like a dream. I wear them in some seasons, and not others, but because of their beauty, I keep and treasure them.
Step 9: Don’t Overlook Accessories:
Accessories are an important part of our wardrobes. Handbags, shoes, belts, jewelry, and scarves can make or break a look. I am always on the hunt for interesting accessories to give my outfits a little extra interest and pizazz. I have belts dating back to the 1980s, beautiful pieces of jewelry and handbags. I make sure to keep them in top shape and get rid of shoes and other items if they can’t be repaired, but otherwise, I keep them and add them to my outfits.
Refreshing your closet doesn’t have to be a hard time or take a lot of time. By following these easy steps and focusing on key elements that suit your style, you’ll create a wardrobe that not only feels fresh but is truly enjoyable to wear. Embrace this new year with confidence, knowing you’re prepared for every occasion with a wardrobe that reflects the best colors and styles for you. Good luck with your closet refresh—it can be so much fun to create your ideal wardrobe!
This great post offers easy ways to transform a daunting task into a manageable, even enjoyable, experience. Remember, a closet cleanout isn’t just about clothes—it’s a chance to embrace change and start fresh with a new item or two that makes you feel like the best version of yourself!
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