Stylish Closet Cleaning: What to Give Away

You probably don't like doing it, but you have to get around to cleaning out your closet at least once in a while. But once you open those doors and look at what you've got, you'll realize that there's one very big question to answer: which should you throw out? While you want less congestion, you don't want to discard any potentially wearable pieces.

What to Junk
There are clothes that are distressed, the ones that look cool and comfortable and grungy no matter what you wear them with. And then there are clothes that are simply tattered beyond the bounds of being fashionable. Guys are much more often guilty of keeping this kind of closet junk than are girls, so it's time to make your closet an exception.

Start with pants and shorts, where this kind of destruction can more frequently be seen. Frayed hems are fine for casual pieces, but 'frayed' is very different from 'worn out and trailing bits of fabric all over'. If you can see the material trailing all over your knees or shoes, it's time to either have the piece repaired or dispose of it altogether.

Contrary to popular belief, ripped jeans are not stylish, even on the most haute couture of styles. No well-groomed man should ever step out in dilapidated jeans. If your jeans have holes larger than two fingers' width, ditch 'em. And even then, the pairs with smaller rips should be worn only when you're working your best RENT-worthy starving artist outfit.

Ill-fitting clothes should also be on the Discard list, although clothes that are too big can still be salvaged by sending them to your nearest tailor. Too-small clothes, however, will never be stylish, and are best dealt with by giving to someone who'll actually fit in them.

Shopping mistakes happen to everyone. You might have gotten a Hawaiian print shirt or some abstract design tee, only to discover how hideous it was upon getting home. Unless you want to save one for costume parties and Halloween, there's no point in hanging on to the consequences of your errors. Discard them and move on.

What to Keep
Just because something is old never necessarily means that the item is ugly or outdated. That's an error a lot of style-oblivious guys commit, and in the process throw out many perfectly good and wearable pieces.

Classics, first and foremost, should never be discarded unless they become unattractively threadbare or excessively worn. That's why the navy blazer you've had since college or the black polo shirt your girlfriend gave you as an anniversary gift shouldn't be on your Discard list just because they're old. In some cases, it's the age that even gives the pieces a certain character that store-bought items rarely match.

Accessories are another area where you should find few things to give away. The style of the modern man is becoming increasingly dependent on accessories like necklaces and bracelets. There's no way for you to have too many necklaces, watches, bracelets, ties and all these little things that can complete a look. If you find that they're cluttering up your closet, simply arrange them into a neater container instead of giving them away outright.

Graphic tees, if you're the kind of guy whose style involves them, also age very well for clothing. In fact, there's very often a premium placed on graphic tees that have acquired some years in active use. If you have some three- or four-year old graphic tees, don't junk them just yet. In a couple more years, they'll be as precious (and stylish) as gold.

When it comes to closet cleaning, a lot of guys don't have a very good sense of what can work with their style and what never will. That's why they end up throwing perfectly good pieces or hang on to some truly hideous ones in the process. When considering each item, just remember to think about how it could possibly work for your style, and if it has a certain value added that you won't be able to get at boutiques.

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