A stylist on which pieces to keep when culling your wardrobe

“Before you go out and seek new items to add to your wardrobe, take some time to assess what you currently own.”

There’s a strong urge with the change of seasons to clear out unnecessary clothes from our wardrobes – the ones taking up room that could be better utilised, and also the ones we simply can’t bear to wear any longer.

But before you obliterate your current selection of garments, it’s important to step back and look at the pieces you should keep rather than send to the realm of preloved clothing. 

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Stylist Michelle Beltrame says the key items to look for and to keep when clearing out your wardrobe are the timeless classics we all know and love: a considered range of basics and a trusty pair of jeans. 

“A great wardrobe should have pieces that all work together, allowing you to mix and match and easily create different outfits that all suit your personal style,” explains Michelle. “Your wardrobe should contain a mix of key and statement pieces, as well as basics. Too often it’s the basics that people tend to overlook.” 

The adage of quality over quantity is likely already a motivating force if you’re considering a wardrobe audit. Keep the pieces you have owned for years; the ones you turn to when you have ‘nothing to wear’. 

“Your basics should be good quality and should last longer than a season. When shopping for basics, one way to help ensure their longevity in your wardrobe is to ask yourself, “Is it quality, and is it classic?‘.” 

Avoiding fabric that’s overly thin and looks like it may pull, tear or pill and opting for natural fibres where possible will ensure any new pieces you bring into your wardrobe will last the distance. And when deciding what to cull from your current array of clothes, these factors can guide you towards the pieces you should keep.

Michelle tells me she considers her wardrobe akin to an edit of classic styles. It’s packed with pieces that are interchangeable and pair seamlessly with one another. Approaching your wardrobe in this way will streamline the getting dressed process and help you refine your style. 

“My day-to-day style definitely leans more towards classic styles, so I’d say I have [a] good range of ‘timeless’ garments in my wardrobe. A selection of my favourite ‘timeless’ garments in my own wardrobe would be a black double-breasted blazer, a good-quality basic white T-shirt [and] classic fit jeans, specifically Levis 501s. After thrashing the iconic style in the ’90s, I purchased a pair last year. They are so classic and go with pretty much everything,” she says.

Michelle also cautions against running out to replenish your wardrobe with a slew of new garments after a clear-out. Instead, she suggests taking the time to assess what your current selection could benefit from in a practical sense. After all, as Michelle emphasises, the point of a wardrobe clear-out is to really step back and assess the gaps in your collection. 

“Before you go out and seek new items to add to your wardrobe, take some time to assess what you currently own. Pay particular attention to basics that might need updating. Maybe they’re worn out or damaged beyond repair, perhaps they no longer fit, or it may be that they’re dated and are no longer in alignment with your style and the image you’d like to present to the world.”

This article was originally published on March 15, 2023.

For advice on responsibly getting rid of your unwanted clothes, try this.