Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

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

Getting rid of clothes

18 replies

PastPerfect · 28/12/2014 15:45

I have wardrobes over-flowing with clothes. Some perfectly wearable, but don't fit, others perfectly wearable but a bit dated and other stuff that I wear but is past its best.

I need to get rid but find it difficult to chuck it out lest I drop a dress size, fashions suddenly change or I miss my comfiest but tattiest top.

Those of you that don't hoatd - how d'you manage it?

OP posts:
poocatcherchampion · 28/12/2014 15:48

We did this last night with dh clothes. If he hasn't worn it since we got married 4 years ago that seemed a reasonable benchmark for deciding its future.

On top of that we chucked things he doesnt really like and worn out things like work shirts. There is a dispute pile waiting for him to wonder about but hardly anything in it.

It was fun and liberating. We can see what he has excess of - t shirts and what he needs - trousers and workshirts.

It starts with getting everything out on the floor on piles.

chocnomorechoc · 28/12/2014 16:00

If I haven'y worn something for 9-12 months it just goes. But I am not a hoader by nature - rather a minimalist Grin
My wardrobe is these pretty small and I make sure that I can combine a lot of he things I have with each other (and by that way I eliminate the need to buy to much stuff). quiete liberating

LightastheBreeze · 28/12/2014 16:18

I just think to myself it's only clothes, obviously don't get rid of a favourite top but stuff that doesn't fit, give to a charity shop so someone else can enjoy it and if you lose weight treat yourself to new stuff.

Original poster
PastPerfect · 28/12/2014 16:19

poo I have a feeling my 'disputed' pile would be the most significant.

choc I dream of a wardrobe where I can put together multiple combinations out of a few well chosen items. Unfortunately despite having probably 100 tops I still have trousers that go with precisely nothing Hmm

OP posts:
chocnomorechoc · 28/12/2014 17:11

past - I was just like that but after a major clearout and really fuzzy buying (I only buy when I need and I always know what I need) I am there. key was figuring out what suits me - shape and colour wise. it is sooo much easier without all the useless stuff that does nothing but clogging up the wardrobe.

chocnomorechoc · 28/12/2014 17:14

100 tops Shock?? I have about 15 but wear them all.

maybemyrtle · 28/12/2014 17:16

I ruthlessly purge every 6 months or so - I have only ever regretted a handful of items, which I loved the idea of but never wore and wouldn't do now if I still had them. Honestly I can only even remember one of them right now (grey wool Roland Mouret Gap dress, sigh, but it was unlined and a bit scratchy, so...).

I expect you really wouldn't miss at least 75 of those 100 tops, and if the trousers truly go with nothing then they're dead in the wardrobe anyway!

Original poster
PastPerfect · 28/12/2014 17:48

Every six months is impressive Smile

I probably wouldn't miss lots of the stuff - I have loads of everything but actually stick to a very limited wardrobe.

Trouble is I'm a magpie when it comes to shopping I see stuff I like and buy it with no consideration of what it goes with

OP posts:
YoungBritishPissArtist · 28/12/2014 17:56

Get yourself on the Marie Kondo thread in Good Housekeeping. It'll change your life! Grin

Greencurtain · 28/12/2014 18:00

If you are new to de cluttering then start with anything not worn for 2 years needs to go.

Any expensive mistakes need to go. You don't want to be reminded of these mistakes!

Agree you wouldn't miss at least 3/4 of those tops.

Makes me want to go and chuck some of my clothes out!

Greencurtain · 28/12/2014 18:01

Oh yes and only go clothes shopping if you need something. Not for fun!

Original poster
PastPerfect · 28/12/2014 18:12

Well need is an interesting concept Grin clearly I have plenty to wear but I love clothes and so can always find a gap.

In terms of "decluttering" the rest of my house is immaculate - my issue is definitely related to clothes but I'll check out the housekeeping thread

OP posts:
70isaLimitNotaTarget · 28/12/2014 18:16

I am very lucky WRT work clothes- I have a uniform so no thought processes apart from it being clean.

My clothes are arranged in colour groups (white through pastels, greys, colours to black/white and black).

I buy a batch of vests and Tshirts in Sainsburys when they have a 25% off sale (to wear to-from work)
My weakness is jumpers but I've bought much less this year (a couple of Woollovers Pure New wool rather than 5 Primark acrylic numbers)

I'm going to have a sort out this week (just waiting for a Charity Bag to come through the door).

XiCi · 28/12/2014 18:36

Get them on ebay. Make some money then buy some new ones Smile

CointreauVersial · 28/12/2014 18:46

Oh I am so bad at this.

I can't bear to throw things out, as I always think I might possibly wear them again. I always imagine selling stuff on eBay but it never happens.

I do have a six foot rail in the loft, for out of season stuff, and things which I am considering getting rid of, and that is full to bursting, as is my wardrobe. DH is the same.

I've just suggested we use our week off to have a good sort out.

clary · 28/12/2014 19:29

What I do is this - when I buy something new I get rid of something old.

Something I haven't worn for a year or so; something that I no longer like; something that doesn't fit me!

I have lost weight (about a year ago) and there are lots of things that don't fit so the Need To Go. Last thing to go was a really nice Boden tunic that I used to wear to go out over leggings - but I put it on and it looked awful - just too big everywhere Grin. I will not wear it again.

If your size changes again you won't want those old clothes that don't fit now - you will want new ones. Deffo get rid of anything that doesn't fit. Anything with holes or marks (keep a couple of T shirts for when you dye your hair, if you are as messy as me :))

If you have stuff that goes with nothing it needs to go. Even if that means you need to buy a couple of pairs of classic black trousers for work (or whatever) - it's better than having 6 pairs of lime green or polka-dot pink you never wear.

I don't have a lot of wardrobe space (room for about 4 full length dresses in DH's section then a space of my own about 2 feet wide for my tops and skirts) so I have to be ruthless but it's brill! DH is a shocking hoarder (he keeps old train tickets Hmm) so I feel better for it.

judydoes · 28/12/2014 19:31

Mumsnet needs a clothes swap thread Grin .

I'm rubbish at this too. I get clothes as gifts that I won't wear, I have stuff that needs buttons sewing but I can't find the correct one or I can't be arsed and stuff that I don't feel suits me any longer...

BelindaAllWorkedOut · 28/12/2014 20:30

I put things aside, if I don't want them back in my wardrobe, then they go. I just did some ebaying of unwanted clothes and anything that didn't sell, was given away. Doing it in stages like that might help, rather than a dramatic clean out which might seem daunting.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page