1. If it doesn’t fit, you must [a]quit it. I think most ladies keep a “range” of sizes in their closet because our bodies seem to stretch and shrink like magic dough throughout the month (I prefer the shrinking to the stretching, but the latter seems to occur more often for me). I used to hold on to my teeny tiny sizes because I’d convinced myself I’d fit back into them one day, but then I realized that this is nasty self-torture and started to eliminate them from my wardrobe. Now, if something is too small — or big — it gets the boot. 

2. Trash the trendy stuff. When I shop, I splurge on classic staples and scrimp on trendy items. Since I buy these things on the cheap, by the time the season changes they’re usually threadbare and past their prime. Items like this don’t need to take up precious closet space, so they get weeded out. 

3. If you haven’t worn it in 12 months, you’re probably never going to wear it again. This is a tough one, and I’ve had some regrets from following this rule, but it’s a non-negotiable for me. The only exceptions are expensive suiting separates and cocktail dresses, and other investment pieces. On the other side of the coin… if I’ve worn a piece to death, sometimes I feel it’s best for it to move along, too.

In the most recent purge, I updated the Shop My Closet page with LOTS of great pieces. I’ll be adding more over the coming weeks. Here’s a little preview: