Has anyone done a clothing declutter to be left with not much that you actually like?

[Honey1975]

We've recently moved house & have had ikea pax wardrobes fitted which I love.
Thought I would take the opportunity to get a bit ruthless with my clothes. I've got rid of some things but am finding there is very little I actually really like at all!
Alot of it is old, cheap tat in colours (black) which don't do anything for me.
I'm in my 40's and have put on a little weight this year so things just aren't looking so nice anymore.

I want a fresh start and to be more careful with future purchases but what do I do in the meantime? I can't get rid of all the stuff I don't like as I'll have nothing left!!

I need smartish clothes for work and then I just want a few nice casual outfits for home.

Any tips welcome.

[Ttbb]

I dislike 90% of my clothes so I just don't bother anymore.

[botemp]

Focus on the few things that you do like and make that the focus of your new wardrobe. Buy similar pieces, be it in shape/colour/pattern/material that complement them that is either very beautiful or purely functional (or both) and you should have something workable soon enough. For every new piece that comes in toss out at least two of the old that's only remained there as filler and have now become obsolete with the new purchase.

[ILoveDolly]

Perfect time to do the Capsule Wardrobe thing!

[Honey1975]

Thats a good idea botemp, I have just bought a lovely scarf in colours that suit me & I have one in wardrobe that really doesn't so that can go!

Dolly how do you do a capsule wardrobe?

[botemp]

Capsule wardrobes are my personal idea of hell (limited pieces, limited colour scheme) but I totally understand the appeal. Have a look at project 333 as a starting point.

On YouTube both Justine Leconte and Mademoiselle have done several comprehensive videos on it. The on the spike blog recently did a series on it too that would be great for someone new to it. Just beware the trap of being convinced to throw out everything and replace it all at once with these established classics that may not even turn out to be your thing or suit you or your lifestyle.

[banivani]

Here’s an old blog post about building a capsule wardrobe without thinking of the classic pieces but focusing on colour www.oranges-and-apples.com/2009/11/how-to-build-capsule-wardrobe-around.html

[Floisme]

Just beware the trap of being convinced to throw out everything and replace it all at once with these established classics that may not even turn out to be your thing or suit you or your lifestyle.

Couldn't have put it better. I still have my Hobbs jacket, worn twice in 10 years, which I keep to remind myself what bollocks 'investing in the classics' can be.

By all means put things on one side and review in 6 months or a year but I wouldn't throw anything out at this stage.

[banivani]

Couldn't have put it better. I still have my Hobbs jacket, worn twice in 10 years, which I keep to remind myself what bollocks 'investing in the classics' can be.

Absolutely guffawed at this - it doesn't spark joy then, Flo?

[MaudesMum]

I'm in a similar position, because I'm losing weight at the moment, so lots of the clothes I've been wearing for years just look WRONG. So, I've got a large wardrobe and very few clothes I actually like to wear. I love botemps advice, but I'd also add, take it slowly and spend time playing around with what you've got every time you get anything new - something that doesn't work in one way might look great in another. I'm also putting a lot of stuff in storage boxes which I promise myself I will review in 6 months time - just in case...

[lynmilne65]

yes, my life !

[QueenOfTheAndals]

When I was pregnant I did a massive clearout and gave away clothes I liked but was convinced I'd never again fit into. Huge mistake as after DC I'm a stone lighter than I was before.

[Laiste]

Ohhhh i did the Konmari thing last year. Threw away about 60/70% of my belongings clothes.

Mixed feelings.

• It taught me how much money i waste on tat i look shite in or never put on at all.
  
• It taught me how i tend to keep buying the same damn thing ... and still not wear it much.
  
• It taught me i have no real sense of style because all that was left was literally skinny jeans, vest tops, mini skirts and opaque tights, and some cardi's. So i'm just carrying on wearing the same stuff out of a half empty wardrobe.
  

I tried the classics thing too flo. I spent £200 on a Hobbs mac (why is it always Hobbs?). I love it, but it hasn't solved any of the above problems. I wear it over my skinny jeans and a vest top

[InigoTaran]

I think it’s really important to know which colours and styles suit you and build a wardrobe around that. I had mine done 15 years ago and I know my stuff suits both my colouring, my shape and it goes together. Saves a lot of time when shopping too!

[InigoTaran]

Oops meant to say I had my colours done 15 years ago! Used to wear black all the time, never wear it now and love my colours 😀

[InigoTaran]

This website is a good place to start

www.truth-is-beauty.com/color-analysis.html

[Floisme]

No it didn't spark joy It was a very nice jacket but just didn't fit either my life or my style - not even with jeans. It's also dated badly, despite supposedly being a classic jacket, which is another reason why I'm sceptical of the view that any item of clothing is timeless.

[BagelGoesWalking]

What about doing a personal shopper thing at Debenhams or John Lewis? I’m always seeing satisfied customers on here. No pressure to buy, but gives you a new perspective and the shopper encourages you to try on styles that you might never have thought of before. Also, a good reason to buy new, well fitting underwear!

[banivani]

It's also dated badly, despite supposedly being a classic jacket, Yeah nothing is that classic, is it?

[botemp]

Yes, to the "classics" nonsense. In my experience classic means dull as ditch water in the moment and since it's so technically inoffensive you wear it for longer than you probably should and it becomes extremely dated without you realising it. Everything dates.

[Therealslimshady1]

I have the same problem but no solution

I know what type of colours and clothes suit me, but I can rarely find them...

Would hate a personal shopper (=another person's taste foisted on me)

[InigoTaran]

I’ve got a beautiful long camel wool coat I bought about 7 years ago, I’d say it’s pretty classic. But then I tend to go for styles that suit my ( busty apple) shape and a lot of clothes that are ‘fashionable’ simply don’t suit me!

And weirdly it’s in fashion again...

[Therealslimshady1]

Inigo, I just had my old tailored camel coat re-lined for this winter

[TooExtraImmatureCheddar]

The trouble with this approach is that I'd buy 3 new tops, wear them all and then be left with nothing on day 4 (laundry happens at weekends here). I can't afford to replace everything!

I do sometimes fantasise about the house burning down and being given insurance money to buy an entire new wardrobe, though...wonder how much that would cost? Disclaimer: I do actually like a fair few of my clothes!