Wardrobe Malfunction: How to Downsize Your Closet

Have you ever said “I have nothing to wear!” while staring into a closet overflowing with clothes? You are not alone. Most people only wear 50% of their wardrobe, yet spend around $1,700 a year on clothes, only to throw away 65% of what they bought within 12 months of buying it! More clothes isn’t the solution.

“What should we do then?’ the crowd asked. John answered, ‘Anyone who has two shirts should share with the one who has none.”- Luke 3:10-11

Simple right? But, sharing with others isn’t why I donated clothes. It was for me. To get rid of what I didn’t want, to free up space to buy new clothes. After countless donation drop offs, seeing mountains of stuff littering the store sidewalk all from one day of donations, I finally realized I was donating out of greed instead of altruism. 

I decided to commit to breaking my pattern of buy, declutter, donate, repeat. To downsize my wardrobe and keep it downsized by following these rules. 

  • Limit your space

    • I limit myself to one closet and one dresser. Even within those, I limit my hangers so the closet doesn’t become overfilled. If I don’t have any hangers left, I don’t go shopping. If I receive an item and my hangers are full, I have to get rid of something else to free up space. Limiting your space helps you avoid overaccumulation. 

  • Take inventory

    • Just because there is a sale, doesn’t mean you need clothes. Take inventory of what you have, decide what you actually need to purchase, and stick to the list. Shopping without a list is a dangerous activity.  

  • Keep notes

    • When you get rid of clothes, keep notes. What did you like/not like about it? The feel, the fit, the color? Knowing what you like and don’t like helps you make better purchases. You begin wearing all the clothes you buy instead of discarding them in a year.   

  • Count what you have 

    • Looking in your closet you might not think you have very many clothes, but once you start counting them you will be surprised at how much you own.  Vogue did a study in 2022 that found a “sufficient” wardrobe consists of 74 garments (not including underwear, socks, bras). I have a more than sufficient wardrobe at 122 items. But knowing that number has helped me set goals to continue to live with less.  

Keeping my closet downsized has brought numerous benefits including: 

  • Reduced decision fatigue

    • I used to try on 10+ outfits to decide what to wear. Now my clothes are worn on a rotation system. Example: I have 5 hanging shirts, I wear 2 of them, after they are washed, they get hung up and placed the furthest back in line. As I plan my clothes, whatever is closest to the front gets worn first. If I catch myself constantly skipping wearing the shirt in the front, it’s time to get rid of that shirt. Instead of struggling with the daily decision of what to wear, I have more time to focus on important things like prayer and time with family.. 

  • Resourcefulness

    • Prior to the Industrial Revolution, when a garment was damaged, instead of being thrown away it was altered and became an outfit for a child. After it was altered enough times and no longer wearable it was used to restuff furniture. Over the centuries we’ve lost the skill to see an item for more than its intended use and resort to convenience instead of creativity. When you force yourself to use what you have, your creativity blossoms. You wear your clothes in different ways to get the most out of them and reduce waste by not buying one-time use garments. 

  • Increased contentment 

    • Prior to downsizing, my mind was consumed with more. I would shop Black Friday sales and be thinking about after-Christmas sales. I would get clothes for Christmas, then go shopping for more in January. I wasn’t thankful or appreciative for what I had because I always wanted more. When you intentionally live with less, your focus shifts. You become content and grateful with what you have. Your desire for more decreases while your desire for less increases, leaving space to think about others.    

  • Less stress

    • Living with less reduces stress in many ways. Besides having a neater physical space that lowers feelings of overwhelm it saves time with not having to sort through or organize clothes. When you buy less, you gain more financial freedom. Who doesn’t need more space, time, and money in their life to do more impactful things? 

So, the next time you find yourself staring into an overflowing closet, remember that more clothes are not the solution. Downsizing your wardrobe and keeping it downsized is more than just decluttering, it's a shift towards intentional living. By limiting space, taking inventory, keeping notes, and counting what you have, you can break free from the cycle of overconsumption. By living with less you discover the true benefits of simplicity. You gain more time, space, and financial freedom to focus on what truly matters—spending time with loved ones, deepening your faith, and sharing with others. 


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