First things first, do a proper clear-out. Marie Kondo, the master of decluttering whose first book The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up has sold 5 million copies and counting, says the question you have to ask yourself when deciding whether to get rid of something is along the lines of “Does it bring me joy?”
A vintage ruffled skirt I got some years ago that came with complimentary tea stains and jeans so tight I have to lie down to do them up definitely don’t—so why have I kept them? (A mix of laziness and the optimistic thought that I might attempt some stain removal/lose some tummy rolls.) I’ve finally accepted neither will happen, so both have been sorted into recycling and charity bags respectively.
Side note: Research has found that an estimated 235 million items of unwanted clothing in this country will end up in landfill as a result of spring cleaning. Don’t bin your garments—when you can, take them to charity shops or a Traid recycling bank. A few other rules to follow when deciding what goes? Anything that doesn’t fit, anything you haven’t worn in two years, anything that can’t slot into at least three outfits without having to buy something else, and any badly stained or scuffed shoes must go. Doesn’t that feel better?
