A new year and new opportunities. Have you reflected upon what ways you want your closet to serve you this year? Would you like to spend less time every morning figuring out what to wear? Would you like to stop impulse shopping and get control over your expenditures? Would you like to become more circular and shop more vintage and second-hand? Do you want to change your style completely? Often we just stay with what we have and consume based on habits instead of asking ourselves how our relationship with clothes instead can be a source of joy or smoothness in our lives. Clothes can lift our mood, enhance our personalities or be a source of pain if we don’t have the clothes we actually need and feel good in.

We have created a small guide on how you can take a new look at your closet to make sure 2023 is a year where you feel better about the clothes you have and wear.

Identify the most worn clothes in 2022

Start with figuring out what clothes you have been wearing the most this year, during summer, autumn, winter and spring. Have there been any items that have regularly come out of your closet? Try to find out why, because you like the colour, are they practical or is it a sentimental item? Or is it from a particular brand whose design you like? By knowing what you normally wear you can make sure future consumption goes in line with your actual taste and not an old idea of what you used to wear.

2. Clean out what is not in use

You don’t have to throw everything out and go through item per item. We know, that can sound stressful. But have a look in the upcoming days, one corner at a time of your closet and ask yourself if there are any items you haven’t used at all. Ask yourself why? If it’s the wrong fit, maybe it’s time to let go or save for the future. Selling clothes is also a good way to increase your income in January. Further, having a lot of clothes you don’t wear can create frustration and a sense of not knowing what to wear. Pack them in boxes and see how your mood changes regarding your closet.

3. Reorganise your closet

When it’s winter your winter closet should be most accessible. Make sure you have the items you based your matching on most available. It might be sweaters or jackets, or pants and shoes. It depends on who you are. But the items seldom used, maybe a afternoon dress, can be less accessible. Make it easy to get dressed in the morning.

4. Create an inspiration board

If you’re not a minimalist and feel like updating your style, a good way to make sure you buy the right things in 2023 is to have a vision of the style you would like to have. This can easily be done through the app Pinterest. By creating a vision board of a few pictures you can identify the colours and items you wish to enter your closet this year. This will help you the next time you’re visiting a second-hand store!

5. Identify practical items to be invested in

Was there anything you didn’t do this year because you didn’t have the clothes for it? Was there something that annoyed you because you didn’t have the right item for that season? Maybe you have exercised less because you only have one smelly sports bra or worn fewer white clothes because you feel like you didn’t have the right underwear. Or did you not enjoy the hike because you lacked proper hiking boots? Well, we don’t always need all those functional clothes but we do need proper shoes for winter and shoes for spring. Let’s not ruin our summer shoes just because we didn’t spend time finding suitable sandals for the beach. Reflect upon 2022 and ask yourself what items you need to invest in for your daily life. Write them down and start searching for ethical and circular options before the season starts. This will help you to buy something that you actually like and will wear for a very long time instead of just solving a problem.

6. List dream items

What is fashion without dreams and fun? Of course, you are allowed to dream and buy things just because you completely love them and not because they are practical. But to make sure you don’t fool yourself and buy something fancy just for the sake of it, list a few items that you think you will love and adore for a very long time. Maybe it is that up-cycled jeans jacket? Maybe it is that vintage bag? Or maybe it is a tailored suit perfectly made for you? You can buy yourself any of these items as a treat or maybe put them on your wish-list for loved ones.

7. Sign up for new inspiration and clean out old ones

There’s nothing more dangerous than being exposed to the marketing of cheap fashion products. They make you want to update your closet in the short term and you think you have made a good deal. But if you only wear that top twice, cost per use-age will tell you that it wasn’t a good deal at all. To stop impulse shopping and prepare yourself for better habits sign off newsletters from major fashion brands, unfollow on social media and search for ethical brands and slow fashion influencers to follow instead. There are many second-hand apps where you can save your favourite items and be notified when the price is lower, this will definitely give you the same experience of making a good deal but instead, it’s circular.

Good luck with your 2023 closet and don’t hesitate to reach out if you need guidance.

We are here for you!

How to set up your closet for 2023

Identify the most worn clothes in 2022