A few things I want to quickly mention:
- my kids are 6.5 (nearly 7 if you listen to them!) and I’ve long stopped buying clothes for future years
- they do have some things, mainly gifts from people that are too big for the current year so these get put away til the next warm/ cold season
I had an aha moment when I started Konmari-ing my own clothes last August.
- First, the kids have way too many things if we have to rotate clothes (newly washed clothes go to the back of the pile)
- There’s so much that I don’t plan to buy anything until they outgrow clothes
- Capsule wardrobes are the in thing. When you have to think of mixing and matching, it becomes a whole new set of work.
I put my new capsule wardrobe theory to work in the summer…. the hot, 8-month long summer.
Kendra needed some strappy tops so I got her two tops that would match with everything else in her wardrobe.
Connor needed two sleeveless tops too and I did the same, less picky, because he wears denim shorts a lot.
The benefits during our holiday in Cape Town were huge:
- everything “went” with everything else – surprisingly navy goes with neon orange, green and hot pink 🙂
- I didn’t need to make sets (as I’ve always done) – I just tossed 5 tops and 5 pairs of shorts/ skirts in the suitcase and that was that – happy, happy days for me!
- they dressed so quickly every day because it was easy
While Konmari-ing their clothes, I also decided to not waste my time “forcing” the kids to wear some clothes, e.g. gifts. If they told me they hated something, I donated the item even if they hadn’t worn it at all or enough. I really don’t have the energy to insist they wear things. And to be fair, I won’t wear things I hate either.
Once those items were out of the house, I felt happier so it worked.
I’ve told my mom (who loves buying clothes for gifts) to also rather not buy clothes anymore unless pyjamas – both my kids LOVE pyjamas. I think they get that from me 🙂 So that’s what she did for Christmas – pjs and money!
This winter we’ve done the same – everything goes with everything. I had to replace one or two pairs of pants and I’m being very strict – it either matches with everything or doesn’t come home with me 🙂
The kids are happy and so am I.