The Agony of Trying On Old Clothes

When clearing space in bedrooms and closets, clothes can be a loaded category to review. They can unearth a mountain of emotions. We regret the money squandered on a rarely worn yet expensive outfit. A dress trumpets the undeniable passage of time and the hold that gravity eventually has on our bodies as we age. A shirt happily takes us for a meandering stroll down memory lane. 
 
Additionally, the logistics of reviewing the collective volume of clothes can feel overwhelming. Sizes only sometimes match between brands. Even the mere thought of trying everything on before making decisions can elicit an audible groan. 
 
When working with clients to create spaces that better support their daily needs, I encourage purging as many items as possible without trying them on. They pull their favorites out from each category. We immediately return them to dressers and closets. Then we assess any remaining space. If room is still available, they grab their second most-favorite items from the categories and repeat the process. In this fashion, we tackle most clothes without trying them on.
 
The thought of trying on thick clothing when it is hot out or summer clothes when it is cold out is less than appealing. Inevitably there will be some items to try on, but the task will be much more manageable if fewer clothes are in this category.
 
So here are questions you can ask to make as many cuts as possible before resorting to trying clothes on:

• Does this item fit? The answer is sometimes complicated. Many of us deal with fluctuating weight, so keeping a few things that are slightly too small or big can be logical. Keep them to a manageable number, though. Otherwise, getting dressed takes too long because we are forced to ignore ill-fitting clothes as we scan our wardrobe for something that fits. By purging many of these, we can also avoid the uncomfortable feeling of repeatedly seeing small sizes each morning as we get dressed. 
• Was the material pleasant against your skin?
• Was the fabric itchy?
• Was it comfortable or constricting in some sections while loose in others?
• Do you still like the color and pattern?
• Was the item flattering?
• Did you feel confident wearing it, or were you itching to race home and rip it off?
• How many items do you already have in this category?
• How much space do you want to devote to this category vs others?
• If you saw it in the store today, would you buy it or leave it on the rack?
• Can one outfit serve the purpose of multiple occasions, or is it only appropriate for once-yearly events? Is it worth the space in the closet for the few times you will wear it?
• Is there already a different item in the category that could serve the same purpose?
• Styles return after some time, but typically with a new twist. So, vintage outfits might still appear dated, even if they are generally “on trend.” Was the style so avant-garde that now only the trendiest of 20-year-olds could get away with wearing it?
• Is the item more important than the ability to quickly get dressed and put clothes away? Be aware of the mental trickery that whispers, “This one thin item won’t make a difference.” If we held all these one-offs to the side, they would collectively take up a surprising amount of real estate in our closets. 

 
Asking any combination of these questions can help determine whether items deserve to continue demanding precious space in your life. The more frequently you ask and answer these questions sincerely, the easier the process becomes. Additionally, you will spend less time trying on outfits. So give these questions a try. With enough practice, they will become a trusted method that quickly reveals which clothes earn the privilege to remain in your home.