I’m attempting to edit my closet. What do you do when you wear an outfit (in this case a summer cotton sundress) and people give you compliments, but at the end of the day, you think: well, that was decidedly just an ok outfit? Keep or toss?
~ Tricia
Here’s the thing about a really tightly edited closet: Every single piece should be something you genuinely love and want to wear. This means that no matter how cute other people think the dress is, if it leaves you feeling meh, it might need to go.
So how do you make the decision to let go of an otherwise perfectly good piece? Tricia has already taken the first step: She made a good-faith effort to wear this particular dress, and it clearly was working for her — at one level, at least. I have a dress like that. It’s a gray shift with a cute ruffled neckline; every time I wear it, I get compliments. But I almost never wear it because I put it on and it just looks … boring. I feel like I can do better.
That dress needs to go. In fact, both dresses need to go, mine and Tricia’s.
The ideal edited closet consists only of pieces you love, and love to wear. If you’re on the fence about something, try restyling it — if you change up your accessories or add a cardigan or pair it with flats instead of heels, does that make it more fun to wear? Do what Tricia did and make a good faith effort to wear whatever it is you’re ambivalent about — maybe you’ll fall in love with that piece all over again. Or maybe you won’t — and that’s ok too.
It can be hard to give up on a piece you know ought to work, but you’re better off getting it out of your closet and using that space for something you really adore. That’s the whole goal of editing, after all.
Photo via Anthropologie
I think if you get compliments you should consider jazzing it up with some great accessories and work it!
My daughter is this post!! I, on the other hand continue to hold on to things, because just like my tastebuds change–maybe my style will too! She is teaching me valuable lessons though, at 15yo and now they are being reinforced by you!
Thanks so much for the fantastic answer! I think it all goes back to what you (or another talented blogger) said awhile ago. We all hold on to pieces for various reasons. I feel like I need to reach a dollar amount/wear figure before I toss, but that’s just silly. You’re closet should never make you feel guilty! The dress is no longer holding me hostage. It’s going, going, gone!
Also, we should all use the correct form of “your.” Good grief…
I love this. I am on the cusp of editing my closet and this is the push I need to to just that. Thank you!
Agree one million percent. One thing I do when I feel especially attached to an item that I know I should eliminate is to move it to a back closet or otherwise out of sight. If I’ve forgotten it exists in a few months, I’m either delighted to find it again, or really ready to let it go.
I finally did it this weekend. I edited my closet! There was a bunch of stuff that I ahven’t worn in years but was too scared to get rid of, even things that were tattered or worn out. It feels so GOOD! Now I can focus on the clothing that I actually like. I think I could still edit about half out but baby steps!