How to handle off-season clothing or clothing that doesn’t fit
Think about having a closet and dresser that contains only the clothes that you like wearing, currently fit and work for the current weather and your current lifestyle.
Think about how much easier it would be to get dressed in the morning. Think about how much clearer it would be to see what pieces are missing from your wardrobe, rather than blindly shopping for “things you like”, adding to the piles of clothes that sort of work for you and your lifestyle. Think about how much easier it would be to put clothes away if your dresser and closet weren’t stuffed. Think about how much easier it would be to keep a neat and tidy closet.
How do you make this your reality? Read on to find out!
Step 1: Determining what items to keep In Rotation and what items to take Out of Rotation
This typically happens when the season changes, your size changes or your lifestyle or preference changes. Or it can happen when you are ready to right-size your wardrobe.
In Rotation clothes are:
The right sizeAppropriate for the current weatherAppropriate for your current life (meaning you actually wear them on a regular basis in your normal course of life)BONUS: You love them (maybe that means they’re comfortable or you just like the way you feel when you’re wearing them)
Everything else is considered Out of Rotation items at this point.
Step 2: Right-sizing your In Rotation items
Even if clothes meet the In Rotation criteria, I strongly recommend considering your Magic Number of items. Items that meet the In Rotation criteria but exceed your Magic Number will be handled with other Out of Rotation items.
Personally, I like to keep my wardrobe as minimal as possible. This might not be a priority for everyone, but you can read more about why here.
Step 3: Deciding which Out of Rotation items to keep
You may, for various reasons, want to keep some items that do not fit the In Rotation criteria. For example, you want to keep clothes that an older sibling has outgrown for a younger sibling. Or you want to store a sweater during the summer months.
However, I strongly recommend putting very concrete constraints around the total quantity of Out of Rotation items you keep. That can be done in a few ways:
You can decide on a certain quantity (ex: I can keep up to 5 of my favorite maternity pants for a possible subsequent pregnancy)
You can let your storage container of choice serve as a natural constraint (I can only keep the number of 2T clothes for a younger sibling that will fit in this box).
The point is that you aren’t keeping everything. You are being thoughtful and only keeping things in good condition that have a good chance of being used in the future.
For Out of Rotation clothes I like to consider the following:
What is the condition? Does it have a bunch of holes or stains? Will I actually get around to addressing the stains and holes? Don’t spend time and energy shuffling trash around your house. Do yourself a favor and throw it away now.
Do you even like this item? Did you hate wearing those pants because they were uncomfortable? Or you rarely reached for that shirt because you didn’t think the fit or color were flattering? Don’t spend time and energy shuffling around things you don’t love. Donate it instead.
Does it work with your lifestyle? There are aspirational clothes and then there are clothes you actually wear. Does your child have 5 formal outfits they have never worn? Do you have a closet full of office wear but you don’t currently work in an office? Don’t spend time and energy shuffling around things that you won’t ever use. Donate it instead.
When I’m going through this process with people, I often hear one of 3 things:
I’m planning to go back to work someday and I will need these clothes. That could be a reason to hold onto a few of your favorites. But it’s helpful to consider that even if you are planning to return to work, it is entirely possible you won’t want to wear these particular pieces. Maybe they aren’t the right size or no longer your style. You may find yourself wanting to refresh your wardrobe if that time does come.
I might gain or lose weight so I want to keep these just in case. Again, that could be a reason to hold onto a few of your favorites (not an entire wardrobe!) But it’s helpful to consider that even if your size does change, it is entirely possible you won’t want to wear these particular pieces. Styles change. Lifestyles change.
I paid a lot of money for that dress/pair of shoes/sweater. The money is gone. Whether you keep the item or you decide to part with it does not change this fact. Sometimes we hold onto things out of guilt. Free yourself from this guilt, discard the items not currently serving you and move on. This will create more space for the things that actually are serving you right now.
Step 4: Discard unwanted items immediately
For anything that you are discarding, I recommend discarding the item immediately. Immediately throw it in the trash. Immediately bag it up and put it in your car to be dropped off at your favorite charity. Don’t let these items languish.
Step 5: Store your the Out of Rotation clothes
Once you have set aside the Out of Rotation clothing that you want to keep, you need to designate a place for these Out of Rotation clothes that is separate from where you keep In Rotation clothes. Maybe it’s a box on the top shelf of your closet? Maybe it’s a box under your bed? Maybe it’s a box in your basement? Wherever it is, don’t let those Out of Rotation clothes mingle with your In Rotation clothes.
If possible, It’s nice if you are able to keep the Out of Rotation items near your In Rotation items to make things easier when it’s time to rotate. Near but separate. It’s always easier to do something when it’s more convenient and it’s more convenient to rotate clothes without having to lug boxes up and down stairs or around the house.
And don’t forget the very important step of labeling the boxes so you know exactly in which box the 3T clothes are stored when you need them for the younger sibling. Or you know exactly where your winter clothes are when the weather turns cold.
Finally a note on buying clothes in anticipation of a size change, a season or an occasion. For example, I strongly discourage buying your kids clothes in a size they don’t currently wear. There is a chance that you may incorrectly predict which season their next growth spurt lines up with. And plus, now you have another wardrobe to separately store and manage. This also includes buying things without a specific purpose, like a formal wear for an event is not officially scheduled or you’ve not been officially invited to. The more closely you can align your clothing purchases with your immediate needs, the better.
Want an expert to walk you through this process? I offer 90 minute declutter/organize sessions and I’d love to help you take stock of your wardrobe, identify In Rotation items, Out of Rotation items and items that need to be discarded.
Need help with other areas of your home? My 90-minute sessions can be spent in whatever way is useful to you.
Or is laundry your nemesis. Check out my guides, come to a workshop or book a call with me. I’d love to help you spend less time on laundry (or any other household tasks!)
