So, You Finally Cleaned Out Your Closet. Now What?

Shopping After Spring Cleaning.

Things to consider before you go shopping after you’ve cleaned out your closet.

Spring cleaning is here and you’ve just finished cleaning out your closet, ridding yourself of all the items that don’t fit, are damaged or aren’t the style you’re looking for. Hopefully, you’ve already taken the time to know what direction you want to go in for your personal style before cleaning out your closet so you have a clearer idea of why you kept things or threw things away. But now that the closet is cleaned out, it’s time to start building it back up with items you know you can love and wear over and over again. 

Step 1. Take Inventory

The first step after your successful closet spring cleaning is to make note of the things you currently have. Be specific about this. Be aware of how many going out, casual, and transitional pieces you have within each category i.e. shoes, bottoms, shirts, dresses, etc. Deeply consider your lifestyle and make a note of gaps or abundance in your wardrobe for each area of your life.

Step 2. Make A List of items to buy

Are you missing that perfect evening dress you can wear to any occasion? Do you own a well-fitting suit? Do you have leather belts to match your dress shoes? Is there a go-to reliable heel that you can count on? Be specific about crucial items you may be missing in your closet. Write them down, and make a mood board for these things so you can remain specific and in line with your personal style. Find those gaps in your wardrobe and make a plan to fill them in. 

Step 3. Create A Budget 

Know how much you want to spend. If you only want to buy $500 worth of clothes in one day, then only shopping at Bloomingdale’s is not going to leave you with many items. You can either do this by creating a “scary number,” which is the max you want to spend, or you can think of how much you want to spend for each type of item. The max amount you prefer to spend on shirts may not be the same amount you prefer to spend on shoes. And DO NOT buy something just because it’s on sale. This will not benefit you in the long run. What will benefit you is spending and allocating your funds accordingly for items you’ll actually wear. 

Step 4. Make A List of Stores

Now that you have a budget – and, hopefully, understand your personal style – it should be easier to make a list of appropriate stores to shop at. Why are you making Zara your first stop if you know you prefer more classic styles? If you aren’t looking for shoes, then why did you make a detour into Aldo? If you don’t have a good bra, then a store like Victoria’s Secret needs to be your first stop. Be intentional about the stores and brands you’re browsing through. This is your time in your day. So, use it wisely. And after a few successful shopping trips, go somewhere outside your comfort zone as a wildcard. 

Step 5. Shop ‘Till You Drop…

… by yourself. Don’t bring an entourage or even your closest friend. Take the time to make these shopping trips all about what you think, what you like, and how you feel. No one’s opinions but yours matter. Or if you really feel like you can’t trust your fashion intuition, then bring a personal stylist who can help guide you in discovering your personal style. And remember to take your time in this process. You don’t have to create your dream closet in one weekend. In fact, it’s impossible. So, enjoy the process as much as you can because Rome wasn’t built in a day, and neither are wardrobes. 

One of the hardest parts about creating your style is getting up and getting rid of the things that don’t serve you anymore. The next step after that is simply taking inventory of what you have, and becoming familiar with what’s in your closet. Doing that will naturally make you realize the things you don’t have but would like to possess in your wardrobe. Creating a budget is easy because you know what you can afford and what you can’t afford, especially with all the tools available today to help manage your funds. Knowing your budget and style lets you be specific about the stores that will serve your needs the most. Make a list of these places and brands so you can do the fun part: shopping. And if it’s not fun now, the more you practice going alone, listening to your inner voice, and taking your time to enjoy the process, you will eventually learn to fall in love with shopping and create the closet you’ve always dreamed of.