A checklist once a year

Short answer: Once a year, go through your whole wardrobe, measure yourself, check the boxes stored away, and write down what needs replacing in the coming year. It takes an afternoon and gives an overview that the short seasonal changes cannot.

Go through the whole wardrobe

A yearly review catches what the twice yearly changes miss. At a change of season you mostly look at the clothes being packed away or brought out. Once a year you take on everything, meaning the wardrobe, the drawers and whatever hangs on the chair. Start with what you wear most, such as bamboo sweat for men and women, and work on from there.

Measure yourself again

The body changes slowly, and the numbers should be updated. A year is enough for a size to stop fitting without anyone noticing. Measure chest, waist and hips with a tape and write the numbers next to last year's. Then you know whether to look at another size next time you buy, for example a bamboo sweatshirt for women.

Check the boxes stored away

A box that has not been opened in a year should be opened now. Clothes stored for a long time may have suffered from damp or smell, and you may have forgotten what is inside. Open each box, look through the clothes and decide what stays and what goes. Label the box when you close it again.

What the boxes usually hide

Boxes often hold things you had forgotten and things no longer worn. Both are easier to decide on once the box is actually opened. The forgotten pieces can come back into use. What is not worn can be passed on, so it does not take up space for another year.

Check wear on everyday clothes

The clothes you wear daily wear out fastest. Look for thin patches, small holes and slack waistbands on underwear, socks and the tops you wear most. A piece of bamboo sweat clothing that has gone thin at the elbows can still be worn at home, but it is good to know before it needs replacing.

Write a list for the coming year

When the review is done, write down what needs replacing over the year. Split the list into what is urgent and what can wait. Then you can spread purchases over the year rather than buying everything at once, and you avoid buying something you already have.

Clear out what does not fit

Clothes in a size that no longer fits fill the wardrobe and make choosing harder. Put them aside in a bag of their own. Anything in good shape can go to someone it fits. Anything worn out can serve as cleaning cloths. Then the wardrobe holds only what you can actually wear.

Pick a fixed day

The yearly check is easiest when it has a fixed place in the calendar. Many choose the start of the year or a weekend in autumn. The day itself matters less than the fact that it comes round every year. That way the review becomes a habit and goes faster each time.

Frequently asked questions

What belongs in a yearly check

A review of the whole wardrobe, a new set of measurements, a look in the boxes stored away, and a list of what needs replacing.

Why measure yourself once a year

Because the body changes slowly. A year is enough for a size to stop fitting without it being noticed.

What do you usually find in the boxes

Things you had forgotten and things no longer worn. Both are easier to decide on once the box is actually opened.