Okay, I’m prepped. I’m standing outside my closet. You might not do this, but I got naked. I had a lot of clothes to try on to see how they really fit. Husband wasn’t home, which was probably good. Not that he wouldn’t enjoy the show, but because he wouldn’t want to give his opinion on 100 items of clothing.

Now, you’re going to be one of two people:

1) Those who dressy outfits on a regular basis- aka: your work clothes can double as holiday party clothes. The bulk of your wardrobe is “dress/business” clothes.

2) Those who dress up rarely.

Hey, you’re both great, don’t get me wrong. But we’re going to do something different next.

If you’re #1, grab 2-3 casual outfits you wear on the weekends, etc. Hang them up and put them back into the the closet. They’re freebies.

If you’re #2, grab 2-3 dresses or skirt/shirt combos that are “party-worthy.” Hang them up and put them back into the closet. They’re freebies.

~~Additionally, if you go to the occasional ball/formal event that requires floor-length ball gowns- ruthlessly look at what you’ve saved. Are you going to wear it again? Honestly? Or are you going to go buy a new dress? Save 2-3 if you’re going to wear them again. Toss the rest. Stick the saves in the back of the closet.

Now, the real work: the hard part, where you have to let go.

During this process: if in doubt, try it on. Some will say don’t touch it, but I had to try it on. If it was a little short, if I didn’t like how the neckline went, etc., it got donated. You’re always going to feel that way…it’s not going to magically get a little bit longer in a few month. Thus, it was actually not too hard coming up with my “Top 10”.

1) Pull out all your bottoms: pants, skirts, khakis, jeans, etc. Lay them on the bed (or floor). Pick out your top 10. The ones you actually wear on a regular basis. They fit well, you like the style, etc. Write them on your top ten sheet- come up with names “Pleat at mid-thigh black skirt,” “Dark blue jeans, Levis 10,” “Black jeans, Lucky12,” “Black khaki,” etc.

~~~Everything else go into one of the two boxes you set aside above. Hang your top 10 back up. Yay!

2) Pull out all your tank tops, shells, undershirts: the type of shirts you normally throw a cardigan or sweater over most of the time. Lay them on the bed (or floor). Pick out your top 10. The ones you actually wear on a regular basis. Write them on your top ten sheet- come up with names “Calvin Klein black lace neckline,” “sea breeze lace tank,” “Jones NY black XL,” etc.

~~~All of the rest go into one of the two boxes you set aside above. Hang your top 10 back up.

3) Pull out all cardigan and over-sweaters. These are items you can’t wear alone (aka- you would get arrested for indecent exposure if you didn’t wear something under them.) Lay them on the bed (or floor). Pick out your top 10. The ones you actually wear on a regular basis. Write them on your top ten sheet- come up with names “Purple ruffle button under bust,” “black cashmere ruffle,” “Purple knit” etc.

~~~All of the rest go into one of the two boxes you set aside above. Hang your favorites back up.

4) Pull out all your “stand alone” shirts- shirts you wear by themselves. Sweaters, long-sleeve tops, maybe a couple short sleeve tops. Lay them on the bed (or floor). Pick out your top 10. The ones you actually wear on a regular basis. Write them on your top ten sheet- come up with names “Blue cowl neck” “purple cowl neck” “Short-sleeve with buckle” etc.

~~~All of the rest go into one of the two boxes you set aside above. Hang your favorites back up.

***Note: if you also wear knee-length dresses on a regular basis, flip over your sheet & repeat the process above.