My Bi-yearly Wardrobe Check-Up Part 1

A few years ago, I started doing bi-yearly wardrobe check-ups, once in spring and once in autumn, which means I was due one this month. While my wardrobe isn’t as minimalist as Elisabeth’s, I try to run a fairly tight ship. This was by choice previously, but now that we’ve moved into an apartment, this has become necessary. We don’t have any extra storage places, so I keep all my clothes in my wardrobe, including off-season and specialty clothes. The number 1 rule is that everything must fit neatly into my half of our wardrobe.

About three years ago, I started systematically doing this. I wrote a list of the types of things I do, realistically assessed what I actually wear, not what fantasy me might wear, and then compiled a list of what clothing items I needed and how many of each. That original list helped me get started, but now, with a bit of practice, I know what I will need. I don’t need special work clothes because I work from home and if I need to go somewhere for work the dress code would be smart casual. Most days I wear jeans, a T-shirt or shirt (long or short sleeve depending on the weather) and a jumper, windcheater or cardigan if needed. I have a variety of these items ranging from not allowed outside the house and dog park to suitable for a restaurant. Black jeans are my dressier option for bottoms. If I need something dressier than jeans, I wear a dress. Once the temperature goes over 25, I start considering wearing shorts … over 28 degrees and jeans are out, so it’s shorts or a dress for me.

The wardrobe assessment involves pulling everything out, deciding whether I still wear or need each piece of clothing, writing myself a list of clothes I need and putting everything back neatly.

I hang all of my everyday clothes.

My hanging space includes 1 metre of half-length hanging rail:

and half of our joint full-length hanging rail.

Currently hanging in my wardrobe:

• 1 x blue jeans
• 1 x black jeans
• 1 x hiking pants
• 1 x ultra lightweight wide-legged jeans
• 4 x summer shirts/tops
• 4 x summer T-shirts
• 4 x cardigans (1 dressy lightweight grey, 1 casual summer grey, 1 black that goes with summer or winter clothes and 1 big, fluffy grey winter)
• 3 x jumpers (1 lightweight, 2 medium)
• 1 polar fleece jacket (we went on a hiking trip with a strict packing list, and this was one thing I needed for that)
• 4 x windcheaters
• 2 x long-sleeve shirts
• 5 x black long sleeve T-shirts (2 with a skivvy neck)
• 3 x summer dresses
• 1 x winter dress
• 1 x dress for weddings and more formal occasions
• Ski jacket and ski pants

Hanging on hooks in our hallway: puffer jacket and rain jacket

Clothes heading to the op shop:

• Dressy winter top that I’ve had since at least 2017. Still nice, but I’ve worn it enough.
• Red cardigan. I love the feel and colour of this, but I already had four other cardigans, and it’s not something that goes well with everything else in my wardrobe now. I would wear it more if it were lighter, but it’s too warm for summer. I’ve had this since 2015.
• A light red colour long-sleeved T-shirt. The colour’s not great if I overheat. From now on there will be no more experimental colours … all long-sleeved T-shirts will be black. I’m over 50 and still learning what I should wear … sigh.

Heading to the textile recycling:

• One pair of blue jeans ripped four weeks ago.
• T-shirt with a hole in it.

Once everything is put back, I write my list of clothes to look out for. Some I might need to try to find immediately, others I might just keep a look out for something that’s suitable. The list:

• 1 pair of blue jeans to replace the pair that ripped.
• 1 snuggly winter jumper. I love a soft, woollen jumper but don’t currently have one.
• 1 winter dress. I like my dress, but I’d like something to alternate with this when going to dressier events.

The first two items I’ve already found. A really nice designer pair of jeans from the op shop. A gorgeous green-blue coloured jumper from a local designer.

Next up will be a look at my four drawers, containing the rest of my clothing.

Do you do regular wardrobe cleanouts? Are there lessons you’ve learned about what you really like to wear?