Your Wardrobe Needs A Reset: Signs You Own Too Many Clothes But Still Have Nothing To Wear

Your wardrobe is completely stocked, and you're still stressed about what to wear? The solution isn't always buying another top, pair of jeans, or party outfit. Sometimes, you can solve this dilemma by resetting your closet and clearing the clutter. Before adding more clothes to an already overflowing wardrobe, take a moment to look at what you own.

6 Signs That Indicate Your Wardrobe Needs A Reset

Before you go on a shopping spree and add more clutter to your already overstuffed wardrobe, take a minute to notice signs that it is time to declutter, reorganise and make room for clothes you actually love wearing. Here are 6 signs that your problem can be easily solved by a wardrobe reset rather than mindless shopping.

1. Your Wardrobe Has Clothes With Their Tags Still On

Shop when necessary and not when the mood strikes (Image:TDJ)

Remember that dress you bought during a sale, imagining wearing it to a special occasion that never actually happened? If you still have clothes sitting in your wardrobe with their tags attached, then it is a major sign that it is time to rethink your shopping habits.

How to fix it?

• Search for all the clothes with their tags on and try them on to see if they fit or not, rather than letting them sit untouched
• If they fit and you still like them, then keep them and try to wear them first before buying anything new.
• If you don't like them, give them away

2. You Keep Reaching For The Same Few Outfits

Rather than owning the same type of outfit in different colours, play with your style (Image:TDJ)

You could have 20 kurtis, 15 tops and several pairs of jeans, but somehow, you end up wearing those same 4-5 pairs every week. If most of your wardrobe items remain untouched, then ask yourself why the other pieces never make it into your regular rotation.

How to fix it?

• Check what outfits or clothes in your wardrobe have not been worn or used for a long time
• Pick out what you wear the most and make a separate pile of them
• Figure out the reasons why you wear some clothes frequently and others rarely
• Try to mix and match your outfits as per your current style and with your favourite clothing pieces with the ones you rarely wear

3. Your Clothes Look Great Separately But Do Not Mix And Match

Every statement piece of clothing can be styled in numerous ways (Image:TDJ)

Is there something in your wardrobe that you really want to wear but do not have any idea how to style? This might mean that you have many statement pieces in your wardrobe instead of basic ones. Printed tops, colourful trousers and heavily embellished kurtis look great once in a while but are hard to style regularly.

How to fix it?

• Take a look at what you have in your closet and evaluate if there is an adequate number of basic tops, neutral bottoms, and simple kurtis
• Make sure that you mostly opt for versatile colours like black, white, beige, and navy as part of your everyday wear
• Limit yourself to three to four colours or patterns which you really think you are going to wear
• Before keeping a statement piece or buying a new one, ask yourself if you can style it in at least three different ways

4. You Are Holding On To Clothes That Do Not Fit You Anymore

Wear clothes that are your style and size (Image:TDJ)

If you are waiting for the right occasion to wear some of the clothes in your wardrobe that don't even fit you now, then it is better to discard them than keep them like a precious stone locked away. Fill your closet with the clothes that fit you well and make you happy.

How to fix it?

• Try on the clothes you have been saving for someday and check whether they fit you and feel comfortable to wear now
• If any of your clothes or outfits only require a little alteration, then keep them and get them fixed
• If any piece of clothing in your closet doesn't fit anymore or is uncomfortable to wear, discard it

5. Your Wardrobe Is So Overstuffed That You Cannot Find Anything

A messy wardrobe leads to a messy mind (Image:TDJ)

Does opening your wardrobe and finding that one top from the big pile feel like a mini workout? It is because your wardrobe is overstuffed. A crowded wardrobe is not just difficult to maintain, but also makes it harder to remember what you own.

How to fix it?

• The first step to stop your wardrobe from looking overstuffed is to clean and organise it
• Take everything out and sort your clothes into three categories: keep, repair or alter, and let go.
• Arrange similar pieces together, such as kurtis, tops, jeans, trousers and festive wear.
• Use organisers or separate shelves for smaller items, dupattas and accessories.
• Make sure that you leave some breathing room between hangers so you can easily see and pick your outfits

6. You Shop For Special Occasions But Forget Your Everyday Wardrobe

Your everyday style should reflect your personality (Image:TDJ)

If you have a habit of shopping for heavy clothes now and then to suit an occasion but cannot be worn in everyday life, then it only leads to mismanagement. Keep a balance and buy more clothes only when necessary, especially festive or party wear clothing.

How to fix it?

• Think about your regular week and identify the outfits you actually need for work, college, errands and casual outings
• Make sure that you prioritise your everyday needs before deciding to buy a new outfit that is specific to one occasion
• Keep party wear and special occasion outfits in a different category
• Think about whether you could re-style an existing outfit for your special occasion before buying a new one

A little reminder: You do not need to tick all six signs to start a wardrobe reset. Even noticing two or three of these habits can be a good reason to rethink what you own and how you organise it.

ALSO READ: How To Organise Your Wardrobe Before Diwali: 5 Tips You Just Can't Miss

FAQs

How many clothes should I keep in my wardrobe?

There is no such thing as a perfect number for everyone. It all depends on you, your lifestyle, how you live, what you do, how you look, the weather, and how often you wash your clothes. Do not try to keep an exact tally of each shirt and pair of pants you have.

How do I decide which clothes to remove from my wardrobe?

Begin by taking out clothes you have not worn in a while, those which no longer fit, things you don't particularly enjoy wearing and those which are in such a bad shape that there is nothing else to be done with them but throw them away. Also consider those things which are of sentimental value to you, but you never wear them in your regular life.

What should I do with clothes I no longer wear?

Clothing that is still in good condition may be given to local charities, given away to relatives or friends, or traded at clothes exchanges. You may even sell your clothing if it is barely worn or in very good condition. Just remember that your clothes must be clean and appropriate for others to wear.

How can I stop buying too many clothes?

Before making any purchases, just quickly check what you have and see if there is a chance that the new item could go with at least some of your clothes. Making a shopping list, planning the budget and waiting a couple of days after deciding to buy something impulsively is also useful.

What is a capsule wardrobe, and can it help me organise my clothes?

A capsule wardrobe includes clothing items which are flexible and can be combined to make several outfit options. Such a wardrobe normally contains essentials for day-to-day activities, comfortable pants, and plain and fashionable tops depending on your taste. There are no specific numbers of clothes you must have to form a capsule wardrobe. All you need to do is to start from those you use most frequently.