The \u2018Try It, Toss It\u2019 trend is a clickbait winner, causing a sensation on social media platforms. But does it work? Leanne Moore gets the lowdown from wardrobe experts. <\/p>\n
\n Is your wardrobe filled with duds and dated pieces you never wear? If that\u2019s the case, then the \u201ctry it,
\n toss it\u201d technique could be just what you need.\n <\/p>\n
It\u2019s a trend that\u2019s gone viral \u2013 influencers are filming themselves trying on every single piece of clothing they own, then uploading the video to platforms like TikTok. <\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m trying on everything in my closet to see what I should keep and what I should get rid of,\u201d American content creator Claire Pullen tells her audience in one video with more than 601,000 views. Pullen made a series out of the task, with each clip dedicated to a different style of garment, from jackets and jeans to tops and belts. <\/p>\n
There are thousands of videos of people putting on pieces from their wardrobe, one by one. When it comes to the chore of decluttering your wardrobe, it\u2019s a job that\u2019s easy to put off, especially if you have a wardrobe that\u2019s stuffed full to overflowing. But is it necessary to try on every single item you own? Everything? Really? <\/p>\n
\u201cTry it, toss it\u201d gets the thumbs-up from Auckland-based decluttering experts, who say it\u2019s a good way to filter out what\u2019s not working from your wardrobe. <\/p>\n
\u201cFor many people, it can be incredibly effective. We often find that physically trying pieces on creates a completely different perspective compared to simply looking at clothes on a hanger,\u201d says Katrina McCloy of Spaces by Kat. <\/p>\n
\u201cMany people hold on to clothing because they hope it still works, rather than actually knowing. Trying items on removes the guesswork and allows clients to make more confident decisions about what they genuinely wear and feel good in.\u201d <\/p>\n
Auckland-based decluttering expert Katrina McCloy of Spaces by Kat. <\/p>\n
As well as identifying items you never wear, it can lead to the rediscovery of favourite pieces. <\/p>\n
But it isn\u2019t going to work for everyone, she says. <\/p>\n
\u201cFor some clients, trying on every item can feel overwhelming, especially if they have a very large wardrobe or emotional attachments to clothing. The key is creating a process that feels supportive, realistic and achievable for the individual.\u201d <\/p>\n
Many women have wardrobes full of \u201calmost\u201d pieces. Almost right. Almost a good fit. Almost practical. Almost their style. Almost as good as the original that they missed out on \u2013 or the piece that was too expensive. <\/p>\n
\u201cSo they bring in an \u2018almost right\u2019 piece to their wardrobe,\u201d stylist Stacey Beatson says. <\/p>\n
It\u2019s something McCloy sees often, too.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe regularly see clients holding on to items with tags still attached, simply because they never did quite fit properly or didn\u2019t suit their lifestyle once they got them home.\u201d <\/p>\n
The \u201ctry it, toss it\u201d technique exposes that very quickly. Often the issue is not that the piece is terrible \u2013 there\u2019s simply a disconnect from the woman\u2019s lifestyle, body shape or colouring. <\/p>\n
For some, just the thought of trying on every piece of clothing and accessory can feel unnecessary or even emotionally challenging.<\/p>\n
Stylist Stacey Beatson.<\/p>\n
Beatson believes the conversation around the trend highlights a bigger issue. <\/p>\n
\u201cMost women are not avoiding their wardrobe because they are lazy or disorganised. They are avoiding it because it represents decision fatigue, identity shifts, money spent, changing bodies, and often a disconnect between who they are and how they are dressing.\u201d<\/p>\n
She says wardrobe edits don\u2019t need to be \u201can eight-hour emotional marathon\u201d. There\u2019s a social media strategy behind the viral clips, she points out, with creators driven to bring in likes, comments and shares. <\/p>\n
Beatson, who has been in the industry for two decades, says in the thousands of wardrobe edits she\u2019s helped clients with, she has \u201cnever seen two closets the same\u201d.<\/p>\n
That means there\u2019s \u201cno one editing method that works for everyone\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cJust like there is no such thing as \u2018one size fits all\u2019 in clothing, there is definitely no single wardrobe system that suits every woman. I manage very extensive maximalist closets and also very refined minimalist closets and I never approach any two edits in the same way.\u201d<\/p>\n
Beatson says not every woman feels an emotional, personal connection to editing their wardrobe.<\/p>\n
For some, she says, it\u2019s more \u201ca functional part of maintaining her look and lifestyle\u201d. <\/p>\n
Research shows that most of us wear only 20% of our clothing 80% of the time \u2013 and shopping online has exacerbated this. <\/p>\n
\u201cNowadays, shopping is right there on our phones, so it\u2019s super easy to buy things on impulse,\u201d says Paula Pacheco of Organised By Paula. \u201cDuring a session, it\u2019s very common for me to find brand-new clothes, still with tags on, or even hidden inside boxes.\u201d <\/p>\n
If attempting to declutter your entire wardrobe in one go feels too much, there are alternative methods. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe tailor the process to each client,\u201d says McCloy. \u201cSometimes a full try-on works beautifully, and other times a gentler, category-by-category approach is far more supportive and sustainable.\u201d<\/p>\n
She says it can feel more manageable to break your wardrobe contents into smaller categories, like focusing on activewear or denim or shoes.<\/p>\n
\u201cSmall wins build momentum, confidence and long-term habits, which is often more effective than trying to do everything at once,\u201d McCloy says. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe often recommend creating a small donation or declutter basket within the wardrobe. If a client repeatedly skips over an item, struggles to style it or simply never reaches for it, it can go straight into the basket. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt removes the pressure of making immediate permanent decisions and creates a more natural, ongoing editing process over time.\u201d <\/p>\n
What we wear has so much influence over how we look and feel. Often our wardrobe is a representation of who we were, who we are and the person we want to be. <\/p>\n
Our clothes hold memories, and are often associated with relationships, milestones or aspirations and a big challenge in decluttering is \u201cletting go\u201d of items that are tied to a past version of ourselves or an imagined future version, McCloy says.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe encourage clients to build wardrobes that support their current lifestyle, body and daily routines. A wardrobe should work for the life you\u2019re living now.\u201d<\/p>\n
Paula Pacheco of Organised By Paula.<\/p>\n
Pacheco says she sometimes needs to take on the role of counsellor, as well as wardrobe adviser.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhile our role as a professional organiser is rooted in practical solutions, we need to bring empathy and emotional awareness to every session,\u201d she says. <\/p>\n
\u201cIn my case, I have a background in psychology, which has shaped the way I approach these moments, helping me hold space for those emotions while we work through them together.\u201d<\/p>\n
One method Pacheco employs is creating an \u201cEmotional Box\u201d where her clients can place items they love and are not ready to say goodbye to.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe label it and store it away safely, so over time they can check those pieces again and decide, when they are ready, if they want to keep them. Everyone has their own time, and I completely understand and respect that.\u201d <\/p>\n
For most people, the result of a wardrobe declutter is incredibly liberating. As well as having more physical space, it\u2019s easier to get dressed and focus on other things in life. <\/p>\n
\u201cClients often describe feeling lighter, calmer and more in control afterwards,\u201d McCloy says.<\/p>\n
\u201cA well-organised wardrobe reduces decision fatigue, saves time and creates more ease in everyday life. It also helps people appreciate and actually wear the pieces they truly love.\u201d <\/p>\n
Pacheco says the feedback she receives is generally positive. <\/p>\n
\u201cOf course, it\u2019s really good to see everything neat and beautiful, organised intentionally for your daily life, but the real value is much deeper. <\/p>\n
\u201cI believe that our mind and the environment we live in should be completely aligned. When everything is in harmony, life naturally becomes lighter and happier, so we end up able to dedicate more quality time to other important things.\u201d<\/p>\n
Organising isn\u2019t just about making things look pretty, Pacheco says. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s about reducing stress and truly giving yourself peace of mind.\u201d <\/p>\n
More on personal style<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The \u2018Try It, Toss It\u2019 trend is a clickbait winner, causing a sensation on social media platforms. But…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":468441,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[11519,199565,145470,6435,156,5658,71,6276,702,33120,175443,1073,60,111,139,69,11747,5970,12819,1072,223,237002,1142,46599,5143,51645,10508,4576],"class_list":["post-468440","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-entertainment","tag-causing","tag-clickbait","tag-declutter","tag-does","tag-entertainment","tag-experts","tag-from","tag-gets","tag-it","tag-leanne","tag-lowdown","tag-media","tag-moore","tag-new-zealand","tag-newzealand","tag-nz","tag-platforms","tag-really","tag-sensation","tag-social","tag-the","tag-toss","tag-trend","tag-try","tag-viral","tag-wardrobe","tag-winner","tag-work"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/468440","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=468440"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/468440\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/468441"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=468440"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=468440"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=468440"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}