I have a rule: If I buy one pair of shoes/pants/blouse, then one of the same item has to go. I am deeply committed to this rule, but obviously not, because my closet got so packed it was hard to put away clean laundry. So yesterday, I sorted out 3 garbage bags of perfectly good clothes, eliminated store/dry cleaning hangers, and put remaining clothes on my best/matching hangers.
I tried not to think of how nice they were, so I said if I was going to a funeral, what would I choose? I kept that one. going to church? kept 3; going out on the town, kept 2; everyday outfits? kept 10; raincoat? one; topcoat? one. Anyway....the result of a workable closet and the ability to see my choices as well as not dreading laundry putaway is so worth much more than owning all those clothes that I was only going to "pick over" anyway for that best outfit.
Now, if I can just practice my "rule", I might not get so overwhelmed again.
That is how I tackled my closet, best wishes on your journey.....