My wardrobe is utterly depressing.

[BroccoliSpears]

It is stuffed full of cheap, shabby clothes that are too small for me and tshirts that aren't long enough. And mini-skirts. And horrid coloured trousers. And bobbly cardigans. When I do find something that fits and suits me I wear it utterly to death until it's a drained old rag that I still think looks as good as it did 7 years ago when I first got it. And (those of a sensitive nature look away now) when things tear I mend them. Not even particularly well.

Every so often I go rummaging though and astound myself by coming up with a stylish outfit that I had no idea existed. I'm sure there might be the bones of a reasonable wardrobe hidden in there but it's very well hidden.

And I rarely iron things before hanging them up so now getting everything ironed would be a gargantuan task.

And I have things in there that I'm only keeping to ebay when I get around to it.

And somewhere in the depths of my wardrobe's gullet is my favourite bra and I can't find it.

I can't afford new clothes very often at all. I tend to buy second hand or make do with what I've got. Unfortunately, what I've got is the wardrobe of a skinflint teenager two sizes smaller than me and a completely different (pre-baby) shape.

You should chuck everything that you don't like/don't wear. Your wardrobe is pretending that you have loads of clothes.

Strip it back to see what you really wear, then chuck more stuff that doesn't actually do anything for you.

Better to have a small amount of flattering clothes than a wardrobe full of horrors.

I have too many clothes. Some don't fit, some were cheap after I had the baby and was BFing. Can't bare to throw perfectly good clothes out so they just stay there....

go thro the entire lot, taking out whatever you haven't worn for two years, and then see what you have.

also take out anything that is too small (don't get rid of, just box up to put into the attic), also do the same with summer clothes so for now you just have the winter stuff, and then pile up things that need mending/altering/dry cleaning/ironing, and from that you should have a clear idea of what is wearable now.(you may even find that fave bra you are after).

I am absolutely convinced that NOTHING in my wardrobe fits me. I have cleared out and stripped it back but need to keep something to wear - so I have a rotation of 3 pairs of jeans (1 pair slightly too tight, 1 pair waaay too big) and a couple of jumpers.

Depresses me everytime I think about the spare cash I used to have to spend on lovely well fitting clothes

Clear out what doesn't fit and organise the rest, including sorting out and dealing with what needs eg dry cleaning, mending, altering etc.
Anything for ebay put in a separate place.
When you ebay these things you can use the money you make for buying new clothes.
Then put tops and bottoms together into outfits (take photos on a digi camera if in doubt as you can download them and then decide what works and what doesnt).
Can help to keep things together hung as outfits in your wardrobe.

Then work out what you need, write a detailed list and hit the sales.
H&M is often a good place to shop generally if you are broke, as they have lots of decent clothes at low prices which don't look cheap and nasty.

Oh sound advice, I had a half hearted go at clearing out. But I too have the huge way too big jeans the too tight jeans, the stained tops and lots of stuff I won't wear.

So wardrobe clear out "take 2" def a job to do while the sales are still on.

Definately, there are some good bargains out there, but do think you end up with a much better result if you have a detailed, specific list of things you need. Focuses the mind and stops you buying lots of useless tat (voice of experience )

You're right. A sort out is needed.

I'll put away things that are too small.
I'll separate to ebay pile.

Then I'll sort through everything saying "I'll keep that but just for walking the dog"... and end up STILL wearing tatty rubbish!!

You can still have nice things for walking the dog BS, such as jeans/cords which FIT and a decent fitted fleece etc.
H&M has decent flared joggers with hooded tops in purple and chocolate which are not pricey but look decent on.
Will make you feel better to wear things which actually fit.
Think you should bin anything tatty and give away things which don't fit - unless you are likely to shrink back, in which case save the things but store them away in a suitcase somewhere.