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The inspiration for today’s discussion comes from a recent comment thread from our readers, and it’s time to focus on revamping your closet for 2025! Yes, now is the perfect moment for some much-needed summer cleaning of your work wardrobe and beyond. Seasonal transitions present ideal opportunities for purging your closet, as you sift through items you haven’t thought about in ages (like a delightful surprise gift!), and you may find yourself reacting with excitement to rediscover pieces like, “Oh, I’ve always adored this shirt!” or questioning, “Why am I still holding onto this?”

In previous discussions, we have explored various aspects of closet organization and shared insightful tips, including strategies for organizing your closet, clever closet organization hacks, and effective ways to shop your closet to create a capsule work wardrobe. Additionally, we have covered methods for cleaning your closet in three different ways and provided guidance on purging your closet in the aftermath of the pandemic. For parents, our sister site, CorporetteMoms, has shared valuable advice on how to store outgrown children’s clothes and tips for organizing kids’ clothing.

related: where to recycle, donate, and sell your work clothes

Identify and Remove Unwanted Clothing in 2025

Once you’ve made the exciting decision to update your closet (hooray!), the fundamental guidelines for what to eliminate are quite clear:

• Clothing with irreparable damages, such as tears or holes, should be removed (however, consider visible mending, although such repairs may not always be office-appropriate). For items suffering from sweater pilling, utilizing a fabric shaver or sweater brick/block can be effective solutions.
• Garments that you haven’t worn in a long time should be evaluated, as it’s crucial to be realistic: Unless you can envision a new styling approach, such as pairing an item with fresh pieces, it’s likely to remain untouched.
• Trendy items that are now out of style may need to be considered for retirement. If a piece screams, “I’m from 2010 and only that era,” it might be time to let it go. Nonetheless, if you genuinely love the item and wish to wear it forever (especially if it’s not meant for the office), feel free to keep it!
• Clothing that fails to make you feel good—or at least doesn’t evoke a positive response. If trying on a piece elicits a nonchalant “eh” (or, if we’re honest, a “meh”), why hold onto it?

related: how to make your clothes last longer

Navigating Challenges During Your Closet Purge

As you embark on your closet update journey, you may encounter some challenging dilemmas:

1. “These clothes are too small now, but someday I COULD wear them again.” If you’re on a budget and/or the clothing in question holds sentimental value, it’s easy to lean towards keeping them. However, if you’re not concerned about acquiring new pieces in the future, it might be wise to let go. After all, it’s refreshing to open your closet and see only items that fit well. (Moreover, while it may not be the healthiest strategy, donating clothing that has become too large can provide a motivational boost for maintaining your weight.)

2. “I like this piece, but it needs tailoring, and… I bought it quite a while ago and still haven’t taken it in.” If it’s been years (I’m guilty of holding onto a few pairs of pants that are patiently waiting in the basement), seriously assess whether it’s because you don’t value it enough. If you genuinely love the item, take immediate action by placing it in a bag and putting it in your car (or in your work bag if using public transport), and mark your calendar for a tailoring appointment (and if you’re like me, you might end up carrying it around for weeks!).

3. “This isn’t currently in style, but it might come back someday.” Recent years have shown us that fashion trends can make unexpected comebacks (think of chunky platform shoes or oversized denim jackets), making it difficult to predict what will resurface. While there’s no definitive answer to the question of whether to keep something “just in case,” your decision should depend on whether you truly loved the trend previously, the item’s quality, and your enjoyment of wearing it.

As other commenters have pointed out, when trends return, they often have subtle differences—such as bootcut jeans coming back but with a higher rise than before and generally less distressing.

Three Essential Strategies for Effective Decluttering

To borrow a phrase from Kat, here are my tried-and-true rules for decluttering, including clothing—while they may not be revolutionary, they’ve been beneficial for me:

1. Do I actually use/wear this? If not, how long has it been since I last wore it?
2. Does it hold sentimental value? (If so, consider taking a photo before you part with it.)
3. Could someone else benefit from it?

Bonus tip: This may be a bit unappetizing, so proceed with caution if you’re enjoying a meal: I recently came across an article in The Washington Post that introduced the “poop rule” for decluttering. As a content creator explained to the reporter, “The poop rule is simple: While decluttering, ask yourself, ‘If this item were covered in poop, would I still keep it?’” Gross, but potentially useful!

related: how to avoid fast fashion for work clothes

Readers, have you done any spring cleaning in your wardrobe this year? What items did you part with, and what influenced your decisions? Have you donated workwear that is no longer suitable for your office due to changes after COVID?

Stock photo via Pexels.