There’s something about fall that just makes you want to start over. (Or makes you believe that you can.) It’s the promise of the cooler months before it really gets cold, sunny days with a bit of bite—have there ever been two words as beautiful as sweater weather? After a steamy stint of paring down your wardrobe to the essentials, back-to-school season provokes something like the new year’s resolution of fashion. It’s the time to get rid of the stuff you never wear, to load up on the stuff you’ve always wanted, and to present yourself back to the world as the chic creature that you always knew you were, before you became completely bored/exhausted/overwhelmed with everything you own, of course.
But before you unleash your editing powers on that wardrobe of yours, take heed: These were things you liked enough to buy, once. Is the curb really where they belong? Before you raze the earth of your closet to start fresh, have you fully considered the potential of the offending article? Fashion is cyclical after all: And God forbid you toss something that walks down Céline’s runway a few seasons later. Here, Vogue.com editors reflect on wardrobe purges regrettable or effective, insane or sanity-saving, to provide a few key points to remember while you begin to navigate a new season with your same-old—because when it comes down to that age-old game of “buy, keep, toss (donate!)” we play for keeps. (And we know a thing or two about hoarding.)
1. Comfort is not going out of style
“I’m the first one to round up bagfuls of clothes to donate to charity—either the local Salvation Army or veterans’ associations—in my hometown. But the one thing I regret consigning is a pair of Dior moon boots. They’re logoed-out in white and blue but they were likely the most comfortable footwear I have ever owned.” —Edward Barsamian, Contributing Style Editor
2. The one-in, one-out method (in theory, at least)
“A friend of mine who organizes people’s wardrobes for a living said I should try the one-in, one-out method, but it always ends up feeling like Sophie’s Choice; somehow having to part ways with a piece of clothing under duress takes the thrill out of a gorgeous new purchase. Now that I’ve built additional storage space into every nook and cranny of my apartment, I try and clear out my closet at least twice a season with the help of a stylist friend. Going through it with someone else takes the emotional anguish out of purging. The rule generally is that if you haven’t worn it in a year, then you’ll probably never wear it again (but I bend the rules when it comes to certain pieces—especially vintage ones).” —Chioma Nnadi, Fashion News Director
3. Don’t forget that variety is the spice of life
“I am that person who sheds her closet far too quickly in cleaning rampages. It’s super-rewarding to have an immaculate closet, but then you realize you’re missing all those funny little pieces that are so great when they resurface five seasons later (case in point: the Prada banana-print pieces, colorful silk Chanel scarves, a Prada backpack I have actually since repurchased). It’s easy to think that whatever silhouette you prefer during your closet-clean is what you’re going to like forever, but that has yet to be true for me. And I’ve tried it a few times.” —Chelsea Zalopany, Market Editor
4. Keep your friends close, and your consigned items closer
“Once I sold these Dries Van Noten spring 2011 jeans to my best friend and coworker Emma Morrison and subsequently forgot about them, until I came across Lawren Howell’s story on Jean Stories and realized that I had made a terrible mistake; her sentiments about them made my stomach drop. Luckily, Emma is a close enough friend that I was able to awkwardly buy them back from her. I probably would not have been so lucky had they not been too big on her!” —Kelly Connor, Market Editor
The post Vogue Editors Share Their Closet-Cleaning Tips, Tricks, and Tragedies appeared first on Vogue.