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Original poster

Have you ever had a 'cull' and regretted it?

81 replies

humptyspartyhat · 09/08/2021 22:55

Had a massive cull of my clothes over lockdown last year. Gave about 15 bags to my cousin of jumpers, coats, Christmas jumpers, dresses, bags.. you name it. I loved the space but now I only have 3 jumpers, 1 scarf, hardly any bags and I got rid of a coat which I regret I did ask her for it back straight away but I think she's misplaced it. Massing kicking myself.
Anyone else made the same mistake?

OP posts:

DramaAlpaca · 09/08/2021 22:58

Yes, and it always involves shoes. I will regret forever getting rid of a particular pair of shoes and a pair of boots

SocksAndTheCity · 10/08/2021 02:26

I got rid of my favourite summer dress a few years ago because I was convinced I'd never fit into it again (TopShop size 8 from the mid nineties) and as it turned out I would have fit it fine last summer, if maybe a little snugly. I want to shut my head in a door every time I think about it

Darklane · 10/08/2021 07:37

Oh yes. I got rid of lots of things that I mourn now. High street things but much better quality than what is stocked now as it was mostly natural fibres, wool, silk, cotton & British made so beautiful quality compared to the poorly made, synthetic fibre things now.

PeppermintGum · 10/08/2021 07:40

Yes, lots of things! In fairness, OP, yours does sound like a pretty dramatic cull!

Tittyfilarious81 · 10/08/2021 07:46

Yes many times over the years and that's why I do it a little different now. If I have a cull I bag it all up and then I put it somewhere else so in the garage ,loft even at my mum's house and it stays there for months just to make sure I really want rid of it

VictoriousPlum · 10/08/2021 08:52

I have, yes. I have wasted lots of money on ebay buying things back, including my wedding shoes . I have enjoyed replenishing my wardrobe with a few new things this year though. I do think there's a reason I culled though. I was in a bit of a rut.

magbob · 10/08/2021 08:57

I got rid of all my Dr Martens. I had boots and shoes in all sorts of colours. When my children were young I felt it took too much time unlacing and lacing them (!!!!!!!) so dumped them all. That, together with taking all my vinyls to the tip, is my greatest life regret.

Original poster

humptyspartyhat · 10/08/2021 13:57

Im glad it's not just me! I think I had too much time on my hands during lockdown and just went OTT with it

OP posts:

Howshouldibehave · 10/08/2021 13:58

The only thing I’ve ever regretted giving away was my DMs from the 90s. Goodness knows what possessed me!

PJday41 · 10/08/2021 14:01

Nope. Never. I've only ever really had two big culls. About three years ago when I accepted I wasn't losing weight and bought clothes in my actual size. I got rid of a load last winter when I realised I was WFH forever and ditched my smart clothes I only ever wore in the office.

Nowisthemonthofmaying · 10/08/2021 14:01

I have had many culls over the years, including one about 6 years ago when I kondo'd my wardrobe and got rid of 10 binbags of clothes 😱

Fortunately I regret very little of it but occasionally I do think if something I got rid of and wish I still had it... It happens less often than you would think though! I think it's because if I really love something I'll keep it even if it doesn't fit. I do regret no longer having my snow boots though, and there was the perfect soft camo jacket I got from the army surplus... Oh well!

PearlFriday · 10/08/2021 14:04

To be honest, yes.

PearlFriday · 10/08/2021 14:05

Even though i love the idea of a more minimal collection of clothes

Freshprincess · 10/08/2021 14:06

Yes. 6 months into mat leave I decided I’d never fit into any of my old clothes again and gave away loads. I’m slimmer now than I was pre babies.

I probably wouldn’t want most of it now, But Every single summer I pine for the most perfect denim shorts that ever existed and a silk shirt that fitted like it was made for me.

I also dumped loads of smart business attire when we went to casual dress only to revert back a few years later.

notacooldad · 10/08/2021 14:10

Yes loads of times.
However one time I had a loads of tops in my car to go the charity shop at some point. I was working with some teens and I'm not going into reasons but one girl got absolutely drenched when we were out. I said she could use one of the tops that was in my car. It looked great and I realised I didn't know why I was throwing it away. I reclaimed and 4 years after I still wear this top a lot!!

BlackSwan · 10/08/2021 14:11

You mean that pang of regret when you think of something you might wear & you realise you got rid of it? Only momentarily... then logic kicks in & I admit to myself the item wasn't that great.

TableNiner · 10/08/2021 14:18

Basically no. The only thing I regret is a pair of skinnies which I’d already bought a duplicate of but they’ve never fit as well.

I do sometimes put stuff in a bag and get it out a few years later and think ‘oh that’s nice’ but usually this doesn’t last and my first instinct was right. And I haven’t remembered or missed the stuff in the bag.

But you do seem to have got rid of a lot of stuff!

SirenSays · 10/08/2021 14:49

I always seem to fall in love with clothes I've previously hated so now I'm reluctant to throw any away. I probably only have about 20 items I actually like to wear and that fit me properly but I that "just in case" mentality keeps me holding onto the rest.

Whattodoaboutnothing · 10/08/2021 14:55

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

cicatrix1 · 10/08/2021 16:20

Yes big leather belts from the late 80s.I would love to have them now.

nordica · 10/08/2021 16:29

Not really, but I never do it quite as drastically as you OP. I've given away bags and bags full to charity and sold lots online too. Mostly the items I get rid of are things I never wore much anyway so I don't miss them.

Slightly regret getting some of my favourite skirts taken in by a seamstress and made about two sizes smaller - I'm now too fat to fit into them but would have fitted into the old size.

1990s · 10/08/2021 16:37

Never. I've got rid of about 75% of the stuff I own ( I had a LOT), and I can't even remember what 99% of it was, and I've never regretted any of it.

Marriedtothesilverfox · 10/08/2021 16:41

If I have space and am unsure I keep it

Floisme · 10/08/2021 16:45

Yes loads of times, even though some of them were due to house moves and therefore unavoidable.

Admittedly there are also times when I've kept something too long, got it out again and thought, 'um no'.

So I know it's not easy to predict, but I'm always when I see the advice to get rid of anything you've not worn for 6 months. I've reworn things after 20 years and they're far better quality than anything I could replace them with today.

Ninkanink · 10/08/2021 16:50

I sold one of my Mulberry bags a few months ago. Pristine, literally looked as if I’d just walked out of the shop with her.

Missed her so much I bought the same model back on eBay. In very nice but nowhere near excellent condition. And the grain on the leather is all wrong compared to my previous bag, although I’ll get used to that, I guess. So that was fun.

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