Great advice. Biggest transition for me was retiring. Whole different wardrobe! I created 3 racks: 1. Professional self. 2. Fantasy self (who I admire but who I am NOT). 3. Retired self. ALL of professional got donated. Ditto fantasy self. Retired self wardrobe is CONGRUENT with the life I am living NOW and I wear and enjoy it ALL. My style is relaxed, eccentric/fun, tomboyish, boho. In terms of dress, retirees answer to NO ONE…complete freedom to express oneself. Yippee! I’m having the time of my life!
Hi my fellow retiree sister!! You And me, big, big wardrobe clearout, not only clothes, but ALL my high heels (bought a couple of kitten heels, but so far, have ignored even wearing them!) Dress for comfort now, still stylish (I haven't turned into a slovenly grunt!!) But I'm not wearing anything that isn't giving me comfort or needs to be ironed!!😂😂😂
What really helps me is that my daughter wears the same size. She's on a tight budget, so she is happy to take my purged pieces. I feel more inclined to purge those maybe items knowing that they are going to make her happy. Any items she doesn't want get donated. If you can find someone like this, it really helps your decisions.
@Melpomenes17 Because I've shopped too many new pieces recently 🫢 I realized I would have to review what's hanging in my closets. At some point !! Last year I finally worked out that I have to try everything on. It's so painful ... but it works for me. Today, while listening to the news, I moved a full-length mirror into the family room. With a hand mirror to see my back view. I've been flipping past my Tank T-Shirts in the closet for years. Thinking they were all Essential Basics 😄 When I actually tried them on - one by one - I could immediately see that many were too tight, too short, or I had better versions in the same colour. I was shocked to find I had two khaki color rib tanks exactly the same. But, in two different sizes. I kept the better fit, and donated the other. What was I thinking ?!! → When the stars next align, I will tackle another category. Coming up is knitwear, then skirts. Shoes will be a big future challenge. Good luck if you try the ' "Backwards Decluttering" with the "Maybe Bin" that Leonie showed us here.
The only way I could do it the first time, was to take everything out of the wardrobe, tried it on, what it went with, made an outfit with shoes and bag, Where can I wear it? Do I love it? If it was Yes, it got hung as an 'outfit' in my wardrobe, if it was No, it went in the OUT pile. I had 4 big black garbage bags full and took them straight to Vinnies!! Gone!! I finally could buy a couple of new seasons things, 5yrs later, I have done it again, and did what Leonie suggested, had maybe pile on the spare bed, if I was looking for that item, it went back in the wardrobe, in 6 mths, if they were still on the spare bed, I took 2 more big bin bags to Vinnies. It's better to have a bit less and love it all, than Lots of clothes, overwhelmed and hate them!!! Good luck xxxx
I'm so excited,I usually never miss one of your videos but I've retired and was decluttering my closet and took a break.I sat down and boom!your video popped up in time❤
Wonderful system of decluttering,you have there....I guess I need to try!!For me there's no easy way to purge my stuff;there's definitely an emotional attachment!!I started a few weeks ago,because I didn't even recognize some of the items.....and I will admit that I felt so free!!Thanks for sharing,always a pleasure !!😊☺
🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼 thank you so much for creating all these videos. I went back and I think I’ve watched every single one maybe minus a few. I appreciate that you take into consideration the over 50 crowd and keeps us fun but elegant.
I am hunting the pieces in my collection, since I was 16 or younger. I will not let go. I did in the past and I regretted it often. But the video was helpful and nice to watch as usual
Great video! I like the positivity of this decluttering approach: Focusing on the pieces that make you happy and keeping a "maybe" pile instead of ridding yourself of the rest, to avoid regret of down the line (I'm still grieving for that beautiful long black wool coat I gave away a while ago).
Thanks for this. Decluttering is lifelong process for us folks who love fashion and tend to collect/hoard. Wished I had a 'downstairs' to store everything.
@@StephanieTaylor-j8cYou probably just need to pull it all out, try it on and do a big declutter. I've found it's better to have fewer things you love wearing, than a heap of clothes, that most of them you now hate, have you worn it in the last year? Even once?? Can you think where you'd wear it to and feel great in it??? If its all No.... donate it to a charity shop, you really don't love it, want it or need it. Xx
Great food for thought! 🧐 “Maybe” mentality & sentimentality leave me with closets that are overstuffed and overwhelming. I end up wearing the same items on repeat, and the rest of my closet is literally just storage for items I don’t wear. 🙄
The only way I could do it the first time, was to take everything out of the wardrobe, tried it on, what it went with, made an outfit with shoes and bag, Where can I wear it? Do I love it? If it was Yes, it got hung as an 'outfit' in my wardrobe, if it was No, it went in the OUT pile. I had 4 big black garbage bags full and took them straight to Vinnies!! Gone!! I finally could buy a couple of new seasons things, 5yrs later, I have done it again, and did what Leonie suggested, had maybe pile on the spare bed, if I was looking for that item, it went back in the wardrobe, in 6 mths, if they were still on the spare bed, I took 2 more big bin bags to Vinnies. It's better to have a bit less and love it all, than Lots of clothes, overwhelmed and hate them!!! Good luck xxxx
Dare I admit, I am still decuttering my Spring and Summer closet that I began to do last year. That being said; I have donated a number of pieces but still have a long ways to go so shall definiely give your approach a try.
I’m going to call this Desert Island dressing. I love the idea of starting with the items that are none negotiable, the items I would take to a desert island (if it had four seasons 🌷☀️❄️🍁)
Great ideas on decluttering. I declutter before every season except I try on every piece of clothing to determine if it is a "Wow" or a "What was I thinking?" I like the ideas of the backwards decluttering process. Now that you have that fabulous dresser, you may want to consider folding all of your tees and other items the KonMari way. It really organizes your clothes so that you see each item instead of going through piles.
Hi! A game changer for me is how I fold my t-shirts in my drawer. I saw you stack one on top of the other. Instead, fold them down one more time into a business/long "envelope " and stand them up in the drawer, with the fold up/near the top of the drawer. You'll be able to see all your shirts in that drawer. I believe Mari Kondo shows this method, but I don't get crazy like her. My shirts have very few wrinkles and fit perfectly in the drawer. You can also fit more items.
I try to avoid buying too many statement pieces that can only give one look, this helps. Not that i’m any good at keeping a manageable wardrobe, mine is huge even without those statement pieces!
Doing decluttering is so helpful, I really enjoy it to give away pieces I don't wear any more. I have to take care not to give away too much. Also with other things of my house, I find it so liberating to give away all that stuff that we accumulate at home. Key is not to buy always new things that are going to be decluttered in some years! So we really should make only mindful decisions what regards our shopping habits!
After my mum died and I had to clear out her 5 ..yes FIVE wardrobes of clothing, many with tags on she was still 'saving for best/something special'.... when id cleared all that and got some energy back, I thought, "I'm not doing that to my kids!" So I had the most incredible wardrobe declutter, that sort of turned into a house declutter....Gosh, it's so powerful and lifting!! And afterwards, I could go buy a few new items and actually had space to put them. Been 5yrs, and I have recently done another declutter, took 2 big bin bags to Vinnies, Last time it was 5 bags, clothes and shoes, then boxes of kitchenware, etc etc....I think every 5 yrs is a good space, but the Swedish do it every season!
Before I saw your video I’d been going through my wardrobe. Getting rid of everything I don’t love, and that’s a lot of clutter. 😁 Feels fantastic! I sell almost everything on Poshmark and have actually made thousands over last few years. Much easier to justify new pieces.
Now that I am 50 years old it’s harder than ever to declutter or cull through my clothes… the question “am I too old to wear this” really plays on your head (and sometimes in your confidence!) 😅
@@pennyclayton9348 yes, that's good for people that start to dress like they're 70, but they are only 50, but there's nothing worse than someone who is 50, trying to dress like they are 16 though!!
Thanks I've actually had those before but I'm going to do a makeover in my closet and haven't decided if I'm going to paint it white or refit it completely so I'll wait until then to decide. I also love the thin velvet hangers as my clothes don't slip off them so easily. Thanks for your tip though x
@@Thestyleinsider.Those thin velvet hangers stink of cluttered fast fashion cramming in slave labour ill made garments into a wardrobe. Padded hangers are way nicer.
@@Thestyleinsider. I use a mix of hangers, wooden for coats and heavy items, straight for shirts/blouses, thick coated plastic over thick wire for pants, clip hangers for skirts and puffy material wrapped ones for items that marks on a hanger and needs the support to not have lumps and bumps.😊
Tip for your new chest of drawers: learn how to fold Marie Kondo style. You'll be amazed at how much more you can fit in, everything is visible at a glance and there are fewer wrinkles. A real eye-opener for me!
I used to fold like that but realised it's just not for me because I would put off folding things and putting them away so I just do a quick fold now and at least my items get put away quickly. x
@@Thestyleinsider. Yes, I decided if I have to spend hours folding to get them all put away, I just had too much!! But then I have a good big wardrobe and chest of drawers.
I appreciate the simplicity and "safety" of this reverse decluttering. But please don't tell people they are "doing it wrong". Maybe their way has not been the most effective or quickest way, but that does not make it wrong. Any declttering is probably good.
@@americafirst9144 yes, wear those outfits, don't wait for the events, my mum died with a wardrobe full of beautiful dresses with tags still on, waiting for weddings or other events that didn't happen....I used one to bury her in 😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢
@lynettefinnigan9540 Thank you for sharing your mum's spirit and humanity with us here 🌺 She may have really enjoyed buying those special pieces and bringing them home. Dreaming of how stylish she'd look when the invitation came. As you'd know, those generations typically owned far less clothes and accessories than we do today. Planning for a new suit, coat or shoes took some thought. And often saving up. So they were taught from a young age about changing into older clothes when they got home. Taking care of their better garments and saving them for important occasions. It was certainly a different age. And the manufacture and quality of garments was typically of a higher standard than our generation's.
The question: « would I buy that right now? » is super helpful… and would your life situation change again dramatically, then by then you would most likely be able to find second hand items that would fit you and be more updated, than those you got rid off years ago…. So dress for your now (1-2 years realistically) andnot for what you did 3-5 years ago or what you might do again in 5 years…
Great advice. Biggest transition for me was retiring. Whole different wardrobe! I created 3 racks: 1. Professional self. 2. Fantasy self (who I admire but who I am NOT). 3. Retired self. ALL of professional got donated. Ditto fantasy self. Retired self wardrobe is CONGRUENT with the life I am living NOW and I wear and enjoy it ALL. My style is relaxed, eccentric/fun, tomboyish, boho. In terms of dress, retirees answer to NO ONE…complete freedom to express oneself. Yippee! I’m having the time of my life!
I. Cannot. Wait. 😊
Fantastic Donna!!! Love it x
Hi my fellow retiree sister!! You And me, big, big wardrobe clearout, not only clothes, but ALL my high heels (bought a couple of kitten heels, but so far, have ignored even wearing them!) Dress for comfort now, still stylish (I haven't turned into a slovenly grunt!!) But I'm not wearing anything that isn't giving me comfort or needs to be ironed!!😂😂😂
What really helps me is that my daughter wears the same size. She's on a tight budget, so she is happy to take my purged pieces. I feel more inclined to purge those maybe items knowing that they are going to make her happy. Any items she doesn't want get donated. If you can find someone like this, it really helps your decisions.
That's such a win win for both of you! x
Thanks, Leonie! This is a subject that tends to overwhelm me every time I have to start.
@Melpomenes17 Because I've shopped too many new pieces recently 🫢 I realized I would have to review what's hanging in my closets. At some point !! Last year I finally worked out that I have to try everything on. It's so painful ... but it works for me. Today, while listening to the news, I moved a full-length mirror into the family room. With a hand mirror to see my back view. I've been flipping past my Tank T-Shirts in the closet for years. Thinking they were all Essential Basics 😄 When I actually tried them on - one by one - I could immediately see that many were too tight, too short, or I had better versions in the same colour. I was shocked to find I had two khaki color rib tanks exactly the same. But, in two different sizes. I kept the better fit, and donated the other. What was I thinking ?!! → When the stars next align, I will tackle another category. Coming up is knitwear, then skirts. Shoes will be a big future challenge. Good luck if you try the '
"Backwards Decluttering" with the "Maybe Bin" that Leonie showed us here.
I get it - it can be daunting!
Great job trying these on and how satisfying to get such a clear cut result x
The only way I could do it the first time, was to take everything out of the wardrobe, tried it on, what it went with, made an outfit with shoes and bag, Where can I wear it? Do I love it? If it was Yes, it got hung as an 'outfit' in my wardrobe, if it was No, it went in the OUT pile. I had 4 big black garbage bags full and took them straight to Vinnies!! Gone!! I finally could buy a couple of new seasons things, 5yrs later, I have done it again, and did what Leonie suggested, had maybe pile on the spare bed, if I was looking for that item, it went back in the wardrobe, in 6 mths, if they were still on the spare bed, I took 2 more big bin bags to Vinnies. It's better to have a bit less and love it all, than Lots of clothes, overwhelmed and hate them!!! Good luck xxxx
I'm so excited,I usually never miss one of your videos but I've retired and was decluttering my closet and took a break.I sat down and boom!your video popped up in time❤
Perfect timing! x
Wonderful system of decluttering,you have there....I guess I need to try!!For me there's no easy way to purge my stuff;there's definitely an emotional attachment!!I started a few weeks ago,because I didn't even recognize some of the items.....and I will admit that I felt so free!!Thanks for sharing,always a pleasure !!😊☺
I hear you, it's definitely emotional! But I love that you started! 😊
🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼 thank you so much for creating all these videos. I went back and I think I’ve watched every single one maybe minus a few. I appreciate that you take into consideration the over 50 crowd and keeps us fun but elegant.
Aww thank you SO much x
This video was fabulous, Leonie. Very helpful.
That's great to hear thank you x
Thank you, Leoni! You always hit it right on the nail!! Great ideas again! 🌹
I'm so glad you think so! x
Wonderfully delivered . Great advise. I now can concentrate on a better way to declutter.
❤😘
So glad it was helpful! 😊
I am hunting the pieces in my collection, since I was 16 or younger. I will not let go. I did in the past and I regretted it often. But the video was helpful and nice to watch as usual
Great video! I like the positivity of this decluttering approach: Focusing on the pieces that make you happy and keeping a "maybe" pile instead of ridding yourself of the rest, to avoid regret of down the line (I'm still grieving for that beautiful long black wool coat I gave away a while ago).
Your tip for the maybes is really helpful. Thank you!
Glad you think so!
Cudowne wideo! Organizowanie szafy to świetny sposób na rozpoczęcie nowego roku z porządkiem. 😍
You're spot on! A tidy wardrobe is like the universe saying, "You’re ready for whatever 2025 throws your way!"
Thanks for this. Decluttering is lifelong process for us folks who love fashion and tend to collect/hoard. Wished I had a 'downstairs' to store everything.
That was my thought! I can put them in a bin but my condo just has NO room to put it 😢
It really is a lifelong process - it's so easy to accumulate and so hard to declutter :(
@@StephanieTaylor-j8cYou probably just need to pull it all out, try it on and do a big declutter. I've found it's better to have fewer things you love wearing, than a heap of clothes, that most of them you now hate, have you worn it in the last year? Even once?? Can you think where you'd wear it to and feel great in it??? If its all No.... donate it to a charity shop, you really don't love it, want it or need it. Xx
I absolutely love a good declutter video 🙌🏾🤩. It satisfies my OCD so nicely 😔😙. So a new process reversal is definitely appreciated
Me too - it's so satisfying! x
Please don't get rid of strong, bold colours. Rose pink blouse and red are just perfect for you. You look so good and fresh .
I hear you! I need a few pops of colour in my closet.
Great food for thought! 🧐 “Maybe” mentality & sentimentality leave me with closets that are overstuffed and overwhelming. I end up wearing the same items on repeat, and the rest of my closet is literally just storage for items I don’t wear. 🙄
The only way I could do it the first time, was to take everything out of the wardrobe, tried it on, what it went with, made an outfit with shoes and bag, Where can I wear it? Do I love it? If it was Yes, it got hung as an 'outfit' in my wardrobe, if it was No, it went in the OUT pile. I had 4 big black garbage bags full and took them straight to Vinnies!! Gone!! I finally could buy a couple of new seasons things, 5yrs later, I have done it again, and did what Leonie suggested, had maybe pile on the spare bed, if I was looking for that item, it went back in the wardrobe, in 6 mths, if they were still on the spare bed, I took 2 more big bin bags to Vinnies. It's better to have a bit less and love it all, than Lots of clothes, overwhelmed and hate them!!! Good luck xxxx
Looking at decluttering from a different perspective it is liberating. Thanks
I’m glad you found it helpful!
Great video and timely for me! Love the shopping with intention tip 🤩 Thank you !
I'm so glad you liked it!
This video was very helpful
Thank you, this was so helpful!!!!
I'm so glad!
I most definitely am going to try this. Thanks, Leonie ❤
Great stuff!
Great advice😊
Thank you so much! 😊
Dare I admit, I am still decuttering my Spring and Summer closet that I began to do last year. That being said; I have donated a number of pieces but still have a long ways to go so shall definiely give your approach a try.
I hear you, it's a process!
I’m going to call this Desert Island dressing. I love the idea of starting with the items that are none negotiable, the items I would take to a desert island (if it had four seasons 🌷☀️❄️🍁)
Love it!
I like that idea. Take the basics and build on it... all the items you love and create outfits. What's left over donate.👍👍
Great ideas on decluttering. I declutter before every season except I try on every piece of clothing to determine if it is a "Wow" or a "What was I thinking?" I like the ideas of the backwards decluttering process. Now that you have that fabulous dresser, you may want to consider folding all of your tees and other items the KonMari way. It really organizes your clothes so that you see each item instead of going through piles.
Thanks, Leonie! That was super helpful! 🤗
You're welcome! I'm glad it helped you 😊
@@Thestyleinsider. 🥰
Hi! A game changer for me is how I fold my t-shirts in my drawer. I saw you stack one on top of the other. Instead, fold them down one more time into a business/long "envelope " and stand them up in the drawer, with the fold up/near the top of the drawer. You'll be able to see all your shirts in that drawer. I believe Mari Kondo shows this method, but I don't get crazy like her. My shirts have very few wrinkles and fit perfectly in the drawer. You can also fit more items.
I’ll have to try that folding method - I once used to fold like Marie Kondo but just didn't keep it up. But I'll def give your method a go thx!
@@Thestyleinsider. love your videos!
Have a happy new year The Style Insider
Thank you so much and back to you too! x
I try to avoid buying too many statement pieces that can only give one look, this helps. Not that i’m any good at keeping a manageable wardrobe, mine is huge even without those statement pieces!
It can be really hard to resist buying statement pieces!
Doing decluttering is so helpful, I really enjoy it to give away pieces I don't wear any more. I have to take care not to give away too much. Also with other things of my house, I find it so liberating to give away all that stuff that we accumulate at home. Key is not to buy always new things that are going to be decluttered in some years! So we really should make only mindful decisions what regards our shopping habits!
Clothing shifts just as life shifts and moving on with both is inevitable.
Greetings from Los Angeles
So true!
Is so hard for me to let go of clothes haha but i'm gonna try
It's def not easy that's for sure. But it's always worth it in the end - esp if it means you get to enjoy the clothes you are left with more!
After my mum died and I had to clear out her 5 ..yes FIVE wardrobes of clothing, many with tags on she was still 'saving for best/something special'.... when id cleared all that and got some energy back, I thought, "I'm not doing that to my kids!" So I had the most incredible wardrobe declutter, that sort of turned into a house declutter....Gosh, it's so powerful and lifting!! And afterwards, I could go buy a few new items and actually had space to put them. Been 5yrs, and I have recently done another declutter, took 2 big bin bags to Vinnies, Last time it was 5 bags, clothes and shoes, then boxes of kitchenware, etc etc....I think every 5 yrs is a good space, but the Swedish do it every season!
great ideas
Thank you! 😊
Hi! Loving regards from Germany! (I was 1st 😃 )
Yay! Thank you x
Before I saw your video I’d been going through my wardrobe. Getting rid of everything I don’t love, and that’s a lot of clutter. 😁 Feels fantastic! I sell almost everything on Poshmark and have actually made thousands over last few years. Much easier to justify new pieces.
Perfect! x
What top are you wearing in this video? I'd love to have that in my closet. Thanks!
Now that I am 50 years old it’s harder than ever to declutter or cull through my clothes… the question “am I too old to wear this” really plays on your head (and sometimes in your confidence!) 😅
It’s definitely trickier as we get older :(
Dress yourself not your age. I don’t know which TH-camr said it. If I love it an automatic stay. All my clothes mix and match.
@@pennyclayton9348 yes, that's good for people that start to dress like they're 70, but they are only 50, but there's nothing worse than someone who is 50, trying to dress like they are 16 though!!
@ oh I love this! 🫶🏻🩷
💕
I loved your video. Please get some IKEA wooden hangers. The will look very good in your closet.
Thanks I've actually had those before but I'm going to do a makeover in my closet and haven't decided if I'm going to paint it white or refit it completely so I'll wait until then to decide. I also love the thin velvet hangers as my clothes don't slip off them so easily. Thanks for your tip though x
@@Thestyleinsider.Those thin velvet hangers stink of cluttered fast fashion cramming in slave labour ill made garments into a wardrobe. Padded hangers are way nicer.
@@Thestyleinsider. I use a mix of hangers, wooden for coats and heavy items, straight for shirts/blouses, thick coated plastic over thick wire for pants, clip hangers for skirts and puffy material wrapped ones for items that marks on a hanger and needs the support to not have lumps and bumps.😊
Sometimes, I’ll just look at, say, all the cardigans I have and just quickly make decisions about those. Jeans another day, etc.
That's a great way of doing it too Renee! x
Tip for your new chest of drawers: learn how to fold Marie Kondo style. You'll be amazed at how much more you can fit in, everything is visible at a glance and there are fewer wrinkles. A real eye-opener for me!
I used to fold like that but realised it's just not for me because I would put off folding things and putting them away so I just do a quick fold now and at least my items get put away quickly. x
@Thestyleinsider. There is that!
@@Thestyleinsider. Yes, I decided if I have to spend hours folding to get them all put away, I just had too much!! But then I have a good big wardrobe and chest of drawers.
@@lynettefinnigan9540 😄 Made me laugh about working through the 'spending hours folding' thing.
Ha! Didn't see your comment before I commented above. But yes, 100%. I do this with my jeans as well.
The minute U get rid of a "just in case, piece," my son tells me he's getting married. I'm glad I kept mine.
I appreciate the simplicity and "safety" of this reverse decluttering.
But please don't tell people they are "doing it wrong". Maybe their way has not been the most effective or quickest way, but that does not make it wrong. Any declttering is probably good.
You're right any decluttering is probably good! x
🫶🏿🫶🏿🫶🏿❤️❤️❤️😍😍😍💯💯💯love
Majority of the clothes in my closet are just in case pieces 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭
Oh No 😭 I actually Buy "Just in case" pieces
Eeek! Do you ever wear them?
Do one thing today to work toward going to a dream event - plan a party, buy tickets to a symphony, take up dance lessons.
@@americafirst9144 yes, wear those outfits, don't wait for the events, my mum died with a wardrobe full of beautiful dresses with tags still on, waiting for weddings or other events that didn't happen....I used one to bury her in 😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢
@lynettefinnigan9540 Thank you for sharing your mum's spirit and humanity with us here 🌺 She may have really enjoyed buying those special pieces and bringing them home. Dreaming of how stylish she'd look when the invitation came. As you'd know, those generations typically owned far less clothes and accessories than we do today. Planning for a new suit, coat or shoes took some thought. And often saving up. So they were taught from a young age about changing into older clothes when they got home. Taking care of their better garments and saving them for important occasions. It was certainly a different age. And the manufacture and quality of garments was typically of a higher standard than our generation's.
Too much talking.
The question: « would I buy that right now? » is super helpful… and would your life situation change again dramatically, then by then you would most likely be able to find second hand items that would fit you and be more updated, than those you got rid off years ago…. So dress for your now (1-2 years realistically) andnot for what you did 3-5 years ago or what you might do again in 5 years…