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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:
freerangeeggs · 02/09/2013 13:49

I sort it into three piles - things I love to wear, things that are meh, and things that depress me.

Keep the first lot, chuck the last lot. The meh lot will require further subdividing

bunnybing · 02/09/2013 14:01

Flora - you have 50 pairs of jeans Shock how??

FloraFoxley · 02/09/2013 17:55

Umm - I bought them? Grin

Serious clothes addiction : )

HotCrossBunsForAll · 02/09/2013 21:30

Flora I'm with you - I genuinely am starting to consider that shopping might really be a problem for me. I've just moved in with a new housemate who is quite honest, and she's making me consider just why I buy so many clothes. I have a shameful amount - I'm embarrassed to a degree, but I still love shopping and buying new clothes. A ruthless cull is exactly what I need to start tackling this I think, it's just being harsh enough with myself to do it! Some good tips here though, I'm going to have a go this weekend.

BranchingOut · 02/09/2013 21:40

It might sound a bit woo, but my most successful culls began when I looked at each item of my wardrobe in turn and really listened to how it made me 'feel'. Uncomfortable? Scratchy? Guilty? Out it went.

As your wardrobe gets more compact, you can also do this by getting everything out and then only putting back the items you are really happy with.

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 02/09/2013 21:46

I'd done a cull, then I sat my DD down on my bed and did a serious cull.

Out went a velvet dress (stretchy) that I haven't even worn.
A black velvet shirt and a long maroon velvet shirt (how disco am I ) that I wore in 2007 Shock

I need to buy a couple of short sleeved crew necked jumpers but other than that, I'm ok.
I kept the brand new jeans because I will fit them Sad

FloraFoxley · 02/09/2013 21:57

Hot cross - I've filled three bin bags! Problem is it jut makes a little bit of room for more shopping!

superlambanana · 02/09/2013 22:45

Flora, I am your size and would gladly help you declutter Grin

NotAsTired · 02/09/2013 23:20

Me too Flora. I think we need to form an orderly queue at Flora's. Grin

Perplexing · 02/09/2013 23:32

freerange - but how do you subdivide the 'meh' stuff - this is what taxes me the most. Confused I usually end up keeping all meh. surveys bulging ikea bag on floor

Would you counsel keeping only top 50% of meh...25%.... etc??

starfishmummy · 02/09/2013 23:41

I have been thinking about doing this but then I read about people who have fifty pairs of jeans and think that compared to them I really have the minimalist wardrobe already!!

CointreauVersial · 02/09/2013 23:45

All you ruthless cullers - don't you ever regret throwing something out? Say you buy a new skirt, and think "oh, I have the perfect top to wear this.....oh bother, I culled it."

That's my fear, anyway. I keep all sorts of "just in case" stuff.

I agree about the bobbled and ill-fitting stuff, but I can't bring myself to chuck something perfectly good, but not worn for a while. Somebody shake me.

aftermay · 03/09/2013 00:02

CV - I'd been keeping clothes for 'gardening', 'around the house', 'just in case', 'decorating' etc. They tend to migrate from those categories to the usually worn. Because they're comfy and dependable and I know them so well. No more! They are now bagged and in the boot of the car. Away with them. I'm left with dozens and hundreds of items still. Must try harder.

Dilidali · 03/09/2013 07:52

I see it as a game. Which puzzle fits with which. I enjoy having a little project on the side. I have one amazing black skirt(new purchase) and I plan to wear it:
To the work x-mas do
To various visits that I need to make
Going out with the girls

I have the perfect top in mind, boat neck, sleeveless, fitted, very plain.
What will make it suitable for each occassion is the jacket/cardigan/scarf I am going to wear it with and the jewellery and shoes.

But that's it, I am not buying millions of tops.

Perplexing · 03/09/2013 09:24

Cointreau - Yeah, I get that all the time! Which is why I have said bulging ikea bag of uncertain destination, not really proper culling.

Sod's law dictates (for me at any rate) that the moment something is removed from the wardrobe, it will be just what you need to complete an outfit. Confused Confused

Perplexing · 03/09/2013 09:28

Also, it's difficult culling when you just have too much stuff...

It's not that I have stuff which doesn't fit / flatter etc; they are all pretty good. I have simply just bought too many items for one person to wear / use.

I am like "50 jeans" poster - it's tricky deciding which of the 25 or so perfectly valid tops you should keep.

Space is an issue for me. I have so much in storage (drawers/ cupboards etc) that I forget I have it. I only rediscover it when having a cull - which then leads me to think oh - hey that's pretty nice I'll wear it.

I don't think I'll ever be truly sorted :-(

MissFenella · 03/09/2013 09:53

after a revamp I hang everything with the hanger hook facing the wrong way. When I wear something and hang back up it goes the right way. Then after 6 months I can see what I have not worn.

CointreauVersial · 03/09/2013 13:09

Oooh, great tip MissF!

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 03/09/2013 17:30

I very rarely regret getting rid of stuff, CV. If it really was 'the perfect top for X' or 'the perfect skirt for Y' I'd have been making better use of it already. The fact is, it WASN'T, however fondly I may remember it. If it HAD been, it would have survived the pre-cull transition period and been used! :)

colette · 03/09/2013 17:40

getting in the back of the queue at Flora's .....

FoundAChopinLizt · 03/09/2013 17:43

I have half a single wardrobe, two big drawers and two small drawers. The small wardrobe means I have to be selective. I bought a cardi today, so I will be throwing out an old fleece.

I have four pairs of jeans, three crop jeans, two skirts, one casual dress, two posh dresses, five long sleeve jersey tops, three shirts, eight short sleeve summer tops, three tshirts, three vests, two light cardio, two medium weight cards, two fleeces, running gear, two wool coats, a waterproof jacket, underwear, scarves.

I do try to buy things which are flexible and go with what I have already. Where possible I buy good quality second hand classic stuff eg my cardi today is pure wool, classic, navy just needs new buttons to unfrump it.

FoundAChopinLizt · 03/09/2013 17:46

To answer the question, sorry for rambling

Tip look at your stuff-would you lend or give it to a friend? If not it's either tatty or old, or too special to lend!

SunshineMMum · 03/09/2013 17:55

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

freerangeeggs · 03/09/2013 18:27

Perplexing, the 'meh' pile is the hardest. I usually chuck most of it tbh. I find that pile usually includes staples like vest tops and boring work clothes. I try to find excuses to get rid of things, rather than find excuses to keep them. I'll keep things like vest tops if they're still in good condition, but tops/trousers/dresses that are a bit shabby need to go.

I'm naturally a bit of a hoarder, so I just think about whether I would feel good wearing those clothes. I read somewhere that you should "never wear anything that doesn't make you feel like a goddess". That's extremely cringey and I never feel like a goddess really but I get the point. Clothes should make you feel good about yourself. If the meh stuff doesn't contribute to that, and doesn't have an extremely specific purpose ('I always wear those leggings to the gym') it goes.

I put things I've decided against into my 'eBay wardrobe' (yes it needs a wardrobe Blush). It takes me a while to put things online, so if I really want to wear seething I can fish it out. I never do though. I forget the crappy stuff once it's out of my everyday wardrobe.

MissDD1971 · 03/09/2013 19:48

Anything you haven't worn (e.g. summer dresses since last summer) since previous season I put to one side. Stuff that was also on trend and you now either don't like it or don't wear it.

Impulse buys.

I've also made a list of shapes which suit me and I will wear (e.g. pencil skirts), how many I need (got 3 I think, different fabrics and 2 same colour but different fabric) etc.

I also make a list of what I need (navy blazer got in Zara), and what I may need for work (shift dresses, shirts) - e.g. I either buy or don't bin those.

My mum for example when she retired she had a lot of fitted shirts which aren't any use for her in retirement. so she got rid of those.

You need to think of what you wear on a day to day basis and what items (evening etc) you would like to keep.

I tend to go through and donate (don't bother ebay) clothes to charity shops every 6 months now. I don't do a huge amount but am planning to get rid of some coats (have about 10 to my shame, maybe more!).

Things that I like and investments for me are H&M Limited Leather Biker Jacket (it suits me) and blue Zara floral blazer. Worn both those to death and imo not likely to date.