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.