The first step to cleaning out your wardrobe is to find inspiration. This could be anything from the new collections in stores, a need to sell a couple of things to make some extra cash or an overwhelming need to do good and donate to charity.
Then start with one item of clothing at a time - this order usually works best for the process of elimination: shirts, trousers, skirts, jackets, suits, dresses and evening wear. Then come the shoes, bags and accessories.
When it comes to deciding whether to keep a piece or not it's easiest to answer these questions in order:
- Does it fit? (if you're not sure then try it on)
- Have I worn this at all in the past year?
- Is this still appropriate for me to wear on a regular basis? (Does not apply for evening wear).
If the answer to the first question is "no", then chuck it immediately (you will not lose or gain 10 pounds to fit in it). If you make it to the second question and it's a "no", then it's safe to say you won't wear it next year. The third question is the tricky one, so try and imagine complete outfits with that particular piece. If you can come up with three or four in less than five minutes, it's a keeper.
As you go through items, make a "keep" and "purge" pile on separate sides of your bed and a "maybe" pile in between. That should include things that could be tailored to fit, statement pieces that are worth keeping or expensive items that you can't let go of so easily.
Clean the inside of your wardrobe before restocking it, as dust gathers in the corners and is difficult to see when the wardrobe is full. Consider adding stick-on light fixtures on the inside (available at most DIY shops) and scented sachets.
If you don't have much room but your wardrobe is tall, adding another rail parallel to the existing one will double your hanging space. Just measure the width of your wardrobe, buy a rod (available at any of the steel or aluminium stores along 9th Street) and matching brackets and screw in tightly at the desired height.
Make sure all of the clothes you're keeping are clean and well pressed so they are ready to wear whenever you wish. Organise them by type: shirts (from short to long sleeves), trousers and jeans (from pale to dark), skirts and dresses (from short to long), jackets (from light to warm) and evening wear (from semi to very formal).
The next step is to go through the "purge" pile. If you have any items your siblings or friends like, it's worth asking them if they want them before you give them away. If you're interested in selling some of the more expensive pieces, you can post them on eBay or sell them at Frock Exchange, a Dubai-based shop that sells second hand items and gives you 50 per cent of the proceeds (Jumeirah Centre, Beach Road, 04 344 0552).
Places to donate your old clothes include Red Crescent offices across the UAE, Al Noor Thrift Shop (04 340 4844) and thrift shops at the Holy Trinity Church in Dubai (04 337 4947) and St Andrew's Church in Abu Dhabi (02 446 4193).
Now you're down to the "maybe" pile. Wear all of the pieces and try adjusting them to make them more wearable. Sometimes all you need to do is change the length of a skirt to take it from 1998 to 2011. That sheer dress that you can't find a decent slip for could be lined with silk fabric and that low-cut top might just need shorter straps to become less revealing.
Don't try to completely restructure an item; unless you have an excellent tailor the end result is usually worse than what you started with.
To stop your wardrobe from getting cluttered quickly, go through your clothes every four to six months. Most importantly, don't be a hoarder; the more you purge, the more space you have for new clothes.
