Cleaning Out My Closet
A story of loss and triumph.
When I was apartment hunting last January, one of the biggest requirements I had was closet space. I found my current apartment and knew the lease was a sure thing when I counted the six closets the space included. If you’re reading this, I assume you’ve had to Girl Math closet space before.
The Closet Breakdown
Two closets are my boyfriend’s
One closet is for winter coats and suitcases
One closet has a massive water heater and isn’t a closet at all
= 4 closets accounted for
6-4 = 2 (obviously)
This leaves me with two closets for myself (one of which, I will admit, is very large). This should be enough space to hold everything I wear. The problem is, there is not enough space to hold all of the pieces I don’t wear.
As someone who works in fashion, I have accumulated a significant number of vintage treasures, special occasion options, and “what if” pieces. I have an emotional attachment to things in my closet even if I’m not actually wearing them very frequently. Cleaning out my closet is therefore a big deal and usually results in a cute mental breakdown.
Closet Cleanout Rules
In order to minimize the severity of a closet-induced Menty B., I have created a set of rules I follow when approaching the task. Marie Kondo would hate these rules and that’s ok.
Don’t break up with a piece that you still have feelings for. Unlike an ex, once an item has been donated or sold, you probably can’t get it back.
Everyday clothing items (like sweaters, jeans, blouses) have to meet stricter criteria. If you never wear a top that you could technically wear all the time, it’s time to part ways. If you never wear a gown because you are lacking occasions that require a gown, keep it.
Cleaning out your closet is a solo activity. Your mom or friends might mean well by offering to help but too many opinions can lead to regret. Just because your friend would get rid of a piece, doesn’t mean you should. (I’ll expand on this below).
After you clean out your closet, wait one week to donate or sell the items. I have pulled plenty of things out of my donate bag after having second thoughts.
A Story of Regret (with a happy ending)
Finding a fabulous vintage piece usually feels like a gift from the universe. I was meant to find this. Parting with a vintage piece therefore feels like a bigger loss.
A few years ago, my friend Avery graciously volunteered to come over and help me tackle the mound of clothes in my closet. It’s important to note that Avery has fabulous taste and I greatly admire her personal style.
With Avery’s help, cleaning out my closet turned into a fun task instead of a daunting one. Through the giggles and the guidance of Avery, I got rid of half my wardrobe. The cleanout was necessary and I felt good about it until I held up a plaid vintage blazer with a velvet collar that I had acquired at a vintage market on the Lower East Side.
Avery confessed that she was not fond of the blazer. I put it in my sell pile.
Since that day, for the last two years, I have felt DEEP REGRET over this blazer. I LOVED IT! Why would I get rid of it?! At one desperate point, I took out everything in my closet to search for the blazer because there was no way I would have been stupid enough to get rid of it. But alas, I had.
I would frequently search online for a similar blazer and was constantly angry with myself for not even remembering the brand to help with my search. My efforts were unsuccessful until a “3 years ago today” TikTok memory appeared on my app. In the video, I am shopping at a vintage market on the Lower East Side and there is a clip (a glorious clip!) that shows the blazer and the brand.
My internet search was reignited and I am so happy to report that I found the blazer! I found it in pristine condition, in the same size and color on a vintage seller’s website for $32. I immediately ordered the blazer and it’s perfect. I put it back on and swore I’d never leave it again.