By Alyssa Williamson & Haley Verre

Staff Writers

Spring is finally here and that means it’s time to organize and clean up everything you can, including your wardrobe. There are going to be a lot of new and interesting trends to try out this season – those of which we will be covering in our next article. In order to make room for new clothes, you need to get rid of some of the clothes that are taking up valuable closet space – especially if you’re living in a shoebox on campus.

We know how hard it can be to part with those gorgeous, but unbelievably painful heels you never wear, but you will feel so much better with all of that clutter gone. There’s something comforting about clearing out space, even though it can be a tedious process.  Here are our tips to help you part with your old clothes:

1. The One Year Rule

This is as easy as it sounds: if you haven’t worn a certain article of clothing in a year, then give it up. Be honest with yourself and admit that you probably won’t be wearing it anytime soon.

2. Recruit Friends and Family to Help

Asking for a second opinion can be super helpful when trying to figure out what to toss. Make sure you seek out advice from someone who will be honest with you about whether or not you should keep something. Consider asking if it looks flattering on you and if they think it’s something that they can picture you wearing in the near future.

3. Season Appropriate

The weather is changing, and naturally that means your wardrobe will too. All those hefty knit sweaters and winter coats take up a ton of room in your closet, so your best bet is to try and find an alternative place for them. If you live close enough, take a trip home to visit family and bring your winter clothes with you. If not, investing in under bed storage is never a bad idea.

4. The Three-Way Rule

If you can’t think of three different ways to wear an item, it’s likely that you’re rarely going to be wearing it. There are only so many times you can wear something the same exact way without getting tired of it. Instead, save the extra place in your closet for pieces that are more versatile.

5. Personal Style

Your personal style is constantly evolving, so consider whether or not your clothes reflect that. Just because may be an old shirt that you used to be in love with because it worked with your bohemian phase a few years ago, doesn’t mean that it will fit in with your current look. If you can’t picture yourself buying it at a store now, then it’s not worth keeping around.