Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Style and beauty

Looking for style advice? Chat all about it here. For the latest discounts on fashion and beauty, sign up for Mumsnet Moneysaver emails.

Original poster

How do you go about 'culling' your wardrobe?

94 replies

milkyman · 31/08/2013 19:12

it's that time of the year again when I fancy revamping whats in my wardrobe but I don't know where to start. how do u go about it?

OP posts:
noisytoys · 31/08/2013 19:19

Bin anything that hasn't been worn for the whole of the last season going into the next season. If it hasn't been worn at all it is unlikely to be worn.

Joycey29 · 31/08/2013 19:20

Get colours done and get rid of all the things that don't work for you!!

ameliameerkat · 31/08/2013 19:23

If it doesn't fit - give it to a charity shop!

If it fits, but it's no longer your style - ditto.

I recently got rid of 25 pairs of trousers and jeans with just those two criteria....

MrsDavidBowie · 31/08/2013 19:26

I have just done this.
Got about 20 things on ebay and 2 bags to the charity shop.

I also find it theraputic to have matching hangers (instead of random ones) , arrange wardrobe with cardis together, long sleeve tops together etc. ditto with drawers.

I am quite ruthless.

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 31/08/2013 19:26

I've got a double wardrobe plus another single door.
Anything I really want to keep but I don't wear much goes in the single wardrobe.
I'm doing my post holiday washing at the moment so loads of my swimsuits (which are 3 summers old) will go.
T-Shirts only last one season.
Socks and pants twice a year- complete change.
Especially jumpers, if they shrink or go pilled, I recycle them.

Everything else if it looks scruffy.
I don't do the if you haven't worn it for a year rule.

My DD wardrobe is constantly upgrading as she grows like a weed and buys loads.

I bought a navy jersey jacket today to go with jeans.
My winter coats are a year old (long) and two year old (hip length) but I still love them.

Might get some more jumpers and long sleeved stretchy tops.

Luckily at work I wear a uniform so I don't need to worry apart from making sure it's clean.
At home it's jeans and jerseys .
Leggings/jeggings at the weekend.

Original poster
milkyman · 01/09/2013 09:34

thank u feel inspired now to get on with it! going to be ruthless! Grin

OP posts:
YourHandInMyHand · 01/09/2013 09:37

I did this about a month ago and feel so much better for it.

Got rid of anything that didn't fit, was misshapen, faded, etc. Also stuff that fit but didn't suit me, or that I'd gone off, or hadn't worn for a year.

I'm left with hardly anything and can see now why I "had nothing to wear"! Will be getting some autumn/winter staples soon to top me up (only 1 pair of full length trousers left from the sort out), but will be thinking very carefully about what I buy in future.

Zoe900 · 01/09/2013 09:39

Maybe get a friend to cull it with the condition that you can over rule a few of her suggested rejections.

when I watched that 'ten years younger' show I used to think that they tried to change people too drastically. If somebody came and threw out ALL my casual clothes and just left me with wraparound dresses, I'd need to go and buy more jeans first chance I got!

MrsDavidBowie · 01/09/2013 09:44

I am trying not to have "best " clothes..... But wear nice things daily instead of saving them.
Otherwise most stuff gets unworn.

FloraFoxley · 01/09/2013 09:51

I must do this. Unfortunately it's a huge job as I have 4 chest of drawers and a large wardrobe plus under bed storage... It's all rammed ( and I mean rammed ) with stuff. I've got at least 50 pairs of jeans for a start.

The other thing is that everything is in excellent or as new condition ( thanks to an insane shopping habit ) and it all fits me fine. Plus I like most of it !

So - apart from pledging to stop buying clothes - how do I get ruthless enough to bin stuff that I just don't get round to wearing but 'might' one day?

TravelinColour · 01/09/2013 09:54

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MrsDavidBowie · 01/09/2013 09:57

Blimey Flora , that is a serious de clutter!!
I would love to sort that lot out!!

i cull every 3 months, so am on top of it...plus I don't have much storage space.

I would start by sorting out what you haven't worn in a year. And if it's in good condition, ebay it.
And hide the credit card!

rockybalboa · 01/09/2013 10:00

Can you get someone else to help? My sister is very good at giving me honest and ruthless advice in this situ when I start saying things like "but I might wear this..."

MinesAPintOfTea · 01/09/2013 10:01

Flora why not start by trying everything on and sending anything that doesn't fit you well to the charity shop?

INeedSomeHelp · 01/09/2013 10:01

Flora I think yoy need to group things and then be really ruthless. So, put all your jeans in one group. If you've got ten pairs of dark denim skinnies (for example) how many do you realistically need?

Try them all again and keep the couple of pairs that are the absolute comfiest best fit.
When I'm buying stuff or clearing things out I try to think about when I would wear something. So if I like a pair of trousers but would qear them with the same top for the same event as a pair I've already got then there's no point getting them.

Hassled · 01/09/2013 10:01

If I haven't worn it in a year, it goes - unless it has some sentimental value.

Original poster
milkyman · 01/09/2013 10:05

thanks all. how easy is ebay to use as have never used it?

OP posts:
Silverfoxballs · 01/09/2013 10:07

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

daimbardiva · 01/09/2013 10:08

I don't do the year thing anymore - I've got rid of things on this basis in the past and regretted it. I work more on the basis that if I don't really like something, it doesn't suit me, fit me and make me feel good, or is worn/damaged and can't be fixed, it goes.

FloraFoxley · 01/09/2013 11:20

If any of you are near me then YES -- come and help me! ( begs )

All my drawers are stuffed to the point they hardly close- I actually forget I've got stuff. I've given stacks to the charity shop and I don't like to ebay as a rule ... Loads of effort for little return. I sold a DVF cashmere coat last month on there for 50. It was worth 400. I'd rather have given it away.

Good tip re the jeans. I've got maybe 15 pairs of dark skinnies for example - from fat face, next, river island, gap, new look. I see a pair , I think ' yeah they're nice' and forget that actually I've got a dozen pairs JUST freakin like them under the bed at home.

If you're size 10 and want some clothes then be my guest : )

FloraFoxley · 01/09/2013 11:23

David - I've got not much storage at all, I've had to put a chest of drawers on my landing for starters. Grin

I just love clothes- I'm really really bad for make up and beauty products as well but that's a whole other story! On the plus side, I've no other vices and its my only hobby

FloraFoxley · 01/09/2013 11:25

Travel - are you a colour consultant as your name might suggest?

Ruprekt · 01/09/2013 11:30

I was telling dh the other day about the mumsnetter who only has a few things in her wardrobe but they are quality garments and that, over time, I would like to do the same....

He thought it was a great idea and has made me promise not to buy more supermarket clothes or anything from Next!!

I have already sorted 3 bags of clothes and shoes for different places.

1 for lady at school

2 the clothes bank

3 charity shop

Dilidali · 01/09/2013 11:43

mrsdavidbowie, genius that you are!!!!!matching hangers!!! Never had them, but how brilliant!!!
Added to my closet mission along with new fragrant paper for lining the shelves!!!thank you.

MrsDavidBowie · 01/09/2013 12:01
Grin if you have designer type stuff, a dress agency should sell for a decent price.
Swipe left for the next trending thread