Binning 60-80% of wardrobe?

[FoggySunnyDays]

Has anyone just binned (sent to the charity shop, gave to friends etc, not literally binned!) a big chuck of their wardrobe and started over?

I have too much stuff, but I can't bear to get rid of things. Lots of print dresses mostly.

All I want to wear these days is monochrome or solid colours and trousers/top/shirt combo. But then I miss wearing dresses on hot days like we've had recently!! And I fear I'll get bored of wearing a more 'minimalist' look!

My knee length dresses just don't fit my life with a small toddler. But I also can't bear to get rid of them as I know one day I won't have a small toddler so playgrounds and parks won't be an issue!

It feels ridiculous to pack up so much but I feel the urge to get rid and start over!

Anyone done it? Advice? Pros and cons?

I need to do this. I've been slowly getting rid of stuff on Vinted but I still have far, far too much. There are 5 of us in the house, we ALL have way too many clothes and it's a total nonsense. Completely overwhelming.

Part of my issue is that clothes shopping is a total hobby/leisure activity for me and that has to change. I don't have the space and going forward we don't have the money.

I do get emotionally attached to clothes, and remember times I've worn them and had fun or received compliments. I just don't fit them anymore (but one day, one day!)

I'm not wearing my maxi skirts, as they're a bit too girly for me now at the age of 59. Some I've shortened into midis to make them more wearable. The rest will be stashed away. I have loads of coloured linen/cotton knitwear from Hush & Wrap taking up room that will be put up for sale on eBay. Hopefully they will sell, but if not they will go to my local charity shop. My style is generally more monochrome & simple now & coloured jumpers don't really figure any more.

I've got a big vacuum bag of stuff that I love but are too small for when I hopefully lose weight. Another one of winter clothes and some holiday bits. Have kept out basic day to day summer stuff, jeans etc and a few light hoodies. Still need to sort through socks, undies etc as have far too much.

I’ve never done that much in one go but I am always culling my clothes and shoes. I don’t have that much space and can’t have things hanging around that aren’t being worn. I wear the same favourite things over and over and some things rarely or not at all so they go.

Personally for me I never regret what I get rid of, either it was eminently forgettable to begin with or it wasn’t right for me any longer. We do change our preferences as time moves on, for example I prefer high neck tops as I age so my v necks feel odd. Fashions change too, for example indoors scarves feel quite dated, so I’ve got rid of quite a lot of those.

Sometimes I put things in a charity bag and wait until it’s full. If I look back over the stuff before it actually goes, I still don’t want any of it.

Doing so much culling also helps me to think more about what I buy as today’s new stuff can very easily be tomorrow’s get rid pile. I wish I knew exactly what made a ‘keeper’ as opposed to a mistake and as a result I don’t tend to buy things that are too expensive, particularly as price/fabric/quality/longevity ratios seem to be pretty random these days.

I don’t beat myself up about mistakes, or keep because of a sunk costs fallacy, what’s done is done and it has to go.

I do the same with all my possessions, they need to serve you not own you.

I’d keep one or two dresses so you have the option. And then if you don’t reach for them by the end of the summer, they go. If not now, when? I keep one dress which can be worn for any special/formal occasions, though often don’t end up using it.

I had a big life change which involved me having a wardrobe of clothes that I wouldn't need so I sold masses on E bay. Made over 1k in the process. I find that if you describe well and put on a reasonable price then they will sell. Clothes change over time even "classics" . Sell the old and buy as new if/when needed.

I don't see anything wrong with asking for sizing. It's so inconsistent between stores and even within the same brand. This is part of being a good eBay seller.

@thedevilinablackdress , It's one thing asking about the length of a dress, skirt or pair of trousers, but these will be detailed questions like measurements you'd expect a Savile Row tailor to take when making a bespoke suit.

They never bid.

Being a good ebayer works both ways. Some people don't bother reading the description and don't check the listing title properly, then complain that
'Laura Ashley toast-colour cotton skirt UK 10' isn't a Toast skirt in grey linen or something.

I did it when I was pregnant in 2019 and going through a phase of hating absolutely everything. I figured I'd go on a big shopping spree post pregnancy and get new stuff. That was a big mistake since I gave birth in lockdown and had very little clothes to wear 🙃

I did a big cull last year. Spent three days trying on everything to make sure I loved it (and that it fitted!) and got rid of quite a bit which I no longer wanted or that worked with my lifestyle. No regrets about anything that went, although I have regretted previous items I've got rid of. Trouble is, I've now started buying a whole load of new stuff so am no better off for space 😕

This is me! I'm a hoarder. I find it very hard to let go of things!

Yes I started this last winter as my shape has changed and most of my tops didn't look right, so I gradually removed them replacing Jersey tops with things like popover blouses.. BNWT from vinted mostly Now doing it with my clingy t shirts
I like everything in my wardrobe now

I move things on if they're worn out, don't fit any more or if they're an impulse charity shop mistake (I've had quite a lot of those). That aside, I haven't had a major cull since I realised:
a) that nothing is new. Fashion is cyclical and the cycles are getting shorter. You think it'll never come around again but it does.
b) that the standard of new clothing is on a downward trajectory with no end in sight, and that, if I get rid of something, it might be neither possible nor affordable to find a replacement of similar quality.

c) that the idea of 'what suits me' is just as subject to fashion as the cut of my jeans.
d) that I distrust any influencer who recommends getting rid of all your clothes and starting again. (To be fair, I don't think Marie Kondo says this herself.)

Do I have regrets did you say? Hell yes, I'd need a whole thread to list them all.

I realise not everyone has space to put things away but that's what I do now. And I thoroughly enjoy going through it all about once a year. This summer I've recycled a couple of knitted linen wrap tops that would cost a fortune now if I wanted a similar quality.