We all know the feeling: Your closet has run out of hangers, it’s getting harder and harder to stuff things in your dresser drawers, and clothing and shoes are spilling out of the furniture and organizational fixtures invented for the very purpose of containment. It’s the telltale sign: Time to purge your closet!
A rather funny thing happens on the daily here at Labels. We look through potential consignment items by appointment. At the time of scheduling, we ask how many items consigners have to bring in for their appointment so we can gauge how much time we need to process their items. Here’s the rub: We’re usually booked out a month or longer for consignment appointments, so by the time their appointment rolls around, our consigners get sheepish about how much they ended up cleaning out – usually a lot more than originally expected!
Why is this such a common occurrence? Something is triggered in our brain when we’re in purge mode. It could be that less is actually more. While our capitalist and consumerist society has tried to convince us otherwise, we do value things and stuff less than real human experiences and connection. When we’re cluttered with stuff and burdened with all the care and maintenance stuff requires, it can feel overwhelming and unfulfilling.
It feels like the clean and purge mindset is innate, sometimes brought on by certain life transitions (e.g. baby on the way, moving, new job, retirement), sometimes brought on by environmental transitions (e.g. winter to spring, summer to fall). We at Labels see this firsthand – when there is a big season shift and the weather changes, our phone rings off the hook with folks looking to consign their items. The psychology is basic human instinct: When the seasons change, it’s time to get ready for a new time of year, whether that be a bustling spring/summer filled with growth, hope and new beginnings or a very sleepy, cozy fall/winter full of hibernation. One important way we ready for weather to come is to evaluate our supply of clothing; a basic human need.
Now that we’ve explored the psychology, let’s get into how to purge (assuming you’ve overcome the hump of purge initiation – and the only tips we have for you on that one is to just psych yourself up, make time and get in there!). A good rule of thumb for keeping things around is the season challenge: If an item in your wardrobe goes through all four seasons in a year and doesn’t see the light of day, it’s time to move it along. This is always easier said than done for someone who has a hard time letting go. You may wonder if you just haven’t found the right thing to pair with that particular unworn item. Or, you don’t want to call it a loss – maybe you spent a lot of money on it. Or maybe you still love the item but your size has changed and it doesn’t fit anymore. Or maybe it doesn’t fit your lifestyle anymore. If it’s that hard to wear, is it worth keeping? If, in one whole year, you were not inclined to reach for that one item and wear it, will you ever? And what use or purpose is it serving tucked away in your closet? Could it be benefiting someone else in some way? Or is it so worn and tattered it needs to be recycled (BONUS POINTS for upcycling!)?
Unless you’ve been living in a deep dark cave, you’ve heard of Marie Kondo and the KonMari method of keeping organized. In our opinion, the most valuable and easy to remember piece obtained from the KonMari method is the phrase “Does it spark joy?” And sure enough over the years, there have been pieces that don’t spark joy in us that we’ve moved on and consigned at Labels. We have the incredible privilege of witnessing our own items spark new joy for different people shopping here at Labels. This has GOT to be one of the great gifts of consignment shop life!
Absolute minimalism doesn’t work for all of us. I’m personally thinking of trends like capsule wardrobes. As a solely secondhand shopper, I never know what I’m going to find and what it’s going to add to my wardrobe, so planning for staple pieces and certain colors is just not my jam. I love the whimsical way in which my outfits come together from random pieces that have called to me out in the wild world of consignment, thrift, and vintage shops. However, for some people, there’s a lot of guesswork that goes into putting together a cohesive outfit they feel good in, and having less decisions to make in the day can be a big relief for any of us. For these folks, the capsule or minimalist wardrobe is a great fit.
Some folks just can’t wrap their head around minimizing, purging, and organizing their closet (and beyond). In comes the hired organization service (like our friends at The Tidy Magpie) to help guide you on how to make those tough decisions. Since going through personal items with someone else is, well, personal, we recommend doing some research to find the right fit that will work best for you, your personality and your current situation.
On the flipside of purging is reducing overconsumption from the get-go. The less we buy, the less mistaken purchases we make and regret because we’re just seeking that dopamine hit, the less that needs to be purged, making the whole task less overwhelming in the future. But for now, you’ve got sweaters spilling onto your floor and no more pant hangers – so go clean out that closet!
Interested in consigning with us? If it’s your first time, first research our website before making a consignment appointment to make sure it’s worth our time as well as yours to bring items in for evaluation. We are brand-selective and only accept items in like-new condition in recent styles (last 3-4 years) and occasional vintage pieces. Once you’ve checked out our website, give us a call to set up a consignment appointment!