Getting rid of clothes

[PastPerfect]

I have wardrobes over-flowing with clothes. Some perfectly wearable, but don't fit, others perfectly wearable but a bit dated and other stuff that I wear but is past its best.

I need to get rid but find it difficult to chuck it out lest I drop a dress size, fashions suddenly change or I miss my comfiest but tattiest top.

Those of you that don't hoatd - how d'you manage it?

[poocatcherchampion]

We did this last night with dh clothes. If he hasn't worn it since we got married 4 years ago that seemed a reasonable benchmark for deciding its future.

On top of that we chucked things he doesnt really like and worn out things like work shirts. There is a dispute pile waiting for him to wonder about but hardly anything in it.

It was fun and liberating. We can see what he has excess of - t shirts and what he needs - trousers and workshirts.

It starts with getting everything out on the floor on piles.

[chocnomorechoc]

If I haven'y worn something for 9-12 months it just goes. But I am not a hoader by nature - rather a minimalist
My wardrobe is these pretty small and I make sure that I can combine a lot of he things I have with each other (and by that way I eliminate the need to buy to much stuff). quiete liberating

[LightastheBreeze]

I just think to myself it's only clothes, obviously don't get rid of a favourite top but stuff that doesn't fit, give to a charity shop so someone else can enjoy it and if you lose weight treat yourself to new stuff.

[PastPerfect]

poo I have a feeling my 'disputed' pile would be the most significant.

choc I dream of a wardrobe where I can put together multiple combinations out of a few well chosen items. Unfortunately despite having probably 100 tops I still have trousers that go with precisely nothing

[chocnomorechoc]

past - I was just like that but after a major clearout and really fuzzy buying (I only buy when I need and I always know what I need) I am there. key was figuring out what suits me - shape and colour wise. it is sooo much easier without all the useless stuff that does nothing but clogging up the wardrobe.

[chocnomorechoc]

100 tops ?? I have about 15 but wear them all.

[maybemyrtle]

I ruthlessly purge every 6 months or so - I have only ever regretted a handful of items, which I loved the idea of but never wore and wouldn't do now if I still had them. Honestly I can only even remember one of them right now (grey wool Roland Mouret Gap dress, sigh, but it was unlined and a bit scratchy, so...).

I expect you really wouldn't miss at least 75 of those 100 tops, and if the trousers truly go with nothing then they're dead in the wardrobe anyway!

[PastPerfect]

Every six months is impressive

I probably wouldn't miss lots of the stuff - I have loads of everything but actually stick to a very limited wardrobe.

Trouble is I'm a magpie when it comes to shopping I see stuff I like and buy it with no consideration of what it goes with

[YoungBritishPissArtist]

Get yourself on the Marie Kondo thread in Good Housekeeping. It'll change your life!

[Greencurtain]

If you are new to de cluttering then start with anything not worn for 2 years needs to go.

Any expensive mistakes need to go. You don't want to be reminded of these mistakes!

Agree you wouldn't miss at least 3/4 of those tops.

Makes me want to go and chuck some of my clothes out!

[Greencurtain]

Oh yes and only go clothes shopping if you need something. Not for fun!

[PastPerfect]

Well need is an interesting concept clearly I have plenty to wear but I love clothes and so can always find a gap.

In terms of "decluttering" the rest of my house is immaculate - my issue is definitely related to clothes but I'll check out the housekeeping thread

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

I am very lucky WRT work clothes- I have a uniform so no thought processes apart from it being clean.

My clothes are arranged in colour groups (white through pastels, greys, colours to black/white and black).

I buy a batch of vests and Tshirts in Sainsburys when they have a 25% off sale (to wear to-from work)
My weakness is jumpers but I've bought much less this year (a couple of Woollovers Pure New wool rather than 5 Primark acrylic numbers)

I'm going to have a sort out this week (just waiting for a Charity Bag to come through the door).

[XiCi]

Get them on ebay. Make some money then buy some new ones

[CointreauVersial]

Oh I am so bad at this.

I can't bear to throw things out, as I always think I might possibly wear them again. I always imagine selling stuff on eBay but it never happens.

I do have a six foot rail in the loft, for out of season stuff, and things which I am considering getting rid of, and that is full to bursting, as is my wardrobe. DH is the same.

I've just suggested we use our week off to have a good sort out.

[clary]

What I do is this - when I buy something new I get rid of something old.

Something I haven't worn for a year or so; something that I no longer like; something that doesn't fit me!

I have lost weight (about a year ago) and there are lots of things that don't fit so the Need To Go. Last thing to go was a really nice Boden tunic that I used to wear to go out over leggings - but I put it on and it looked awful - just too big everywhere . I will not wear it again.

If your size changes again you won't want those old clothes that don't fit now - you will want new ones. Deffo get rid of anything that doesn't fit. Anything with holes or marks (keep a couple of T shirts for when you dye your hair, if you are as messy as me :))

If you have stuff that goes with nothing it needs to go. Even if that means you need to buy a couple of pairs of classic black trousers for work (or whatever) - it's better than having 6 pairs of lime green or polka-dot pink you never wear.

I don't have a lot of wardrobe space (room for about 4 full length dresses in DH's section then a space of my own about 2 feet wide for my tops and skirts) so I have to be ruthless but it's brill! DH is a shocking hoarder (he keeps old train tickets ) so I feel better for it.

[judydoes]

Mumsnet needs a clothes swap thread .

I'm rubbish at this too. I get clothes as gifts that I won't wear, I have stuff that needs buttons sewing but I can't find the correct one or I can't be arsed and stuff that I don't feel suits me any longer...

[BelindaAllWorkedOut]

I put things aside, if I don't want them back in my wardrobe, then they go. I just did some ebaying of unwanted clothes and anything that didn't sell, was given away. Doing it in stages like that might help, rather than a dramatic clean out which might seem daunting.