5 Step Post-Pandemic Closet Purge

The pandemic significantly changed the lives of everyone, forever. It's time to take an honest look at what you really need in your closet. What items have you worn the most? Which ones have collected dust? Which ones are you holding on to? What did you invest in?

The state of your closet sets the tone of your day. This is your opportunity to set the tone of your post-pandemic life. To streamline your post-pandemic closet purge I've identified five categories taking up valuable wardrobe real estate. Confront these items first and shift into this new era with a clean slate.

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Open up space.

Prepare to purge pockets of excess and outdated items you've accumulated over the pandemic this year or avoided for longer.

Before you begin your purge- keep in mind 3 piles to create: Donate, Resell, and Repurpose. Read more here. If you’re ready to resell, I’m a luxury expert at the RealReal, so contact me to get started today.

If you haven’t read 3 Ways to Purge Your Closet, read it next for even more tips and inspiration for what to do after you purge.

TINY CLOSET TONS OF STYLE | POST-PANDEMIC PURGE — 1. Dark & Drab

Each item in your wardrobe has energy.

Dark & gloomy colored clothing has got to go. Your wardrobe has no space for the darker, drab, lifeless old tee’s, cardigans, and sweatpants that have stale, negative energy. If you look at a garment and it doesn’t bring you joy (most drab sweaters and black leggings do not), it’s time to toss it.

Humor me: wear ONLY bright colored clothing for 1 week. Go crazy with it- wear vibrant prints, your favorite accessories, and of course, a bright lip. No blacks, browns, grays. Notice your mood and energy levels and how often you smile. There’s a correlation- I’ve been doing this work for long enough to know.

There is always a place for neutral staples- but narrow your blacks, grays, and brown items down to quality pieces that are both comfortable and fit well.

There is absolutely no reason to be uncomfortable.

What have you been wearing at home during the pandemic? Most of what we have been wearing is completely comfortable. Besides going waist up chic for zoom calls, our daily clothing choices have stemmed around comfort.

Take a look in your closet at what you haven’t touched over the past year. Get real- are you ever going to wear it? Do you even want to try it on?

If you don’t even want to try it on, chances are you won’t ever wear it again. Toss.

There’s NO tolerance for uncomfortable clothing, ill-fitted, scratchy, itchy, or worn clothing. If it has a hole in it, you don’t need me to tell you to trash it. Get honest. Let items in your discomfort zone go.

A great thing that has come out of the pandemic: the fall of professional workwear clothing.

Can you imagine a world that goes back to wearing uncomfortable, unflattering, workwear? Me either. And I don’t want to.

The work environment has changed forever. It has made peace with working remotely. We are wearing sweat pants as pants. Our co-workers get a snapshot of the walls of our home and the busyness of our families. There’s no going back to crisp white button-ups, tights, pencil skirts, or black pumps. We have come too far for that.

Scan your closet for the following. Keep a few pieces you love. Donate the rest.

bulky blazers
dress pants
pencil skirts
ill-fitting suits
crisp white shirts
workwear separates
black pumps
tights
cardigans

Download a FREE copy of my book: Clothes the Deal | The Guide for Transformative Personal Style

Every closet I encounter has a "Denim Dungeon" filled with dozens of unworn jeans. Go directly to your Denim Dungeon and try on every pair. If the jeans don't fit - don't front. Purge. If the jeans would kinda fit if you lost five pounds - purge those, too. Keep only the jeans that feel good on your body, support your personal style and make practical sense for your post-pandemic life.

Also, say sayonara to your skinny jeans.

Your beloved multiple pairs of skinny jeans that haven’t been touched for over a year have served their duty. They had their moment. They are officially out of style. Discomfort is not an option and jeans that are skin-tight are just that. The post-pandemic approach to denim favors a comfortable, expanded silhouette. Think balloon pants, peg-legged, high-waisted, cropped, wide, or straight legs.

Don’t let your denim pile up and become one of your multiple madness categories in Step 5.

What category of clothing or accessories in your wardrobe do you pile up? Everyone has one thing or the other. Mine is gray cashmere sweaters. Because you can’t have too many grey cashmere sweaters, right? WRONG.

Sometimes multiple madness categories have an underlying emotional attachment. Not to get too woo woo on you (I’m totally here for that if you want to chat, email me), but seriously. Take a look in your wardrobe and find the multiples. Then ask yourself WHY? Do you really need 40 cocktail dresses? Or the 15 pairs of black high heels from your days in NYC that you will never wear again?

Where your multiples may be hiding

Denim Dungeon- see above.
The mismatched sock, panty, and bra pile are like an energy vampire friend who has overstayed her welcome. Time to break up.
Worn Workout Gear: Head straight to the bottom of your fitness drawer and pull out all the faded, saggy and weirdly printed leggings, sports bras, tank, and old t-shirts you claim are for working out. You know you never reach for them.
Black Leggings. Select 2 of your favorite. Purge the rest.

Honestly, multiple madness categories could be hiding anywhere in your closet. Chances are, you know what they are. I’d love to hear your categories. And If you need support on purging- I’m here. Click here to schedule a free consultation call

Okay, so you’ve purged. Now what? Read this 3 Ways to Purge Your Closet

As a professional closet organizer and personal stylist specializing in capsule wardrobes, I LIVE for the opportunity to transform your closet clutter into a clean, organized space you can create stylish outfits you love. I’ve helped women all over the world conquer their closet chaos and evolve their personal style with transformative results.

A clean closet is a stylish closet.

HELP ME JENN! I can’t do this alone.

I understand.

You are a busy Virginia Beach local who desperately needs to purge and reorganize her closet because:

You’ve realized over the past year that you need less but don’t know where to start
You’re ready to nail down your elevated, comfortable chic 2021 style
Your closet is a energy vampire that sucks all the positivity out of your morning
You don’t even know what your personal style is or where to find it
Cleaning out a closet is not the way you want to spend the precious time you aren’t working
You are a successful, professional accomplished grown woman and you are ready to throw money at this problem

Good news! I currently have four openings for TCTS Ruthless Wardrobe Edits this Spring. Click here to schedule a free consultation call so you can exit the pandemic with a minimized, organized, and sparkling energy closet to match the fresh personal style perspective I help you cement.
Ready to consign your purged items that can live a new life? Let’s schedule a meeting so you can start making $ today!
Download a FREE copy of my book: Clothes the Deal | The Guide for Transformative Personal Style
Also, If you haven’t already, join the fun on my private Facebook group MappCraft | Tiny Closet, Tons of Style® Survival Guide