Decluttered my wardrobe - acknowledgement needed please!

[EmeraldRoulette]

I Decluttered my wardrobe today

I'm like that lady who started the excellent thread about never knowing what to wear and really struggling to buy things. I am not someone who finds joy in clothes. I mean, I like looking at designer exhibitions and things but on a practical level, it's just a struggle

I've also had a weight problem over the years though I have lost some weight as I no longer take antidepressants.

I have

⁃ got lots of stuff for the charity shop/Vinted

⁃ Got a nice row of clothes hanging up in the wardrobe which has made me realise that I have plenty for summer. I don't live a very exciting life so that's not saying much

⁃ Reviewed a couple of shirts that I bought in winter sale and thought might be a mistake - they are actually very nice and could be adapted for casual or for an evening out. They do need steaming but they fit well

⁃ Got a couple of nice jumpers which are kind of fine knit so they will do for all seasons, though I feel the cold so they might need something on top or underneath

⁃ Got seven cotton T-shirts in good condition. They are a tad big for me now but they're fine otherwise

I don't really need much except a couple of pairs of trousers/jeans

So why do I feel flat? Is it just that impossible dream of "looking amazing" which just isn't going to happen?

I did think about treating myself to a silk something or even a cashmere cardigan, but I find cashmere itchy. Also, I'm still losing weight. So forking out for something really expensive doesn't make a lot of sense.

Can someone pat me on the head or something? 😂 I feel like that was really hard work!

Well done! It's an emotionally tiring job. Buy yourself a leather belt and some jewellery to accessorise with. They both make a difference to how put together you look and aren't weight dependant

Well done. I only buy things I truly love these days but I've retired from corporate life. Try washing cashmere in woolite it might make it less itchy

Thank you

It's such a task! And so difficult in the tiny flat.

@AfternoonVanessa I got a couple of jumpers from Uniqlo and they are the loveliest softest jumpers ever! If I knew how they achieved that, I could look for more! But I genuinely have no idea how they did that. I hope that they bring them back for next winter because I'll get more colours- Without paying a fortune! I've looked at that website for nearly new cashmere but still the kind of prices where I wouldn't want to take a risk you know?

@ToSayYouHaveNoChoiceIsAFailureOfImagination I did used to use jewellery for that. Unfortunately I have noticed that since coming off medication - been nearly 3 years - I'm hypersensitive to any kind of jewellery, so I generally only wear it if I really need to dress up. It used to be that my necklace and my watch would bother me in hot weather, but now I find them annoying almost as soon as I put them on. Scarves are fine in winter, but obviously not in summer. I'm usually cold though, so I have a lot of scarf opportunities!

I'm learning to be okay with what I look like, though - and I think that's a big achievement.

I realise I've got enough on a practical level so now I will only buy something if I really like it! That's good.

I just wanted to chat to someone about it 😂

Well I’m impressed and you’ve inspired me to try doing the same. If I was you I would live with my new slimmed down (in both senses 😊) wardrobe for a while and the gaps may become more obvious and you can treat yourself when you are sure what’s meant missing.

@SendInTheClouds i've inspired someone? That's amazing. Actually, there's been a couple of decluttering threads on here that really helped me. I just didn't actually get to it until this weekend!

There's not really any gaps. There's things I want to have. But I will do fine on what I have, which is a relief because I find clothes shopping horrible most of the time. Now I can just wait for things I like!

Started doing mine today. One bag straight in the bin and two bags for charity shop. I reckon I'm about half way there! Well done for getting sorted OP - understand the need for acknowledgment!

Great work op. Seriously!

I have a drawer full of T-shirts. I don’t really wear T-shirts. I don’t have many nice tops to wear with jeans though. I can’t seem to bring myself to get rid of the drawer is T-shirts. It’s bizarre.

@ajandjjmum Well done to you as well - sounds like you had a lot more stuff to cope with than I did! I salute your hard work!

@RobinEllacotStrike do you never wear them? I find T-shirts really important.

I had a couple of jumpers that I bought ages ago and that I don't like. I've worn one of them twice and that's really big on me now - because it was oversize in the first place - so that's gone in the charity pile.

Apart from that, some of it was just old. I don't really have stuff that I don't wear.

I heard somewhere that the average person has about 10 grand worth of clothes that they never wear. I find that very hard to believe. I know it's meant to be over a lifetime but still!