Lessons learned through many decluttering projects

Having decluttered several times over the years when emigrating, immigrating, moving house and so on I have learned the following about myself:

• you will never change who you are, sartorially. If you are a low-maintenance jeans and t-shirt person, you are never going to be someone who wears high heels, fancy outfits and a full face of makeup every day – no matter how hard you try.
• you wear 20% of your clothes, while 80% hang there dejectedly. Try turning all your hangers towards the wall. Every time you wear something, turn the hanger to face you. After six months you will see what you use most, and what you never use.
• you always tend to buy ‘more of the same’. I like plain black trousers, slim blue jeans, wrap dresses, ‘manly’ shoes, and basic colours. When going through my wardrobe, I find multiples of the same style by several brands. To get out of this rut but stay true to myself, I may buy green boots instead of black. Or a red t shirt instead of a grey one.
• a bargain is not a bargain unless it fits you and you will wear it.
• if you don’t feel ‘yourself’ or comfortable in clothes, you are not going to wear them.
• it’s better to invest in a few pieces of fine jewellery over time than buy loads of costume jewellery that does not last.
• cost per wear is important – for your wallet and the environment. A good pair of leather shoes will last for years and years if properly taken care of. They work out cheaper than cheap trend-led items in sweaty blistery plastic which break after a month or two.
• the sunk cost fallacy is real. Don’t keep something you never wear that cost a fortune, just because it cost a fortune. Recycle, donate or sell it.