Must haves in a man's closet: What to keep and what to throw

MANILA, Philippines - Last weekend, I decided that I was going to change my life for the better. No, I didn’t enroll myself in the local yoga center, nor did I try out the latest cross-core-training-walk-on-coals while blindfolded workout class, and neither did I volunteer at PAWS like I’ve been meaning to these past few weeks (I’ve just been so busy, honest). What I did was just as therapeutic and enriching though. I had a garage sale! (Cleaning out my closet; no, not the Eminem song, but that’s very good too.)

Fast forward to the enriching part. It clears your head to rid yourself of clothes that you never really wear (or shouldn’t) and helps you get rid of memories attached to... let’s say a favorite jacket or hoodie that’s just begging to be retired, some skintight unwalkable denim, and maybe the numerous baby tee band shirts that you swore were all men’s small that somehow mysteriously shrunk to emo proportions.

On to the guidelines that will help streamline your wardrobe, make your closet hopefully look more like an episode of Clean House than CSI (which causes cufflinks and must-haves to go missing just when you need them the most).

Class act: A classic oxford shirt doesn’t necessarily spell boring. unabashedlyprep.com

Keep pieces that define “classic.” No, this does not include your hammer pants or throwback jersey. Think more along the lines of nicely cut dark denim jeans, an oxford shirt that can transition from formal to casual instantaneously, a reversible leather belt to go with just about anything, a white dress shirt (with collar stays) that fits well enough to be worn without a jacket but long enough to tuck in (French cuffs and inconspicuous monogram optional), khakis (without pleats), throw in some navy dress pants you can mix and match, and a suit that subtly says Mad Men more than Miami Vice (losing the massive shoulder pads). The rule of thumb is to retain clothing that you wouldn’t be ashamed of being photographed in, after which you should be able to keep the photo for a good 10 to 20 years and still look back on it with pride.

Seasonals. Keep seasonal clothing for, you know, when it snows. Luckily in Manila, it’s either sweltering or monsoon season so this isn’t too much of an effort. But for those with itchy feet a.k.a. wanderlust, store your cold climate coats and thermals in vacuum-sealed packs. Also, don’t get rid of things passed on to you. Unless the stuff looks almost costume-like, then you are also allowed to pass on the item, or pass it on to another person.

Get rid of it! No matter how much it breaks your heart to part with a certain article of clothing that used to represent your personal style as a whole. It’s all about moving forward and improving, cue Jay-Z’s On To The Next One. When it comes to ill-fitting clothing, if it’s too short or small for you, one should take the hint from the protesting buttons and hand it down. You may have been a little slimmer back in high school, college, or even last summer. But you’re not now. Move up a size, there’s no shame in it. You’ll look better. Men aren’t supposed to look dainty, anyway. Always keep in mind that if you haven’t worn it in a year (or six months if you’re really struggling to find your clothes in the jungle that is your closet), toss it into the “to get rid of” bin. If your size changes again, then you have a real reason to buy clothes rather than being a clotheshorse who can’t function without his wardrobe on light packing trips. Practicality extended to your wardrobe will eventually trickle down to everything you do.

Just say no: Keep it simple and say no to style overload. lookbook.nu

“But it’s YSL.” It may have been worth a boatload before, but after numerous attempts at reviving and bleaching and dry cleaning to no avail, I think it’s time to retire that flatlined designer piece. It’s damaged, it’s dirty and stained. Acceptance is the first step. Throw it out. You don’t need it! Age appropriateness is a big reason to junk your clothes too. If it looks too old or too young on you, then it isn’t a good look. It was cool then, it was ironic to bring it back for a bit, it’s not cool now. Moving forward means eschewing “past glories” and building new ones. Be an early adopter but still keep everything I’ve mentioned up top and you’ll be well on your way to clothing contentment.

Show me your closet and I’ll tell you what kind of person you are. You can tell a lot about a person’s history and background just by checking out their wardrobe, learning what they’re attached to, and what they hoard. Sure, it’s hard to let go of things, heck I’ll be the first to admit that it took numerous years for me to finally reach a point where I can be happy with my editing. But it’s fulfilling, whether you donate it to charity or make a pretty penny “passing it on” at your next garage sale. There really is sleeping cash in unworn clothes. Plus, you’ll get to see and finally wear and better appreciate the things that really look good on you.