You don't NEED to do anything that someone else tells you to do!
However, if someone else suggests something that totally makes sense to you, then by all means, try it!
First, figure out the reasons WHY you might want to do that.
Are you overwhelmed when you look in your closet?
Do you never know what to wear?
Do you not even really like most of the clothes in there, but you're keeping them "just in case" they come back into fashion, or you get invited to a retro party?
Would you like to know that everything in your closet is something that you really, really enjoy wearing?
I know that I do!
I went through my closet in sections - shirts, long pants, short pants, skirts, workout gear, etc.
I made three piles:
1. Yes... these I put aside one time, until I was finished going through all of my clothes. When I was done, I had another look, just to make sure I still got a 'yes'. Then they were folded neatly, or hung up.
2. No.... these were put straight into a bag to be donated to an op shop / thrift store.
3. Maybe. I needed a little help with these, so I called in my daughter who gave me her honest opinion. Most went into the No pile. A few stayed. And a few that I wasn't sure about, got put into a box and put into the garage. If I didn't miss them after a month or so, then I probably didn't need them in my wardrobe!
I don't subscribe to the "you can only keep 30 items of clothes" rule. Some people do find it helpful to give themselves some pressure so that they are forced to make a decision about what clothes they really, truly love.
Some people are downsizing, or traveling and want to fit all of their clothes into a little suitcase. That's great, if that's what you want to do! Just make sure that you are doing this for YOU.
Make sure you know your reasons and are happy about them. Otherwise you will just feel resentful down the track.
Personally, I really like having a simplified closet. I like knowing that every single item of clothing in there, is something that I really enjoy wearing. I like having a spot for everything and having it neatly folded or hung. When I look in my closet, I don't feel overwhelmed. I feel grateful that I can easily see the colours of my clothes and I can choose something that matches the colour that I am feeling drawn to for that day.
I have:
* about 10 t-shirts. Some are for working out, some are for sleeping, some are for wearing out, some are multi-purpose.
* 2 jackets
* 2 skirts
* 2 pairs of jeans
* 2 pairs of yoga pants
* 2 pairs of loose, funky pants
* 4 long sleeved t-shirts for cooler weather
* 1 pair of gym pants
* 1 dress
* 2 pairs of shorts
* 6 pairs of shoes (gym, sandals, boots)
* 2 sets of swimmers
And a handful of sox and undies. It suits me.
This picture is not of my closet, but it's not too far off the mark from what mine looks like.
It might take a while to go through your closet, if you choose to at all. You might even do it in layers, several months apart. Take your time. Don't expect to do a huge downsize all at once, unless you are super motivated to do that!
Once you have de-cluttered / downsized your closet, don't see that as an excuse to go shopping and buy more stuff!! You have enough. You are enough! Be good to yourself!
Use the time that you would spend clothes shopping or trying to decide what to wear in the morning, to work on some of your other goals or things that give you joy. Do you like to write, or draw, or paint, or bake, or...? With your new free time, go and do that!
Have fun! Go play!
