Anyone else thinking this might be a good time to just fuck it all in the bin and start again?

[BasinHaircut]

My wardrobe is an absolute shit show. A complete mish mash of stuff I hate that I pretty much own out of necessity. I’d say there are are only about 10 items (outside of my gym clothes) that I like.

My underwear and even socks are atrocious. Due to foot issues over the past few years I don’t even really own any shoes expect a couple of generic ‘dressy’ pairs that I would have bought for a wedding or similar.

Given that I’m unlikely to go anywhere in the next 6 months, I am working from home now and have been since March, I’m considering resorting to just wearing active wear full time, treating myself to a few new bits, a job load of plain pants and socks and then just throwing all of my clothes apart from those 10-odd things that I like away.

Am I mad?

Totally do it!! I had to clear out my wardrobe due to moving house, and I can now wear things that I actually like every day. And, from looking at those, I can tell which few things I will add.

If you can manage with those few things and have the budget to slowly build up a wardrobe you live, do it!

Yeah, I just have to do more washing now, but I actually like what I wear! It's lovely opening a cupboard/drawer/wardrobe and just picking something out.

Not quite that, but I am thinking of reclaiming my funkier, punkier side. I sort of gave it up 8 years ago when I started my current job, which required smart dress in the office, and gradually I stopped buying certain things and my wardrobe got a bit more middle-of-the-road, although still fairly colourful by most people's standards. I bought a dress during lockdown that my DH comment was more like I used to wear when we first met (although I think still appropriate for a 40-something) and he really loved it - more importantly I love it too, so it got me thinking I could re-tune a bit now.

I mean, it'll be 4-6 months before I'm back in the office, then it'll only be a few days a week, so I might as well drop the trying to be more formal!

I would imagine I can manage with what I will have left for the next few months at least.

Home all day wearing gym leggings, sports bra and hoodie.

I’ll keep a couple of pairs of skinny jeans a couple of shirts, couple of jumpers. I’ve got 2 jumper dresses and tights to go with.

Will replace all of my pants and socks and maybe get a couple of new bras for Xmas. Treat myself to some boots.

Will just need to keep in mind I will need clothes for spring when it starts to warm up again.

Oh god just writing that down proves that is more than enough and the rest of it is just making me sad and getting rid I can see what I actually need! Bras and boots!

Right, someone get Marie Kondo, this shit brings me no joy!

Do it. Really nice socks are bringing me lots of joy at the moment (do I sound like a sad case? ) - I live in active wear too but treated myself to some Rototo socks recently, I never thought my feet could feel so happy!

Yep do it.

I'm on a diet, lost a couple of dress sizes and emptied my wardrobe into charity bags.

I now have a grand total of 3 pairs of joggers, 3 hoodies and 5 t-shirts.

7 pairs of socks, 7 pairs of knickers, 2 pairs of pjs and 2 bras.

That's it, when I downsize to the point the above are unwearable I'll buy new cheap replacements until I hit my goal size.

It makes getting dressed really easy as I have very little choice in what I wear now.

Absolutely do it!
My clothes were like that. I got rid of all but a very few to keep me going and then went on a massive diet. I've had to buy a new wardrobe and this time I've picked carefully, made sure things go with things and now actually CHOOSE what to wear rather than reaching for leggings or gym kit. I've bought more than I should tbh, but my wardrobe sparks joy for the first time in forever.

I’m doing it. This weekend. It’s happening.

I'm going to do the same.

I just need to work out what I want to look like and how to go about it.

@BasinHaircut yay! Post a photo of your 'keep' and 'Chuck' piles! ( obviously you will recycle/ charity shop everything)

Do it. Get rid. I've pared my wardrobe right down, it's brilliant. Getting dressed is so much easier!

Decluttering is very therapeutic, go for it 😊

I've been considering this too-

I'd like to get back to the position of actually 'needing' something - at the moment I am keeping stuff to make do - but not enjoying the breadth of all the clutter I have kept!

@Sooverthemill I will!

Although they might not be quite as impressive as you are expecting as I did Kondo the shit out of my wardrobe about a year ago anyway, although not quite as brutally as I should have and I have continued to buy crap I don’t really like since then clearly.

I will admit my summer clothes are also packed away so it’s not everything, but I might go through those too now whilst I don’t need them, rather than when it warms up, as it might be more effective now! Although I do cull them more often and effectively that autumn/winter/spring stuff generally.

Yes I will recycle/charity shop stuff mostly. I also have a friend who is very good at only wearing second hand and she will have a sort through first too.

This is great OP. I’ve done similar and been delighted. The only thing I’d say is to try on what you’re getting rid of an assess it. Too big too small too baggy too formal awful colour etc. I found there were elements of clothes I had binned that I liked but other aspects put me off. It was good to do a mini assessment of each to stop me buying the same again or not buying something I might need.
Enjoy THE PURGE!

@crochetmonkey74 exactly! What’s the point in keeping it all if you don’t like it/won’t wear it anyway!

I ordered a few bits from that fabletics website last night which (if it fits) would mean I have 4 days worth of gym stuff to rotate plus a couple of more ‘leisure wear’ type tracksuits which I plan to live in for the foreseeable.

I know buying more stuff is not really in the spirit but if I’m throwing all of my clothes away I do actually need them else I’ll have literally nothing to throw on. I am a gym/yoga bunny anyway so they will not be wasteful purchases, they will be well used either way!

Do it!
Do it!
When you start buying things, can I suggest you pick an item you already own & love, and build an outfit around it. Make sure you have everything, including shoes, coat & jewelry if you wear it.
Then see how you can use what you already have to build another outfit
Otherwise you'll just end up with a load of mismatched stuff. I speak from bitter experience!

I’ve done that a few times for various reasons and it really works. Best tip I ever got about how to do it was to put everything you intend to get rid off in a bag/bags and leave it by the front door for a week. That way if you have a change of heart about an item a few days later you can rummage through the bag snd retrieve it. Saves chucking baby out with the bath water.

Great idea @KedsAndTubeSocks and I plan to do something like that.

I wish I didn’t have to work and could get straight to it but it will have to wait til the weekend. And after we put the house back in order after the chaos of decorating our bedroom for the past 3 weeks

Def do it. After a bout of illness I culled my entire wardrobe and now have an ebay acquired capsule wardrobe. Everything I own I actually like and it fits me. If I go off it I ebay it. Its so much easier picking what to wear in the morning and I can actually see what I own. I replaced all undies too although I need a bra fitting. Go for it it's liberating xx

@ZazieRoses I missed your post earlier!

If I leave it where I can retrieve something I know I’ll end up getting bits back out just in case.

There are 2 items - a cardigan and a sweater - both positively historic and really should have gone in the bin years ago but they do actually bring me joy. I am going to justify keeping them by demoting them to lounge/pyjama wear. My friends even comment on the cardi that it’s awful and have tried to even buy me replacements but I LOVE it!

Everything else I’m planning to be brutal with.

I done this a few months ago! Didn’t do my socks at the time but I’m sick of pairing various designs so I’m chucking them all out in favourite of black, grey and white socks

Ah, I see @BasinHaircut. I find it too easy to be really brutal but then end up missing one or two things a few months later because I’ve pruned back so much I’ve nothing with sentimental value left!

Keep items of sentimental value, but honestly, a capsule wardrobe is very liberating. Once you know what suits you and your lifestyle, just pare it back to the essentials.