You might be wondering what a mid-year closet audit actually means. Why do you need to do a closet audit?
This is the month of June, and in case you haven’t noticed, you’ve been staring at your wardrobe confused about how to dress for the weather and still look chic. You’ve been saying “I don’t have anything to wear” more often than before.
The problem is not actually your closet. It’s usually those things you refuse to let go of. Let’s talk about it.
Every Nigerian woman has that one dress that she’s keeping for “soon.”
The jeans she wears when she loses weight. The Ankara blouse she copied from Instagram but hasn’t found the right location for. The office pants she’s holding on to, even though they’re too big for her. Before you know it, your wardrobe will start looking like a museum because you’re just keeping archives.
Mid-year is the perfect time to fix that.
Honestly, there’s no rule that says so, but six months is enough time to figure out what you want.
You might have decided that you prefer oversized clothes to bodycon dresses. Maybe you switched jobs and you now work from the office. You probably want a fresh aesthetic because you’re embracing the soft life era. Whatever decisions you’re making should reflect on your wardrobe.
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The Step-By-Step Closet Audit Breakdown
So before the second half of the year begins, let’s have a proper closet audit without judgment or unnecessary stress.
Firstly, take it all out.
Yes, everything.
It might seem dramatic, but you have to sort it all. Bring out every dress, skirt, shirt, sweater, bag, and shoe.
Spread them somewhere you can sort through easily. It can be your bed, the chair that serves as your unofficial wardrobe, or on the floor. This is usually the moment of truth. You’ll discover how many black dresses you’ve been collecting.
You’ll find jeans you forgot existed. Dresses you haven’t worn in two years. That’s the point of a closet audit.
Stop Doubting
Stop asking, “Will I still wear this?”
“I might need this.”
It is where many of us get stuck. Because you like an outfit doesn’t mean you are going to wear it. You need the right occasion to wear an outfit. That sequined blazer needs the right event to be worn. You’re still holding on to that dress because of a fancy dress you hope for someday.
If you need serious thoughts before you decide whether to keep it or not, that’s all you need to know to let it go. Your wardrobe should support your present, not the future that exists in your imagination.
Seperate Your Clothes Into Four Piles
Create a pile for what you wear all the time.
This pile is for your valuable pieces.
The “I have nothing to wear” dress, the jeans that never disappoint, and the sandals that walk with you in every situation.
Then the “Maybe” pile.
They are neither here nor there. They are not terrible pieces, and they are not exactly the perfect everyday fit.
They are either in colors you don’t really like, always need a glamorous event, or dictate accessories. So, you decide to keep it for a second review.
Pile up those that need fixing.
There are clothes that are still desired but need fixing.
A broken zipper. A missing button.
Well, it’s time to repair it.
The “let it go” pile.
You have made up your mind that you are done with this pile.
They no longer fit. They are out of fashion, or you feel too old for them.
Let them go.
Decide What Stays & What Leaves
Now that you have created a pile for everything, you will realize that the major part of your declutter is emotional attachment. You just need to detach from the dress your grandma bought for your graduation, the outfit your ex got you for your first date, or the bag you won from a work event but have no use for.
Fashion has a fun way of keeping memories, and sometimes we do it to keep a version of ourselves alive. The thing is, you can still keep a memory without having an actual costume from it.
Study Your Winning Pieces
This is the most important part of your closet audit. Look at the pile of “clothes you wear all the time” and try to identify the pattern.
You would see that you probably love neutral colors before. You have a lot of relaxed outfits like loungewear. Maybe many of your clothes have side pockets or you wear clothes in a particular color more.
This observation will help you build your wardrobe for longevity rather than trends. The goal of the closet audit is to build your style from your personal taste, not what works for everyone else.
The final step is to build your new closet around what works for you.
Many women make the mistake of shopping for transformation. There is nothing wrong in having a signature look, or better still, a look that works for your body type, fashion taste, and lifestyle.
If you love oversized shirts, go for it. If you feel comfortable in jeans, wear them. This doesn’t mean you are dressing the same way every day. It’s simply you identifying what works for you and choosing consistency.
Maybe oversized shirts and pants and chunky sneakers work for you. Maybe you pair every outfit with sandals and tote bags. Whatever it is, lean into it.
The most stylish women often repeat silhouettes. The difference is that they know what works.
Building a Capsule for Every Season.
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Building a Nigerian Capsule Wardrobe
Now that you’ve done your closet audit, you can build a little Nigerian capsule wardrobe that doesn’t need many dresses, just functional outfits that work for different weather.
For sunny months, you should choose breathable trousers, cotton shirts, simple dresses, comfortable sandals, and lightweight matching sets that can survive Lagos heat.
For the rainy season, stick with dark-colored clothes, shoes that can survive Lagos puddles, and sweaters for the weather.
For harmattan, you want to wear more knitwear, basic shirts, sweaters, or cardigans. Nothing too heavy. Just clothes that will help you get through cold mornings but won’t cook you in the afternoon heat while protecting you from dust at the same time.
This doesn’t mean your jeans, black dress, turtlenecks, quality handbag, comfortable shoes, and simple accessories would be abandoned all year round.
Make your wardrobe understand you and let it reflect the woman you are today, not the woman from your Pinterest board. A closet audit or capsule wardrobe should define you in a way that makes you sigh with relief and feel more confident.
