At the start of a new year, I like to take inventory of my wardrobe and clear out the pieces I no longer wear. Doing this annually allows me to edit down my closet to contain only items I really love. As I’ve been doing so for 2023 I’ve been thinking about the lightning speed at which trends cycle these days and how that plays a major role in our collective overconsumption. So in an effort to be a more mindful consumer, I’ve started to streamline my wardrobe to focus less on trends and more on quality pieces that I genuinely love. And the recent runways at NYFW tell me I’m not the only one—it seems major fashion houses are shifting away from flashy trends to re-focus on versatile wardrobe staples.
With all of this swirling around in my brain, I cleared out a ton of pieces I don’t find myself wearing anymore to either sell or donate. That being said, I did find myself holding on to some specific items the younger version of myself may have parted ways with. But with age comes wisdom, and I’ve learned that there are certain pieces that I’m virtually guaranteed to wear again down the road even if I’m not at this exact moment. Below I’m sharing my tips for how to clean out a closet with three items I’ll never purge.
One contingency that won’t be outlined below but I highly recommend you hold onto are items with sentimental value. In my opinion, anything meaningful to you deserves a place in your closet regardless of if you actually wear it. Maybe it’s something you got on a trip, a gift from someone you love, or an item that’s been passed down from a family member, but those are things you should never purge—call me sentimental, but they’re priceless.
