To throw everything away and start again?

[DogsAndGin]

TLDR: turned 30, new house, having a baby. Shall I turf out all my old crap quality clothes from my 20s and start a better quality capsule wardrobe?

Long story:
We moved house over a year ago, and I still have boxes and boxes of clothes that haven’t been touched since. I haven’t missed them. Even out of the clothes that made it into the wardrobe, I don’t wear 90% of them.

I am trying to get the house in order before our first baby arrives later this year.
It has occurred to me that now might be a good time to throw my clothes away (which are mainly size 6-8 and from my 20s, and unlikely to fit me after having children). They’re mainly cheap quality high street tat, which don’t bring me any joy - I just wear them because I have to wear something!

I’ll need to buy some maternity clothes in the interim, but then I could get a new capsule wardrobe together; just owning the bare minimum for life after baby.

I have felt like this for a few years now.

I can’t face arranging for hundreds of Vinted or Marketplace sales, so I would take it all to the charity shop.

Has anyone done this? Do you have any tips? I feel so overwhelmed, stressed and anxious by owning so much, and I feel I am entering a new phase in my 30s, with kids.

YABU - you’re nesting, it’s the hormones talking! Keep your existing clothes, it is wasteful to give it all away.

YANBU - now is a good time to transition to a capsule wardrobe. Less is more!

Any advice from those who have done similar is most welcome.

Thank you x

I've been gradually building a collection of better quality clothes that are classic and hopefully I'll wear for years. It takes time so you might want to keep some inoffensive basics so you don't have a huge outlay at once

I’m currently doing the same thing, recently donated 8 bin bags of clothes as a starting point. I’ve kept my favourite things that still fit and I will wear after baby.

We’re (dh and I) also decluttering the whole house and splitting our largest bedroom into two (for the baby) because we’re planning this work it’s the perfect opportunity to finally get the whole house organised.
Nesting is definitely helping with motivation as I’ve wanted to do this for ages but haven’t known where to start.

Being able to donate all my older clothes has been helped by being able to afford better quality stuff that lasts longer as I’ve got older, it’s the cheaper stuff I’ve got rid of.
Also doing the same stuff with dc’s clothes. I have a friend who takes all my dd’s outgrown clothes and we’ve had that arrangement for years now.

We have a local village group where people put their unwanted toys or furniture etc on. I don’t have time to sell everything so donate things we no longer want.

I want to do this too, but no idea where to start really, and I just bought more clothes for a holiday. 😂

I started doing this in my whole house last year. If I picked something up and I'm not planning on using it or wearing it in the next 6 months, it got bagged for charity.
Same with clothes that I didn't immediately think "yes I enjoy wearing that all the time"

Ended up with 10+ bin bags full to bursting that went to charity. I felt lighter once it was done.

How on earth do people fit in size 6-8 clothes. How skinny and small do you have to be

Get rid!

My advice also would be not to make any big style purchases too soon though. It took me a while to find my style with a baby. Suddenly clothes needed to be comfy for sitting on the floor a lot, and I couldn't bear anything tight or too flappy that got in the way. I didn't like my tummy any more so I wanted longer tops and higher waists. I did a lot of walking with the pram so I wanted outfits that would look good with trainers.

Don't beat yourself up about buying some cheaper stuff that's 'ok for now' while you work out what you want.

I am doing this. Got rid of a ton of clothes and buying good quality items. I have already invested in some great coats and jackets, a few pairs of shoes and trainers, jumpers.

Your body shape can change a lot after giving birth (my breasts were huge for a bit, then less so - and I didn't lose half the baby weight from my first until after my second baby), and you may find you have different clothing priorities for quite a while (comfort, being able to nurse, being able to put things in one handed! Etc).

So you're not unreasonable to want to clear out a bunch of stuff, but I wouldn't spend huge amounts on clothing that will last of I was going to have a baby soon.

No idea but I love that you have a "Long Story" behind a decision to buy new clothes 😄

I’ve done this. initially I’d read Marie Kondo’s “The life-changing magic art of tidying” and she suggests starting with clothes. I must have chucked 5 bin liners of clothes! Later
I had colour analysis done with House of colour, then as I bought new things in copies that suited me I got rid of the old stuff. Now I have a capsule wardrobe of clothes that fit me and suit me! I can find everything more easily and what I have, I feel good in. I’d rather spend a bit more on a quality item that lasts than cheap tat now.

This is both rude and irrelevant.

You are being unreasonable to do this before the baby is my only advice! As someone who has had a baby in the past year I would do this, but wait to after.
Most women find their style changes after a baby and even if you go back to the same weight your body will still look different.
Buy a few maternity bits that make you happy and you feel great in, do the same so you have a few things that make you feel good post partum, rewear a few bits in your old wardrobe in the interim and start building your longer term better quality wardrobe about 6/12 months postpartum.

Yes I did this when we moved and it felt so good!! I don't even miss those old clothes.

Watching with interest... we've been in this house 4.5 years, since first DC was born. DC3 is now 10 months old. I am definitely not having any more and it doesn't look like I'm going to lose much more weight... so I feel like its time to embrace it and stop holding onto the things that looked good in my very skinny 20s in case they fit again one day.

I also have lots of crap quality stuff.

Agree with PPs though... you probably want to give it a year after baby arrives before really investing in anything as your body will change a lot in that time. I was already 4 months pregnant.

I'd love to have a good capsule wardrobe of nicer stuff, but don't even know where to start! Any recommendations for great quality shops/brands (I am very weary that designer/expensive doesn't equal quality?

I wouldn't get rid of all ofit yet but maye go through and reduce duplicates. Make sure you keep the best of it for now. Think, something to wear out for dinner, to a party, a wedding, an interview, things that you can dress up or dress down etc. That will give you space for your maternity wardrobe and after you've had the baby you can re- evaluate.

A lot can change in your body/needs post partum. Once I’d got the baby weight off with my first my body hadn’t changed much, but my twin pregnancy made my stomach skin really saggy. Even though I’m back to my pre pregnancy weight I don’t suit anything with thin and flimsy material around my middle so I got rid of everything that made me look crap. it felt really empowering, knowing I wouldn’t face that indecision whether to wear it or not.

In a declutter session, I try everything on, except stuff I wear all the time. I ask the same questions- does it fit? Does it look nice? Is it comfortable to wear? Is it still good quality or holey/worn/bobbled etc? Lots ends up in the charity pile, and a few outfits I waver on and keep. I have some basics, like a smart skirt suit that I don’t wear but might need one day.

One way to look at it is that stuff deteriorates in storage and by donating unworn clothes you’re giving them the life they deserve. It definitely helps me!

For post baby I found shirt dresses (with a vest underneath to breastfeed whilst not revealing myself and keeping warm during winter feeds) paired with leggings and ankle boots were the best outfit for the baby and toddler years.

They may not be the most fashionable but dresses and leggings are more forgiving of your changing shape over those years and are suitable for crawling after mobile babies and being on the floor with toddlers.

18 years on I miss that long beige linen jacket and the brown flecked tweed one (both from Whistles) - hope they gave someone else joy. Everything else - nah.

If you’ve got space, I’d keep them in bin bags in the attic. If you have a girl then 13 years flies by and they will want your old clothes.

I chucked everything away and now am wishing I hadn’t!!!!

My extensive items have lasted years, are timeless and beautiful. My primark tat is exactly that. Im with you op!

I did when I lost weight as my marriage was going down the pan, I lost five stone & nothing fitted me. A couple of weeks before I left exh I had a big win on online bingo, I won £8k & had a whole day at Meadowhall buying everything new right down to underwear & make up. The only things I kept were my shoes, boots, a couple of pairs of Jeans & linen trousers I had kept from when I was very thin after ds was born. I just kept on buying what I needed & took everything else to the charity shop.

Wow thank you so much for the advice ladies! So helpful to hear your decluttering stories! Decision made: I’ll get rid of what is truly never worn now, and then wait til after baby comes to reinvest. Ahhh can’t wait to declutter!! I need some more bin liners!

@newrubylane Thank you 😊💐