you only wear it once a year, should you just declutter it?
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 14 ต.ค. 2024
- you only wear it once a year, should you just declutter it?
Hey y'all, in today's video I'm talking about one of the key tenets of minimalism is decluttering, or defaulting to decluttering things you don't wear a lot. But, is this always the answer?
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As someone who has tried to do this I say no do not declutter it unless it does not fit, you don't like it, or it makes you uncomfortable. Ive wasted $1000+ in decluttering more than I do in buying items. Wearing it only once could mean a lot of things, but if you still like it keep it! Better in your closet than in the trash or landfill.
Why not donate it or give it to friends and family
@@ampthemilks Donating is what I like to do, but 60% of donations to thrift stores don't make it on the sales floor...they throw it in the trash. No one else I know wears my size sadly (they're all larger than me)
@@DominiqueRamseyArt oh I didn’t know they throw away 60 percent of the donations… I’ll have to look into that… also cool art on your channel, it’s very unique 👍
@@DominiqueRamseyArt Hi! Love your art!
This is a hoarder mindset
I've regretted every single I decluttered my closet. So now I only throw out my clothes if there's whole in it or if it's uncomfortable. I'm also happy my mom kept a lot of clothes because now I wear them. I guess I'm really not into that minimalist lifestyle. I would live in regret constantly.
If you learn some basic embroidery, you could patch small holes too! :)
I bought a tacky christmas patterned pants/blazer combo from target like 6 years ago and when i bought it i was like im gonna get my use out of this. I only wear it once a year but every year it helps me remember to not buy new seasonal things and still gives me a fun lil holiday activity. I try to wear it in a different way every year and some years i get more wear out of it. It’s like an accomplishment to me when I can keep track of something and find fun ways to wear it every year.
@@AlexaSmith I have a similar thing in the form of a sweater vest and an old elf hat I've had for a long time. It's like a tradition I insist on keeping even as trends change
I once gave away all of my ‘going out’ clothes because I was only going out like once or twice a year. I moved shortly afterwards and started going out a lot more and just had to buy a bunch of new stuff. If things fill a niche, I tend to keep them now just in case
I did the same thing! Though a lot of them were also very worn and not my style anymore becuase I worn them in highschool and they were stuck in 2017 still xdd Some of items I regretted decluttering for the same reason and it annoyed me having to rebuy bery similar items. Im yapping but it makes sense to keep a few event dresses nice shoes and going out clothes even if you dont wear them becasue they're expensive and eventually you'll need them someday probably 🖤
Yes there is nothing worse than the feeling of panic of not having anything to wear to an event or occasion. If we want to shop our closet, we have to have a variety of pieces to be able to do that.
Marie Kondo's "Does This Spark Joy?" motto helps me so much with this
Agreed-- and my Halloween and Christmas T-shirts and Sweaters bring me joy 😊
Or the more recently popular version: if this had poop on it, would I wash it?
I have a skirt I bought at goodwill for $10 that turned out to be a $600 Italian silk designer skirt. It’s a full tea length circle in gold silk with these gorgeous golden medallion details. I don’t really have many places to wear it, but I’m so glad I keep it around for the occasions it works for. I wore it for my graduation last year and pull it out for Christmas. It’s completely impractical, but I love it sooo much.
I understand it. I have a red velvet long sleeved dress: i wear it during Halloween or Christmas 😂 no in between but I love it so much
If you enjoy it, keep it. Periodt!! Maybe style it in more casual ways since it sounded like you were wearing it for more professional purposes
This is a great example of the problem with minimalist rules or guidelines for what we should keep or "declutter". And the word "declutter" is mostly just a term to make people feel better about being wasteful. Most of what is decluttered makes its way to a landfill sooner rather than later, yet minimalists want to convince people to get rid of as much as we possibly can for no logical reason. For many people this only prompts them to buy more stuff to fill the empty spaces.
If you only use something occasionally there are many more questions to ask rather than jump to the conclusion that you should immediately get rid of it. Can you/would you like to use it more often? Do you value it even though you only use on the rare occasion? Do you have the space for it? There's no inherent guilt or "wrongness" in keeping something you only use occasionally, as long as you're not over-cluttered by filling your home with many, many items that you rarely use.
I agree, which is why I love Dana K White’s method - she gets through trash and ”obvious” stuff, but she has only one question about stuff : ”where would I look for it ?” (okay, actually two, but the second only comes up when there’s no answer to the first)
No ”do I like/wear/need it”. And then she takes the stuff to said place, and if there’s room - that’s it.
I think the premise here is wrong, that being that minimalists think you should only consider the number of uses. No minimalist I know thinks that. We take into account all ways that something has value, including ways an item can detract from one's life.
Most people have too much stuff that holds no value in their life. It's unused, unusable, and/or unloved. But people keep things because they don't want to be wasteful and because they feel guilt. However, letting go of these things would lift a mental weight and allow them to better use their space and appreciate what they have. These things are already "waste" as they sit in people's homes.
I don't like discouraging people from decluttering. There is a real problem of overconsumption, and the solution does not lie in clinging to trash. There is also a big problem with hoarding, more than I think people realize.
@@DirseCT I am not discouraging people from getting rid of true useless junk... I am discouraging people from getting rid of things they may have otherwise kept purely based on arbitrary rules or guidelines someone else made. I used to follow a bunch of minimalist-themed accounts on Facebook and most them would link these published articles that would list "guidelines" for "ruthless" decluttering that encouraged people to get rid of large amounts of things that they actually might want to use now or in the future...or just enjoy owning. A very common theme seems to be getting rid of things you rarely use or haven't been using, without asking any other questions.
And they would rarely, if ever, talk about why people tend to be so cluttered...the obvious overconsumption problem. This keeps people in the buy and de-clutter cycle. I know that for me, personally, not having much excess space in my home for new things does deter me from overconsuming....so it's better that I don't get rid of so many things on a whim. I also think that being aware that I'm being wasteful when I do need to get rid of things is also a good deterrent to future overbuying. I realize that the approach will be different for a person who has a true hoarding disorder, but that is relatively uncommon.
These are common themes I've personally seen, even though I realize it doesn't apply to all who consider themselves minimalists.
@@DirseCT The guilt is a real one for me. I don't want to get rid of something that I didn't want to get in the first place. But it was a gift, so I kept it. I don't want to get rid of things I don't use, because then it feels like wasted money and wasted space on landfill but if I keep them then I can convince myself that I'll find use for them and then it'll be less of a waste. But if I could magic those things away without the feeling of guilt, I would.
@@tinnie75 For me, personally, I channel the feeling of guilt into my effort to stop over consuming. Guilt is meant to motivate us to change in some way, it doesn't mean we have to beat ourselves up over it or hold onto the feeling too much. I never meant to discourage people from decluttering that they actually need or want to do by their own volition. I was meaning to discourage people from following someone else's arbitrary guidelines for what to get rid of, and many minimalists seem to publish lists of them. Most of these lists will encourage people to get rid of anything they use rarely or aren't currently using...without asking any further questions.
I have a plaid jacket that I don't wear that much but also I'm not getting rid of it, because it fits, and for when I'm in the mood I need that plaid jacket. Period. 😂
My thing that I haven't worn in over 2 years (mainly because of my weight) is a flowery dress with crochet flower embellishments on the shoulders. It's got funky contrasting fabric under the arms (where it was let out due to my changing size). My mum actually handmade it about 8-10 years ago and I WON'T get rid of it - even if it never fits again! :)
P.S. I notcied earlier that you hit 40k, then came back a few hours later and it had reached 40.1k! Massive congrats! :D
Totally agree! I also have an interview/funeral shirt and jacket, as well as two Christmas sweaters.
One concept that could apply to those is "just for when", (instead of "just in case") because they have a real, specific purpose that they do get used for. I will not be getting rid of them, because they serve those specific purposes for me and do them extremely well (I got promoted wearing those specific pieces, twice! 😊). They are still in fantastic shape, and should serve their purpose for years to come. They also work well if I drop or gain a size ❤
I loveee that “just for when”
Id say an item i have is a very heavy coat, its a good quality goose feather jacket, that ive only worn a handful of times. It doesnt get cold enough to snow where i live, but the few times ive used it has been a lifesaver! I think that merits it staying with me! With my closet full of jackets on the other hand....
Oh yes, same! I kept my winter coat even after I moved to the Southwest US. I haven’t worn it in over 10 years, but who knows when it might come in handy. Just because I’ve never traveled to a cold place during winter in a decade doesn’t mean I’ll never do so.
Marie Kondo says to keep an item if it "sparks joy"! So that would apply to your pumpkin sweater and your hiking pants. I have a few classic clothing items that I only wear in December, and I've had them for a couple of years. Other items that you should never declutter ( unless they don't fit); classic trench coat or wool winter coat, basic black skirt or pants, elegant cocktail dress, black or nude pumps. I've just handed down my 22 year old London Fog trench coat to my daughter.
Btw....please wear the pumpkin sweater and the hiking pants in your next video, and I'll subscribe!
It might just be the minimalists I've heard, but they seem generally say minimalism is up to you to define. I'm a minimalist, and I allow myself a "miscellaneous" bin on my shelf that I'm ready to chuck before my next move. I hold on to the things "just in case" and it's the only spot in the whole house with stuff I can't describe off the top of my head. That's OK! I'm still a minimalist.
If something feels good, and your place is functional and safe, you can hold on to it!
Easy case... "Whenever I wear it, I feel so happy"... Keep it, and stay happy. Even if it is just two times a year.
I have a wig I only bring out to wear on Halloween. It was very cheap to buy. I get so much joy wearing it just for the holiday. I feel like there are certain items we keep for special occasions gain more enjoyment as we age with them. Like Christmas decorations from our childhood that mom gave us when we got out on our own. We can still get all the original feels from special items such as these to give us a sense of time and space. Love this concept.
I own a few Christmas jumpers. My work allows me to wear them throughout December and it makes a huge difference from having to wear my despised, uncomfortable uniform. Although they're seasonal I've kept them for years because of this reason.
I do seasonal capsule wardrobes and also have a few items that I only wear a couple of times in the year, mainly because it only fits a certain temperature range. I put the rest of the wardrobe away and only have my seasonal items present in the closet.
Honestly, I think deep down you really know when it’s time to donate/throw out a clothing item.. at least for me… I’ve never regretted getting rid of something bc I wait till I’m like “yeah time to go”
I have a black velvet full length sheath ball dress which I had made when I was about 23/24 (1993.) Balls were a really common thing back in the day to help with fund raisers, big celebrations etc. They are not so usual now but I still have it. My daughter wore it last year to a James Bond themed 30th birthday party. She looked so beautiful in it. I have room for it in my wardrobe. She is now 27. Who knows? Balls may come back. It's also the sort of thing to wear to a black tie event. She may wear it again. She may not. No one is going to buy it and it's still in great condition and definitely not the sort of thing to go to a thrift store.
I also have a check blazer which my Dad bought in 1967 when he first came to New Zealand to marry my Mum. I wore that blazer for about three years from the ages of 16-19. My daughter now wears that blazer.
If I have ever regretted decluttering something, I can’t remember it now. I have no qualms about decluttering things. I don’t like keeping things in my home that I don’t like or use regularly
I’m a middle school para, and at least once a quarter there’s a spirit week with special days (i.e. tie-dye day). Participation isn’t mandatory, but it does make the week a little more fun and special, for students and staff. I have a box of “spirit wear” in my closet, now that I’ve had this job for almost 7 years. While I try to incorporate my spirit wear into my normal wardrobe as much as possible, I’m just not going to wear a tie-dye tee or superhero sweatshirt on the regular. It would be a shame to declutter my spirit stuff in the name of minimalism, and most spirit days see a lot of rotation.
Congratulations of 40k subscribers!
OMJ TY for shouting that out I didn't even notice 🎉👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
As someone who lives in the Midwest US, I have to justify keeping clothes I wear once a year because we have all 4 seasons. Summer clothes in the warm months, winter coats in cold/harsh temps. But I will say I’ve held onto the same coat for almost 7 years.
I know it can feel morbid but we should all try to have something to wear to a funeral. When my uncle died my family had to drive to another state and then the next day find a mall and spend several hours trying to find something they could wear to the funeral. Admittedly at the time I think I was in high school and one sister was in middle school and the other was in elementary school so it's not surprising that they didn't own an all black business casual outfit but it did make the trip more difficult than it already was.
to be fair in my experience most funerals are no longer all black, being asked to wear black to a funeral seems to be more the exception than the norm now and more for certain religions. some even ask you specifically to not wear all black. I think most people nowadays just don't like the idea of having a funeral for themselves or their loved ones where everyone is dressed in dour black outfits.
Also to be clear i'm not saying there is anything wrong with more traditional funerals with all black I just think there is a general shift in cultural attitudes towards death Where people no longer want their funerals to be dour gloomy and formal.
@@angrynoodletwentyfive6463 You don’t typically ask people to dress a certain way, it’s just expect. It’s commonly seen as classless to not dress well and not in black or dark tones.
I’ve just rediscovered a sweater that I haven’t worn in years (i think I bought it 10 years ago or even more). I’ve thought about decluttering it several times but now I’m glad I kept it!
Also my lifestyle and thus how I use my clothes has changed greatly because I’ve been working from home these past 4 years. I don’t need all my office clothes anymore but I don’t feel ok letting them go completely. There’s the occasional in person meeting with clients where I want to look decent 😅
I too have a dedicated funeral outfit - I don't wear black or grey much but I have one outfit I keep clean and pressed just in case. It's sad but it comes in handy.
Oh my gosh, thank you for summarizing this sentiment (the one about keeping the PSL video sweater). This makes me feel so much relief about wanting to keep things such as my orange shirt day shirts, my Halloween sweaters and more. I’ve never seen it put more succinctly!
Agree! I have items that I really like (and fit etc) but not reaching for often so I put them out of sight and pull out the next appropriate season. Am often excited to bring them back into my wardrobe.
If I wear it, I'm keeping it. Even if it's once a year. I'd rather have it for once a year than have it end up in a landfill.
Why not wear it many times throughout fall? I think it would be cute to try and style one top in many different ways
If you declutter it, you might deeply miss it next fall. I say keep it! Pair it with the cargo pants you just showed, tuck in, and push up the sleeves. A cute casual fall outfit! Loving your content. Congrats on 40k 🎉
I have a Festivus sweater and a cute Mrs Claus sweater that I adore. Most of my items I wear throughout the year but those two pieces give me so much joy. I'm normally a Grinch around Christmas so anything that puts a smile on my face is worth it.
I have always been a “keep it just in case” kind of person, but my partner went on a whole Minimalism Binge last year. I let them convince me to get rid of a ton of stuff. Now, at least once every couple of weeks they ask me where X is and I remind them that we got rid of it. 🙃
I try to have the realistic approach when it comes to decluttering. I didn’t get rid of my son’s baby clothes as we plan to have another baby. I mostly declutter clothes which are too small for me now, and try not buy new clothes much. When I buy something new (new for me, usually try to buy second hand), I am very mindful about it. Thanks to the hybrid work, I don’t need much stuff. Tbh I wear the same 3-4 outfits when I go to the office.
It really is on a case-by-case basis. I live in an area where the weather can be quite volatile, so I have a little bit of everything but not everything gets worn each season. Last winter wasn't as harsh/cold so my heavier sweaters and boots didn't get worn. This winter is supposed to be colder so now those clothes will get worn quite often. I also started a new job this year with a different dress code than my last job, so items are going to be used in different frequencies now.
Ok I am so so so glad I was suggested this video. As someone who is trying to become a more conscious consumer, I have been having similar dilemmas about a dress that is in my mind summer material but fall pattern and I literally wear it two or three times a year so I have been wondering if I should declutter it, but the joy I get when I wear it makes its worth its weight in gold in my wardrobe and I know If I was to declutter it, I would be searching for something else to fill its gap
I have a black and gold sparkly sweater dress. It's such a specific balance of fancy and casual that I have only worn it a couple times. To a wedding rehearsal dinner and a Christmas party. Sure, I only wear it maybe once a year, but when those occasions do present themselves, I love getting to wear it because its so cute and looks great on me. And it's stretchy so it fits even when my weight flutchates one way or the other.
I have to say that you look amazing in your white striped sweater. White shirts or sweaters will often make me look washed-out, but you look fantastic. That sweater is a winner.
i definitely have fallen into the minimalism trap of "if you dont use it toss/give/etc it", but when i do i always find myself thinking about that piece if it isnt completely unwearable. and another thing: you can easily repair clothes, it just takes time and a bit of hand sewing knowledge (for most things). i think repair should be added to the motto "reduce, reuse, recycle". great vid as always shawna 💖
Thank you for this video Shawna !
You are making great points here. I can tell you I decluttered things two or three times to make space and feel lighter just to feel bored again. It just fed into the shop-declutter cycle.
Now I’ll hold onto my stuff as long as I like it! Maybe my life will change a bit so that I will use those things more.
And tools! You don’t need them that often but when you need them it’s great to have. So would not declutter tools.
I love how thoughtful people phrase stuff in this comment section every time 😌 I agree that the "you need to get your wears out of stuff to keep it" isn't the only rule to go by. If you would, I'd need to get rid of the dress I wear to weddings cause I only wear it once every two or three years but obviously I am not gonna do that. So I like the approach of "does it spark joy?"
Snow pants, and high heels
Now worn together that would be some sight 😂
@@lauraann7816 ya that's the look I keep them for 😂
I recently lost a fair amount of weight, and did a huge declutter of the clothes that no longer fit. There are, however, some items that I’ve had for 20 years or more, that I kept even though they were too small and never used. These include a couple of very dressy good quality outfits that would be perfect for a special occasion, such as a wedding. They now fit me again, and I’m glad I kept them “just in case”.
Big Halloween person here. I spent a lot of money on something I wear like max 5 times a year. But it's a high-quality costume I've started wearing yearly. It would feel wrong not to dress up on the 31st, but now, with this costume, I've saved a lot of money and still get the excitement of the holiday.
Regarding your last question : I still have my wedding dress. I don’t think I’ll ever wear it again, but I do have the room.
Also, less unlikely to be worn, even though the occasions are few and far between: a handful of party/evening dresses. And fancy hats.
Because of my wfh lifestyle there are many pieces in my closet that might only get worn a couple of times per year. But I have the space and if I didn’t I would be more likely to fill the space (probably with items I let go due to not wearing). So it’s better for me to keep them if I love them. I have a gut feeling when I’m done with a piece.
This has been something I have been thinking about a lot recently.
I am currently breastfeeding and my size has fluctuated a lot over the last 12 months so there is a chunk of my wardrobe that is impractical to wear currently (due to size or feeding access) and I have mixed feelings about it.
I usually will declutter a piece if I have not worn it in 12 months and cannot see myself wearing it in the upcoming season but this would mean that I would declutter at least half of my wardrobe and I have been feeling guilty for storing these pieces but I know that I would feel wasteful decluttering some of these pieces only to want to buy them (or something similar) again later on.
Strangely, I do not feel the same about my small handful of more novelty holiday pieces that I may wear only once or twice a year but bring me joy to see and re-wear them each year.
The times I have "decluttered" my closet I can count on one hand, usually when I was moving or I was merging two closets (the one I kept at my parents and the one in my studio), and I have kept things that I wear only a few times a year. The questions I keep in mind when decluttering are : does it fit me? Do I have several of the same kind? If yes, is there a good reason for it? And would I have worn it at least once before the same time next year for sure? And if my answer to those questions is leading me toward not keeping it but I've thought of at least three reasons to keep it, I keep it for now and reevalue if I keep it or not in a few month
I am also in the habit of wearing something nice when I'm not planning of spending the day as a vegetable on the couch, even if it's just to do some cleaning, it is something I have done to help me get out of depression and burn out and works great for me
edit:grammar
When it comes to decluttering clothing specifically, for me it doesn't matter how often I wear a piece. It matters how functional it is regarding its purpose, if it still fits me, if it's intact and if it's my authentic self who wears it whenever it's worn. Basically the same as Shawna described it. Apart from the obvious (broken / wrong size / bad fit) I try to sort out the fantasy self items, and those that I may have unnecessary excess of. And more importantly: by doing that I'm getting better at not bringing in more 'stupid buys' that would just end up the same way.
If I have room and I have clothing that I like and it fits but I don't wear it often I don't get rid of it. Inevitably a similar type piece I own will wear out, tear or become stained. Then that other piece will move up in rotation
also my wedding dress is my favorite dress out of anything i’ve ever worn so im keeping it and having it tailored to just below the knee so i have a fancy cocktail dress! it’s going to look very 1950s and im extremely excited, and the extra cut off fabric is going to be stored for repairs and needed fabric for the future (i know im going to need it i just don’t know when, but there’s no point in throwing away fancy fabrics yknow?)
I really feel some of your points in this video. I have some items of clothing I may not wear regularly because they're not something for everyday wear. But even if they're once a year type item, that's still one time a year I need something like that. So why get rid of it if it could then need to be replaced by something? I don't like how certain things take up space when I rarely wear them but I like the idea of getting rid of something that still looks good even more, unless I know it's going directly to someone who wants it.
I have a few pieces I only wear in specific circumstances. They give me different looks and that’s worth it to me
I operate under the logic you exposed in this video, I have a plastic cube where I store "beach clothes", I don't go often to the beach so that way I make sure the clothes are suitable for the occasion and they're nice because they are no wore out, which would be the case if I force myself to wear them. I also have a collection of vests and hoodies I don't think I'll get rid of soon, why? Well because I know I like to wear them even though it's not often. Could I have less than I own right now? Yes, but decluttering just for the sake of it doesn't make any sense.
P.S. : I have stationary worth of 4 years of use that I won't give away because I know I'll use it eventually, so no decluttering that either. Sometimes the best choice is to storage things.
i still follow the konmari method: "does this spark joy" is really all you need when youre on the fence about something
I couldn't spend this much time on deciding whether or not to keep an item. I would exhaust myself and give up. No offense to anyone who does; I personally couldn't do it. But other than sparking joy there is does it have a purpose. Exactly like she mentioned here I have "wake clothes " -- black slacks and a nice short sleeve shirt and a nice sweater so I am set for any time of the year. It's a difficult time when you have to go to a wake so knowing you have an outfit removes that stress.
I went through an intenseeeee overspending/shopping phase for 3 years and I bought SO many quality timeless pieces. So while I might have an excess of clothes that I don’t necessarily ~need~ I already spent the money and they’re nice, timeless pieces. It wouldn’t make sense for me to get rid of any of them.
I think it depends on what it is and how much closet space you have. I have several wool sweaters that I rarely wear because of our climate but I love them, so I keep them. I especially like having them when I travel somewhere that has snow.
I have other things that I never wear and probably won't be wearing them again. I've put them in my donate or refashion box.
This is so funny because I’m the type of person to not wear xyz for years but to keep it bc I know the perfect thing will come along to make it stand out. I also actually really do think it’s super weird how “minimalist” encourage so much decluttering as sustainable when it’s anything but? Also the whole outfit for an event thing is so fair, I let my grandmother buy me a dress I kinda hate but I’m pretty sure my current fashion (think prairie dresses) was actively making people not want to invite me to weddings because I’d out dress the bride, so dress pants, jeans, dress shirts, sandals, shorts, etc might not fit your aesthetic and you might not like seeing them but you’re not going to care when they’re serving their function, (like letting me see my family in my case) so just keep them.
I have a H&M Christmas sweater that I wear around Christmas only, I love it and I’m keeping it
If it makes you happy and pits you on the fall spirit you could try a styling challenge where you trying to style that same sweater in 5-7 different outfit combos to maximize your wears. Some folks ask for a stylist to help them with this kind of challenge. Maybe see if an INDYX stylist can help?
Clothes is my one thing that I won't be a minimalist with lol I enjoy having all my different clothes too much. I am decluttering everything else in my house though
i’ve gotten rid of a lot of things in the last couple years, and almost of them are clothes - i gained a lot of weight in the last twelve years - about 100 pounds - and i’ve had to buy a lot to keep up with the size changes as they’ve happened. but im on a new medication and im finally losing weight and now i have a good job that pays well and i can afford to get rid of the cheap goodwill stuff that never fit well and buy things that *fit* and *will fit* for a while, even as i lose weight! but that’s not minimalism, that’s just getting rid of what doesnt serve you.
i just got married, and i bought a couple of outfits for wedding related events, but i know i bought them to be able to be reused for more needs down the line! i already have reused one dress for a work event, bc its an appropriate dress for warm weather cocktail events!
i try to buy only what is needed when i know im going to be using it shortly and also later - i can and do borrow one off needs from my mom bc we are similar sizes, and live near to each other, and it makes life *so much easier* - honestly the biggest problem is having to constantly replace bras bc they are *expensive* and *finicky* when it comes to fitting at all
i feel like the only things you should keep if you only wear them once are year are seasonal wear (like a christmas sweater or vest) or formal wear (for weddings or other “special” events). but maybe that’s just because having a bunch of random stuff that i don’t really use or need stresses me out
I saw thai sweater in the video with the pumpkin. I would buy it if I saw it somewhere at a decent price.
Regarding the topic, once a year it's enough for me to keep something. Also, i would keep what I like. I declutter what I don't like, it's old, ripped etc.
In yoga teacher training, we talked about yoga clothing as a tool to get into the head space for practice. Not to wear to the grocery store or a childs teacher conference. You spoke about clothes like your joggers and orange sweeter in this way. America's have gotten away from appropriate clothing to convey to others and themselves what activity or outcome they are participating in. Whatever happened to dress for success? Children wearing p j's to school. People wearing house shoes outside of the house to the courthouse.....on and on.
I once decluttert all the clothes I didn't wear or that weren't in good shape anymore. Big mistake! The following year I moved and no clothes that I didn't mind to get ruined. We need clothes that fit our lifestyle. I am a clumsy homebody. It makes sense for me to have worn out ugly clothes to paint a room, deep clean, gardening etc.. It would be wasteful for me to buy fancy homewear that I ruin in one week because I got motivated to do something messy.
I have some long sleeve crop tops that I barely wear because either my arms are too hot or my belly gets cold lol I do still wear them in rare occasions so I'm keeping them
Put on the beautiful sweater, and then you don’t have to get a PSL for the fall “ feels.” :)
I have a Christmas sweater that is years old and it has the same feeling as your fall sweater 😝 I wear this mostly Christmas or a party in winter and it is getting old but I still am attached and keep it stored well to get one more wear 🥰. I think the time is coming to let it go but maybe just one more wear❤
I seriously had a thought and started wondering: am I slowly morphing into a minimalist since I limit the things I collect, I suddenly wanted some change and get rid of some stuff and seeing huge collections online overwhelm me. Nope, I love maximalism to the core and minimalism honestly makes me lowkey uncomfortable. I've now moved into my second apartment and moving stuff is exhausting and it made me thinking that should I try and seriously get rid off some stuff I own. Luckily I can keep some stuff at my parents place but still, the older I get, the more I realize that I can still be a collector and enjoy materialistic items but do that in moderation. I try to buy clothes or little decor stuff from the trift store and even for my collection (I collect weeb stuff like manga and kpop albums) some certain items I try to buy as second hand. I will probably never be an extreme minimalist but that's okay lol.
For me, once a year mean there is a purpose for the clothing. If I would declutter it, I would miss it in the specific situation where I wear it.
I also have 2 skirts I almost never wear but I can't bring myself to declutter them. I know I would miss them. I mean I am thinking of them while I watch this video so I don't see why I should declutter them.
I have a shirt from a concert I went to in 2012 with one of my high school friends. She unfortunately passed away about 5 years ago and so it reminds me of her and a really good time we had. The shirt doesn’t really even fit anymore but I can’t get rid of it.
does anyone else find her voice so calming lol.
Precisely for this I abandoned the idea of being a Minimalist in the “social media way” years ago, back on 2017, I saw several unhinged videos. Sometimes you need the extra stuff, or you can just consume what you already have, use it, instead of just threw this stuff away, is more sustainable, and economically responsible. I remember watching a video from one of those minimalist girlies. She decluttered a highlighter box. She said that she used highlighters a lot since she was a reader, but she only kept one because she wanted to see the shelf empty, so she threw the others perfectly useable highlighters on the declutter bin.
This was uncanny for my, because I do highlight a lot, I buy a box since it’s cheaper, I use one until is dry, then another, and then another. I remember she said something like they would be dry by the time she gets to use them. First, those highlighters don’t dry that fast, but more importantly, this bit of video gave the ick.
I remember another youtuber recognizing minimalism on the “social media way” was not for her, since she had to buy a lot of the things she threw away, for example, decluttered her tool box because I didn’t match her decoration and she didn’t use it that much, and then, she had to bought another one.
It seems so impractical to live like this, throwing stuff and then having to buy new because, at the end of the day, you need some extra stuff. Of course, there is stuff you should declutter, like broken, stained, unusable stuff, but in real life those arbitrary rules are not that practical, sometimes you need extra stuff you are not using all the time, like an extra towel or an extra set o linens.
My advice: Declutter only if you run out of space and give away only clothes that you are really not going to wear anymore.
Not buying new clothes is a sensible goal. Having the possibility to go "shopping" in my own closet helps a lot with this. I have for example a dress that I never wore for over a decade, and then all of a sudden I knew how to style it. Or a nice tweed costume I wear only at christmas. Some short shirtdresse I almost gave away because they are too short for my age. Now I simply wear them underneath a skirt.
I feel so bad about getting rid of clothes. It's a thing from my mum - she gets rid of nothing! However, I buy a lot on vinted (most of my wardrobe is now 2nd hand) and sometimes it just doesn't fit the way I thought it would. I'm 6'2 and plus size so it's hard to know, sometimes regular stuff fits, sometimes I just have to stick to tall ranges. But I get it wrong so often I keep things out of guilt from having bought it. I've recently been more harsh in getting rid of things that don't fit right and never actually will because I'm too tall for it. I also have things I keep in hopes of slimming down into it 😭
I have this tartan skirt - I really like it, I wear it in the autumn and winter, but sometimes I feel uncomfortable in it, as it's too big for my waist but not big enough for my hips/stomach. I'm not going to get rid of it but wearing it can be tricky for comforts sake.
I have kept my undergrad graduation gown and i'm getting my m.s. at the same college, but hopefully i'll be able to donate it back to the school because I do not plan on havinga graduation after tjis. I still have my h.s . gown for no reason, but know people who could use it, which would make me feel better about getting rid of it
When I declutter my closet I just put everything in a big trash bag and keep it for a year lol If I don’t go digging for something I get rid of it.
I'll be real I totally thought I was subbed until you brought out the statistics and I double checked 💀THANK YOU for the reminder XD
I kept my wedding dress (2008) , my prom dress (1998) (I did shorten it to rewear it on several occasion) I kept my sister's bridemaide ''dress'' (2003) it's actually a two pieces I did wore the top on several occasions, I did shorten the skirt recently with the intention of rewearing it but I still looking for an occasion ( I have a hard time wearing satiny fabrics I don't know why) I have this coat that was a handmedown (in 2000 but the coat is ''older'' ) (a beautiful victorian LONNNNNG black coat a tiny bit too big for me .... tried several time to give it and no body want it) I kept it, I just can't part with it. Now I wear it mostly for halloween tricky-or-treating with my kids with a top hat, it was part of my Cruela Devil costume en 2021 after the film with Emma Stone was release. I also have this vest from ''comme des garçons'' (again handmedown) vintage circa 1990's that I will always keep even if it's a tiny bit too small the wool is top quality. So I mostly keep stuff that was part of important moment of my life and-or one of a kind stuff that in no way in hell I could find now or pay for it!
I have a few Christmas and Fall Shirts that I’ve had for like 5-10 years 😂 Same with PJs. I only buy “Holiday” clothes every few years if I really love it. Like I have a green grinch sweatshirt that I’ve gotten SO much wear out of lol If I find another one I probably should replace it
4:36 that one last sentence summed up the whole 4 min prior… 😅
My weight fluctuates a lot. I wish I never listened to people who said to declutter clothes that don't fit. I wasted so much money rebuying larger and smaller clothes
There’s certain things I refuse to get rid of. I still have my prom dress from 1998. Can I fit it? HELL NO!!! Will I get rid of it? HELL NO!!! It’s the memories that I treasure every time I see it in my closet. I’m hoping one of my nieces wears it to her prom one day. We can add some sequins and lace to it jazz it up. But I have several items that I would never wear and never get rid of, either.
I only recently learned that you went to grad school for history. That’s so cool! I did, too! Like you, I also pivoted to an entirely different career a couple of years back. I stopped after my masters and worked at a consulting firm for a bit, but while being a researcher was great in theory, it just wasn’t for me long term. It was too solitary and repetitive.
I’m curious if you ever get that thought that comes out of nowhere like “what if you went back to school and got that doctorate? You really should so that everyone knows you’re capable.” But you don’t actually WANT to go back? Do you ever worry that your former professors/mentors are silently judging you for choosing something else? Just me? 😅 Have you been able to get past that (or never struggled with that to begin with)?
For me, minimalism isn't about throwing all my stuff out, it's about buying less things. Be that clothes or anything else. So, no, I wouldn't throw it out unless it is damaged beyond repair or there is a valid reason for never wanting to wear it again.
Hey Shawna, was wondering what set up do you use for filming?
Congratulations on 40 k
I keep clothing for memorial services, so I do not have to get something during a stressful time.
Wow love your top.... where you get it? ❤
I have a big tupperware with decluterring clothes which don´t fit me, I gained 15k and aged, besides they are very Tmblr era and I don´t want them anymore. I want to get the chance to thrift them because my fam always likes to donate old clothes but I don´t think everybody likes using someone elses clothes and maybe trash them ;(
Hey Shawna
You make me laugh soo hard. We have the same name/Spelling which for me
is 🤯.
You keep calling me out…further 🤯😩🤌🏾😂😂
Anyway, I Love this Channel bc 💯
I’m in the middle of stopping and I feel some
Physical pain…..🤦🏽♀️
Keep it up doll.
From Shawna ☺️
I have a black dress, just in case.
Do you have any advice on wardrobe tracking? I’d like to try it but I’m not sure where to start. I’m not decluttering until the change of a season and I’d like to try to make the clothes work for me instead of just giving up on them
Hey Shawna, I have a question for you and would love to hear your thoughts on it. What to do with clothes that you still love but that don't fit/flatter your current body shape/size so you don't wear them?
I've lost some weight and muscle mass after being "gym thick" for years, and I'm back to my natural slimmer figure due to some life circumstances over the last year. I'm in the process of moving and packing, and I'm not sure if I should declutter my old clothes that I still love but don't at all feel confident wearing (some no longer fit), keep them in the hopes I get back to my ideal figure, or just let them go and accept my current slimmer shape?
Do you have experience on dealing with weight fluctuations or body changes and how to handle those changes as it relates to keeping clothing that may not fit or that you feel uncomfortable in? Would love to hear your thoughts or experience on the topic.
Great video
What the hell was happening in undergrad?!
Id view the question in the title as a tool not a rule for decluttering. Dana K White's process is much more helpful because they require no soul searching angst.
If you only wore this once a year for the rest of your life you’d wear it 10 times more than the average person wears an item of clothing - what a challenge! 😂❤