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Original poster

When do you retire your clothes?

47 replies

iloveallcats3 · 15/06/2023 05:57

I have quite a few items of clothing, so I don't feel right buying new things when I have a lot already. I think I'll operate a one in one out policy.

But when do you get rid/ recycle/ donate/ sell your clothes on? Is it when you are bored of them, or do you wear them until they are worn out?

OP posts:
Teapleasemilknosugar · 15/06/2023 06:01

It's both for me! I have some clothes with ripped hems from extensive wear and I'll still wear them 🙈 they end up heading for the recycling fabric bin eventually. I've also got some clothes I hardly wear (though few admittedly) and have gone off, so they go to the charity shop. If I haven't worn something in 12months, it goes.

Monty27 · 15/06/2023 06:16

One in one out policy here. I've moved to a smaller house recently and I'm still taking stuff to the charity shop as I've unpacked my summer clothes and simply need to make space. I cut them by about 50% when moving. Winter clothes were squeezed in having dramatically cut those too.
The less storage I have the less clothes I'm prepared to keep is my new motto. I'm getting used to being ruthless and keep what will be worn regularly.

JMAngel1 · 15/06/2023 06:23

I will give to charity if I haven’t worn something for around 2 years usually.

Will usually bin anything that is torn/stained/terribly bobbly.

I get very attached to clothing though - I have a favourite black top that I’ve had for around 5 years that really should be binned but I know I won’t be able to find a replacement so I still wear it at least once weekly.

I definitely don’t do one out one in as I love the majority of my wardrobe.

Yetisrus · 15/06/2023 06:25

Every so often I have a massive clear out, but I tend to wear clothes until they get holes then if I can't fix them they get chucked.

Possster · 15/06/2023 06:29

It's mainly about fit for me. Some things I should never have bought because they never fit quite right (ahem zara tops). They get taken to charity after a year or two when I've never worn them.
Others, either because they've become too revealing as I've got older (mini dresses) or plain too small or big. I yoyo in weight - due to mental health issues I sometimes drop a full dress size and a half.

Theblackdogagain · 15/06/2023 06:36

Either when they have holes/stains etc or when I realise I'm not hoping to wear them because of fit or style. I don't have lots of clothes and that suits me.

Holly60 · 15/06/2023 06:47

I get rid of clothes if I'm not wearing them. I only replace clothes I've taken to charity.

I love clothes so if an item isn't working for me I'll get rid of it easily.

GnomeDePlume · 15/06/2023 06:51

My clothes are in a hierarchy

Suitable for the office
Suitable for houseguests to see
Suitable for the allotment

After that they are rags

wheresmymojo · 15/06/2023 07:29

If something has holes in but I still like it or it's comfortable it becomes 'house clothes' (if I love it then I'll repair the holes and wear outside the house longer).

So I'll still work from home, walk the dog, etc in them until they become so worn that I'd look bizarre if I had to nip out.

I do also just go off things though and they get sold on eBay or given to charity.

Ambi · 15/06/2023 07:32

I keep a bin bag in my wardrobe, if I put something on that doesn't feel good, either fit or scruffy etc it goes in the bag and when full goes to the clothes bank at the tip.

Zipps · 15/06/2023 08:17

I edit my clothes quite regularly so anything not working anymore, stained, ripped, too worn, uncomfortable etc doesn't languish. I never have a massive clear out because I don't have that many clothes anymore, generally love everything I have and am really fussy about what I let in. That way it's not a giant task but an ongoing tweak.
I gave up holding on to unworn items a while ago, there's a reason I haven't worn them and send them off to the charity (if I've left it to late to return), no matter how much I wore them, how recent a purchase they were. Mistakes happen sometimes and money wasted but tend to be less and less.
I no longer wear something I don't really like these days. I mean, wtf? It's not a good feeling is it?
Clothes should work for you and make you feel comfortable as well as confident.
Anyway I don't have anything I don't really like now.
I buy several items a year, often only one thing at a time and rarely impulse buy. I've bought a few new items already this year, mainly replacing basics, but don't need any new summer clothes so won't shop until the end of Summer/Autumn now and I'll have a list.

If I buy something new I don't force myself to part with something for the sake of it.
I honestly only have best stuff and really good basics now, they all fit well are in my style, kept in great condition and they all get worn.

EvenmoreDisorganised · 15/06/2023 08:25

When I honestly know I won’t wear them again, whether that is because they are falling to pieces or my tastes have changed, or they never really fitted in the first place. So I have a mini clear out to charity once a year or so for the things I realise I have stopped wearing and unlikely to go back to. Things that have become tatty I just get rid of as and when, I keep a bag for rags in my car boot and when it is full that goes to the charity shop too.

LadyLapsang · 15/06/2023 08:52

I do look after things and have some clothes and shoes that are over 20 years old - eg. loafers from Russell and Bromley. I am happy when I have loved something and it just wears out - sad to see it go but it was a successful purchase. I am less good at getting rid of the mistakes, including those still with tags, but am getting better. I don’t have the time to sell them on. I do donate quite a lot to charity - three bags in the boot of the car. Trying not to buy so much.

Tipintorecession · 15/06/2023 08:55

Usually when they fall apart, I keep clothes forever. Some go to charity if they were a mistake though

allabouttheboy · 15/06/2023 09:00

When they wear out. They go from newest clothes to wear going out whether casually or dressed up, to fine for supermarket and similar, to only wear around the house, to only for diy or similar.

allabouttheboy · 15/06/2023 09:01

Only things that go to charity are things that don't fit any more or obvious mistakes.

countrygirl99 · 15/06/2023 09:05

GnomeDePlume · 15/06/2023 06:51

My clothes are in a hierarchy

Suitable for the office
Suitable for houseguests to see
Suitable for the allotment

After that they are rags

Sounds like mine

Good to be seen in
Around the house
Doing the horse/garden/decorating
Bin

Though there are some items like special occasion outfits that get to the charity shop once they've been worn to enough weddings etc.

MeltingPotter · 15/06/2023 09:07

When they are either shabby, stained, overly bobbled or don’t fit.

The stained ones are usually T-shirts or shirts & they get used as hair dye/painting/gardening tops for a while.

Things that don’t fit go to the charity shop or my sister/nieces, sometimes vinted.

Blossomtoes · 15/06/2023 09:46

My mum used to give clothes a sabbatical - put them away when she was bored with them and resurrect them after two or three years. I do the same unless they were really cheap in which case they go to the charity shop.

uncomfortablydumb53 · 15/06/2023 09:59

I only have things that I feel confident in now after doing a declutter
I got rid if I hadn't worn for a year or like now my shape has changed post menopause( namely bigger tummy)
I have a favourite brand which is good quality and I look for as new on Vinted

WeRateSquirrels · 15/06/2023 10:41

Tipintorecession · 15/06/2023 08:55

Usually when they fall apart, I keep clothes forever. Some go to charity if they were a mistake though

Same

stbrandonsboat · 15/06/2023 12:36

My clothing has a hierarchy.

Best/nice

Going out and about generally

Supermarket worthy

House/garden only

Falling to bits/bin

Catspyjamas17 · 15/06/2023 12:54

I rotate my clothes every six months from winter to summer wardrobe as I can't fit it all in at once in my wardrobe/drawer space. The non-seasonal garments and footwear go into bags in the loft.

When I'm doing that I have recycling bags handy, get rid of stuff I haven't worn for a long time and take it to the charity shop or clothes bank.

HappiDaze · 15/06/2023 13:08

I'm a bit of a clothes hoarder mainly because my weight yo-yos and I seem to have a lot of clothes that don't date.

DD wears loads of my old clothes she finds in the loft that are so tiny I can't believe I was ever that size pre DC

My clothes also have a hierarchy and I wear comfy clothes around the house without a bra

HappiDaze · 15/06/2023 13:09

I really need to sort through them properly though and have a sort out