Want to start again

[hazelgrey]

I would love to empty my whole wardrobe into too many to admit black bags and take them all to the charity shop

Start from scratch with clothes that - fit me, suit me and I will wear !

I don't have a clue where to start and would end up buying the exact same clothes again , ending up with far too many things that I can only hope to fit into , probably don't flatter me or look ridiculous

Has anyone done this ? Where did you start ?
Can anyone advise

I haven't started completely from scratch, but over the last few years I have cleared out clutter, and started buying more consciously - though the capsule wardrobe life will never be for me. These are tips that work for me to keep me on track.

• only buy something if it fits immaculately, or I would be prepared to get it tailored. I had numerous things in my wardrobe that I liked and bought even though they didn't fit, so I never wore as I didn't feel good in them because they never looked right.
• only buy if I like something more than X number in my wardrobe already. For example with T-shirts that number is 6, I do a clothes wash once a week so if a t shirt is my 9th favourite when am I wearing it? The number varies by item, but you get the idea.
• buy fewer items but better quality. I fully appreciate that this is a privileged position and not everyone is in the position to do this, but I have found better quality items stay looking nicer for longer.
• before buying items think about how they fit within my wardrobe and how I would style into whole outfits.
• think how items fit into my lifestyle, do I really need another pair of heels if I rarely wear them?

I don't know if a good way for you to start would be to look at fashion bloggers to find styles that inspire and excite you, you might find one that really resonates or a few that you take different things from. Then make a list of what you need in your wardrobe. X trousers, X jeans, X skirts.... This should give you direction so you buy with thought and consideration of what you want and need and will hopefully get you out of bad habits?

I totally agree with lots you've said there
I've been so guilty of the " oh I love that , it's in the sale , yes it might be a size too small or 2 sizes too big but I might lose weight and I like things baggy " to find a year later it's never been worn

Or going mental in Primark to get home and realise actually I only really like 1 out of the 5 things I've bought but " you know , I might wear it one day "

It's got to stop lol
I currently live in about 3 outfits

First off, stop shopping like that! Be more, sorry to sound w#%^*, thoughtful!
No one needs to buy stuff they don’t like, stuff that doesn’t fit!

Don’t throw the lot, but get started. Sell, gift, toss what you will never wear immediately.

Start getting a list together of what you need. What are the three outfits you live in? Pick your favourite and duplicate it, in a better fit, better quality, cooler version!

as a blogger I like said "if it doesn't fit and doesn't make me feel fit, it's a no" which I guess is a very simplified version of my philosophy

Where does one actually find these better quality items?

I can find more expensive items which may or may not actually be better made or tailored, and knitwear obviously turns from poly to wool/cashmere at higher price points, but what shops sell eg: eight+ colours of thick opaque unpatterned t-shirts, ideally in actual cotton (not crumply linen mix), reliably every single year? Including various neutral colours other than black and white for the ubiquitous Mumsnet "wear all high-quality neutrals and leather sandals" type advice threads.

I know what I want to buy and believe I could afford it but can't actually find stockists.

Hazelgrey: I effectively did this in maternity as all my maternity clothes were either black or white (plus some dark indigo jeans) and nothing else fitted me!
Pros: I always looked put together
It was nice that everything could go with everything else
Cons: I washed it all a lot as it was only a smaller capsule wardrobe so it all started to show wear after six months constant use.
I got heartily sick of every item after that long too.

I totally get that! I find having a new pair of jeans and some really good t-shirts (the M&S linen mix ones are amazing, feel like Whistles), nice trainers and a couple of really nice jumpers, and then you're sorted for day time stuff, then a couple of dresses which really fit you and make you feel fantastic. If you can manage it a pair of boots and you're sorted.

@BestZebbie colorfulstandard.com

Thank you all
Need to actually do something about this now
I'm wasting so much money on clothes I'm not wearing
Maybe it's my weight I'm not happy with
If I sort that first I may actually like some of the many stuff I have
Thank you all

@hazelgrey

I totally agree with lots you've said there I've been so guilty of the " oh I love that , it's in the sale , yes it might be a size too small or 2 sizes too big but I might lose weight and I like things baggy " to find a year later it's never been worn

Or going mental in Primark to get home and realise actually I only really like 1 out of the 5 things I've bought but " you know , I might wear it one day "

It's got to stop lol
I currently live in about 3 outfits

This is completely me

@bookish83 it's frustrating isn't it

Makes me feel good buying something I like , it could cost 10 quid or 100 quid , then it will just sit there in the wardrobe , forever 🙄

Stop writing my thoughts!

Yes I love the buying. I've gained a lot of weight in recent years, and lost my style. I genuinely don't know what suits me now as my shape is so different. Plus my confidence. I see so many people who are a bigger size to me and they look amazing, and I honestly can't even try and replicate.

I dream of getting rid of everything on a regular basis but then feel like I can't buy quality stuff as either I want to lose weight or I don't feel what is in the shops suit me. I also darent even try and get in items like jeans or fitted clothes either right now x

I know someone who did this. She got a new job and saved up as much money as she could, then went to Reiss and M&S and bought all new clothes. Even underwear. She had been out of work for so long and all of her clothes reminded her of being poor.

When she got back from her shopping trip, she literally put her underwear in the bin and bagged up her old clothes and took them to the charity shop.

@bookish83

Stop writing my thoughts!

Yes I love the buying. I've gained a lot of weight in recent years, and lost my style. I genuinely don't know what suits me now as my shape is so different. Plus my confidence. I see so many people who are a bigger size to me and they look amazing, and I honestly can't even try and replicate.

I dream of getting rid of everything on a regular basis but then feel like I can't buy quality stuff as either I want to lose weight or I don't feel what is in the shops suit me. I also darent even try and get in items like jeans or fitted clothes either right now x

Totally agree ! I see women out and about who are similar age , my size , bigger - they look fantastic ! Clothes fit them , are flattering , look stylish

I look like the Michelin man's granny

For plain great quality t shorts, jumpers etc look at Lands End and/or Uniqlo

What I would do is take every single thing out of your wardrobe. Then pick each item up and ask

Does it fit?
Does it suit my lifestyle?*
Does it go with at least 2 other things to make an outfit?

If the answer to any of these is No then ditch it

*I read a great blog once which stressed you should have clothes for the life you have not the one you wish you had - life’s too bloody short to hang on to things just in case, dress for NOW

I have stopped shopping, had a big clear out, and am currently doing a season of Project 333.

This has really helped focus my mind onto what I actually like and wear.

You might find that you already have some clothes you love, but they're lost in the clutter. There's nothing wrong with wearing a small amount of outfits on repeat if you really love them.

I think that the stopping shopping part is key though, it gives you time to really think about what you like and need. I think, as you say, if you chuck everything and go shopping, you could just end up repeating the same mistakes.

Nice thread and lots said already is really resonating with me, especially the idea to choose your favourite couple of outfits and replicate them.

I find the things that get worn most for me are:
Well fitting jeans - I like M&S and Levi's
Fitted but not clingy black t-shirts - mine are from Jigsaw
Black cotton jumpers from Boden
Ankle boots - Clarks and Seasalt seen to work best for me
I then have some dresses, mostly Fatface and Boden but I choose very carefully and stick generally to black or black with a pattern
A denim mini, a faux leather mini and a faux leather pencil skirt
Leather jackets
I then like to have a couple of coats and scarves to 'lift' all the black - a bright one/a checked one etc.
I have lots of other things but these are the ones I reach for again and again in A/W.

I did this a few years ago. For Christmas dh gave me some
Money to buy new clothes so I made the poor man sit and watch me try every item on in my wardrobe.
Worked out eg wrap dresses look awful on me, colours that do / don’t work, sizes, types of styles etc. Was fab. Now I just buy stuff that I know will work.

I think it’s a bit dangerous to get rid of everything in one go as there’s not a guarantee that you’d find lots of stuff you like to replace it with, I find I’ve accumulated my best things overyears. I’d be mortified if I lost my wardrobe as the things I have really suit and would not be easy to replace. I found lockdown really useful for having time to evaluate what is really working. A garment that is a good fit, colour, reasonably on trend and fits into the rest of your wardrobe makes it easy but it’s so hard to end up with not that, especially if shopping as a hobby.

Have you heard of project 333? I did it a while ago. You empty out your while wardrobe, including shoes, coats, bags, jewellery and pick just 33 (hence the name) items to wear for 3 months. The rest goes into storage. I found it really helpful. I found I really only wore certain things (casual wear for me). And I was then able to go and sell things like fancy dresses and coats each I just don't wear. I don't stick to 33 items anymore but I have a much more sensible wardrobe now. Mainly jeans and tops. I have about 3 or 4 dresses too for special occasions or really warm weather when I don't want to wear jeans. I gave a lot of nice stuff to the charity shop and they were really grateful, which was lovely.

I also now only have I think three bags and an everyday backpack for groceries, dc stuff on days out etc. So that's a lot less than before.

Have you tried the coat-hanger method?
Basically take everything out of your wardrobe, check for what is stained/torn/unwearable and get rid of it.
Put everything else on coat hangers and make sure all the hangers are facing the same way.
After you wear an item, launder it, then put back in the wardrobe with the hanger facing the opposite way.
Eventually you will see which items you're just never wearing, because their hangers will be facing the old way, donate those to the charity shop.

When considering purchasing new clothes, think "Just because it's there, doesn't mean I have to buy it", do you look good in it or just so-so?
If it doesn't make you smile as soon as you put it on, it's not for you.

There is an absolutely brilliant thread along these lines, called something like ‘finally winning in the pursuit of elegance’ I’ll try and find it...

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/style_and_beauty/3797652-thanks-to-s-b-i-m-finally-winning-in-the-pursuit-of-elegance

but what shops sell eg: eight+ colours of thick opaque unpatterned t-shirts, ideally in actual cotton (not crumply linen mix), reliably every single year? Including various neutral colours

I read this in a blog so I'm not sure how true it is, but if it's true then maybe you need to change your mindset. The blog said only fast fashion operates this way and quality clothing brands only make an item in one or maybe two colours. If that's true then you're looking for the impossible, wanting a quality item but in multiple colours. You would instead have to look across a few different brands/stores to find all the colours of t-shirt you want, if you want quality.

@InPraiseOfLadyGrey not true - as I says upthread Uniqlo and Lands End are both very reliable fur great quality, last for years, plain basics