What the original method proposes
The official KonMari website presents a selection by categories and places clothing at the beginning of the method's journey. Its known criterion is to keep what awakens a personal response of delight. This is the methodological description by its creator, Marie Kondo; the transformation promises associated with the method should not be taken as demonstrated results.
There is no need to adopt the entire system to benefit from a simple question: what do I want to keep? You can use it as a starting point, not as a rule that resolves all decisions on its own. A necessary garment, a uniform, something for a specific climate, or a piece with sentimental value may have reasons to stay even if it does not spark enthusiasm.
Choose a manageable part
Instead of emptying the entire wardrobe, choose a limited group: the clothes you use frequently, a shelf, or the garments that need repair. This allows you to review what function each piece fulfills in your current life without turning the task into a greater demand.
The goal is not to reach an ideal quantity of garments or to buy organizers in advance. First, check the available space and what you want to store. A small practical improvement—for example, finding everyday clothes without searching—can also be a good result.
Separate use, repair, and fit
For each garment, try this Gentle Chic checklist: When would I wear it? With what is it comfortable? What does it need before I put it on again? These are proprietary editorial questions, not part of the official KonMari protocol.
Then, distinguish decisions that are sometimes mixed: keeping, repairing, checking the fit, or finding another destination. Something being used little does not necessarily mean it is surplus. It may serve a specific occasion, need a repair, or not fit right now. You do not need to photograph your body or set a target size to make this review.
Decide the destination with information
If you are still not clear, note the specific reason for the doubt and choose when to review it again. To donate, sell, or recycle, consult the actual conditions of the recipient: none of these options is automatically sustainable or suitable in all cases.
You can close the review when your decisions are clearer, even if you have only progressed with a few pieces. The purpose is to better understand what you use and what you want to keep, with respect for different budgets and circumstances; not to promise emotional effects or a permanently organized wardrobe.
