The Closet Audit: A Step-by-Step Guide to Discovering What You Actually Wear

Last week, we talked about starting your style journey by looking at what you already love in your closet. Today, we're taking that concept and turning it into action with a proper closet audit—one that will reveal patterns you might not have noticed and help you make better decisions going forward.

This isn't about decluttering for the sake of having less stuff (though that might happen). It's about understanding your clothing choices so you can make more intentional decisions about what deserves space in your closet and your life.

Before You Start: Set Your Intentions

A closet audit can feel overwhelming, so let's be clear about what we're trying to achieve:

• Identify what you actually wear versus what you think you should wear

• Discover patterns in your favourite pieces

• Make room for clothes that serve your current life

• Reduce decision fatigue when getting dressed

This process should feel empowering, not judgmental. You're not "wrong" for having bought things you don't wear—you're learning about yourself.

Step 1: The Great Removal

Start by taking everything out of your closet. Yes, everything. Lay it all on your bed or across multiple surfaces if needed. This might feel dramatic, but seeing everything at once is crucial for making objective decisions.

Don't sort as you remove items—just get everything out first. You want to see the full scope of what you're working with.

Step 2: Create Your Sorting Categories

Set up four distinct areas or piles:

Love & Wear Regularly - Items you reach for often and feel great in. Like But Rarely Wear - Pieces you like in theory but don't actually put on. Unsure - Items you need to think about more. Ready to Go - Things that clearly don't fit your life anymore

Step 3: The Quick Sort

Go through each item and make a gut decision about which category it belongs in. Don't overthink this first pass—your initial reaction is often the most honest.

For anything that makes you pause and create elaborate scenarios ("I'll wear this when..."), it probably goes in "Like But Rarely Wear" for now.

Step 4: Examine Your "Love & Wear Regularly" Pile

This pile is pure gold. Look for patterns:

• What colours dominate?

• Are there similar silhouettes or fits?

• What fabrics appear most often?

• Do you gravitate toward structured or relaxed pieces?

• What's the general vibe—polished, casual, creative, classic?

Take photos of some favourite outfits from this pile. These represent your natural style preferences and will guide future purchases.

Step 5: Investigate the "Like But Rarely Wear" Pile

This is where the real insights happen. For each piece, ask:

• Why don't I wear this?

• Does it fit properly?

• Is it comfortable?

• Does it suit my actual lifestyle?

• Do I have anything to wear it with?

• Does it require too much planning or special undergarments?

Common reasons clothes sit unworn:

• They don't fit quite right

• They're uncomfortable

• They require special care or undergarments

• They don't go with anything else you own

• They were bought for a fantasy version of your life

• They felt like "shoulds" rather than "wants"

Step 6: The Try-On Test

For pieces you're unsure about, put them on. Not just holding them up—actually wear them. How do you feel? Do you stand differently? Would you be comfortable wearing this for several hours?

Sometimes we hold onto clothes because we remember loving them once, but our bodies, preferences, or lifestyles have changed.

Step 7: Make Strategic Decisions

Keep: Items from your "Love" pile plus any "Unsure" pieces that passed the try-on test. Donate/Sell: Clothes that don't fit your current life but could serve someone else well. Tailor: Pieces you love that need minor adjustments to fit properly. Store Seasonally: Items that are right for you but wrong for the current season

Step 8: Organise with Intention

As you put your "keep" items back, organise them in a way that supports getting dressed:

• Group similar items together

• Make your most-worn pieces easily accessible

• Consider organising by outfit rather than just by type

What You'll Learn

A thorough closet audit usually reveals that you wear 20% of your clothes 80% of the time, shows your shopping patterns, identifies gaps in your wardrobe that prevent complete outfits, and reveals whether you're shopping for your actual life or an imaginary one.

Moving Forward

After your audit, you'll have a clearer picture of what works for you and why. This knowledge will make future shopping decisions easier and help you avoid repeating past mistakes.

The goal isn't to have the smallest closet—it's to fill your closet with pieces that work for your real life and make getting dressed a pleasure rather than a chore.

Coming up next week: Why the same dress can look completely different on the same person—and how mastering the art of styling can transform pieces you already own.

Where to Start: Finding Your Style in a World of Endless Options

Welcome to my first blog post!! I'm thrilled to share this journey with you as we delve into one of life's most personal yet universal challenges: figuring out what to wear.

If you've ever stood in front of your closet feeling like you have "nothing to wear" despite it being full of clothes, or scrolled through Instagram wondering how everyone else seems to have it all figured out, you're not alone. Finding your personal style isn't about following the latest trends or copying someone else's look—it's about discovering what makes you feel confident, comfortable, and authentically you.

Start With What You Already Love

Before you think about shopping or overhauling your entire wardrobe, take a moment to look at what you already own and genuinely enjoy wearing. Pull out the pieces that make you feel great every time you put them on. These items are your style foundation, even if they seem random or disconnected at first glance.

Ask yourself: What do these favourite pieces have in common? Is it the way they fit? The colours? The textures? Maybe it's how they make you feel—powerful, comfortable, creative, or put-together. These patterns will start to reveal your natural style preferences.

Consider Your Lifestyle First

Your style should work for your actual life, not the life you think you should have. If you work from home, investing in uncomfortable heels that will sit unworn doesn't make sense. If you're constantly running after kids, a dry-clean-only wardrobe will become a source of stress, not joy.

Think about your typical week. How much time do you spend at work versus at home? Do you need clothes for social events, outdoor activities, or travel? Your wardrobe should reflect and support how you actually spend your time.

Identify What Makes You Feel Confident

Style isn't just about how you look—it's about how you feel. Some people feel most confident in structured, tailored pieces that give them a sense of authority. Others feel best in flowy, comfortable fabrics that allow for easy movement. Neither approach is right or wrong; they're just different expressions of personal style.

Pay attention to the compliments you receive. When people say you look great, what are you wearing? Often, we're drawn to pieces that naturally suit us, even if we don't consciously realise it.

Experiment Without Commitment

Finding your style is a process of experimentation. You don't need to commit to a complete wardrobe overhaul overnight. Try borrowing pieces from friends, renting special occasion wear, or shopping secondhand to test out new looks without a major investment.

Take photos of outfits you try—what feels different in the mirror versus in a photo can be revealing. Save images of looks you love (whether on yourself or others) to identify patterns in what draws your eye.

Build Around Basics That Work

Once you start to identify your preferences, focus on building a foundation of pieces that you can mix and match easily. This might be perfectly fitted jeans and elevated t-shirts, or tailored trousers and blouses, or comfortable dresses that can be dressed up or down.

Quality basics in colours that work well on you will serve as the backbone of your wardrobe, making it easier to get dressed every day and giving you a base to build more interesting outfits from.

Trust Your Instincts

Here's the most important advice I can give you: trust your own instincts over anyone else's opinion. If you love something and it makes you feel great, it doesn't matter if it's "on-trend" or if someone else would choose it. Personal style is exactly that—personal.

The goal isn't to look like everyone else or fit into a specific category. It's to develop a way of dressing that feels authentic to who you are and supports you in living your best life.

Your Style Journey Starts Now

Finding your style is an ongoing journey, not a destination. As you change and grow, your style preferences might evolve too, and that's perfectly normal. The key is to approach it with curiosity and patience, remembering that the best-dressed people aren't necessarily wearing the most expensive clothes—they're wearing clothes that suit them well.

Start small, pay attention to what makes you feel good, and remember that confidence is your best accessory. Your style journey is uniquely yours, and I'm excited to be part of it.

Next week, we'll roll up our sleeves and put this self-discovery into action with a step-by-step closet audit that will reveal exactly what you love, what you're holding onto for no good reason, and how to organise everything so getting dressed becomes effortless rather than overwhelming.