Shutterstock1. The Prep
First, commit to a specific date and time. This isn’t the type of task that you can squeeze into any given day or rush to finish. “Start with a plan,” says Christina McDowell, the Toronto-based founder of luxury resale boutique Clementine’s and an image consultant who has worked with celebs such as Liv Tyler and Aretha Franklin. “Pick a Sunday morning with no interruptions. Your goal is to have a completely edited closet by the end of the day.”
Editing takes time and patience, as you’ll be trying on everything you own. That’s right: everything. “Don’t discard things just by looking at them on the hanger; put them on and see if the proportions seem out of whack or if they don’t fit you anymore,” says Jenn Rogien, a spokesperson for Winners and costume designer for the hit TV shows Girls and Orange Is the New Black. She likes to work with a buddy to get another perspective. “It has to be someone who is going to give you an honest opinion, who will look at that piece and say ‘You haven’t worn that in years, so it’s got to go.’”
When you’re ready to dive in, McDowell advises focusing on one season at a time and having three piles: one for items to keep, one for those that need alterations and one for donations. Then take out everything, she says. “Sounds daunting, but it’s worth it.”
This is where a few deep breaths can help. The road to closet euphoria can be paved with bumps in the shape of buyer’s remorse or body image issues. But you’re playing a long game here, so keep your eye on the prize: a group of items you like to wear so much that you actually wear them. “It’s that balance of holding onto things that are still very much a part of your wardrobe, but you’re not currently wearing because of seasonality or trend, and getting rid of those things that you truly don’t want to wear anymore to make space for a couple of key pieces,” says Rogien.
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