Struggling with hoarding clothes - how can I help myself?

[AntirrhinumMajus]

Since wearing a uniform I hardly wear any of my 'ordinary clothes'

Weekends are only 2 days & I only need so many casual clothes

I do need 'going abroad somewhere hot' clothes but as I only go for a week certainly not that many

I also need 'going out somewhere smart' clothes - but perhaps still having the outfit I wore to my 6mo DD's christening is daft when she is 12

I also have some 'going out' clothes - classics which will last for years (Jaeger velvet jacket from 1984.....is again kinda sad)

So how do I do it?

I have a massive fear that if I get rid of stuff I will have to go out & buy it again

I guess this is emotional but I'm not sure how

Do you have an honest friend who could go through your wardrobe with you? Or how about your daughter?

Apart from 'classics' start by looking at clothes that you haven't worn for over a year. You shouldn't compartmentalise your wardrobe into 'holiday' clothes, 'going out' clothes etc - You need to think about your wardrobe as one whole 'collection' which does sound really wanky - but there's no reason why you can't mix and match smart with casual.

Its ok to get rid of stuff if you don't like it anymore - equally its ok to buy more (if you can afford it).

Think about what clothes you like to wear and make you feel good and start from there.

Good luck

Not really, & DD is not particularly useful, she is starting to get a 'colour sense' but it isn't reliable yet

Defining a classic would be a problem I guess - my 'style sense' probably needs an overhaul along with the wardrobe

I will look at it again - thinking about what you have suggested, thanks

I am still finding this difficult tbh

I don't know what to do

ok - am just off for dinner but will post back

What have you made a start with?

Hello
I need to do this too.

I have my going away outfit from wedding 7 years ago

I read in a mag on the predictable ny resolutions on de-cluttering that loads of people keep clothes for sentimental reasons but VERY few list them in even the top 10 things that they would save in a fire/flood - and I thought that was VERY true.

Difficult if you've got a daughter who may want things???

I have a box of clothes that are "sentimental/useful for fancy dress/costume parties" that has barely been touched in the last 2 years since we moved.

as I've noticed this whole thing is making me feel very

That's it exactly

Do I pack it all down for DD? Will she be the same size as me? Like the same clothes?

Should I shove it all in the attic or under the bed?

Or dump it?

I have some vintage dance dresses - do I keep them?

you do put summer stuff away dont you?

in loft
all xmas type clothes
all high summer stuff

all summer shoes
all never worn but ill keep in case
stuff

Nope - what about spring/autumn stuff?

Summer stuff can be worn then with a cardi?

I'm no good at this

Don't have any never worn stuff (that has to be good ...right?)

i think you are too thinky
imo
all short skirts, shorts, bikinis etc flip flops. vests ( as tops not as layering) go int he loft in september

all xmas only stuff - evenign dresses, veelvetty things go up there too

stuff that is too small bin

No stuff too small

Lots too big

I wear vest tops underneath as vests (that is sad isn't it?)

Don't have shorts/short skirts

No Christmassy stuff at all (that's sad too)

so what on earht do you have you are whingeing about?

If you haven't worn something for 2 years, decide if you want to try selling it on ebay, donating it to a second hand shop or charity, or binning it. You need to set aside a bit of time to get this done, and get a friend whose taste you trust to help you in your decision process. You need three big boxes, one for each category. Then you must do the binning and the donating within the day, or within the weekend in the case of e-bay.

You reward is a spa afternoon for yourself.

Your DD will not want anything you keep for her. Better to encourage her to make clothes decisions of her own and not to feel any emotional strings attached to inanimate objects.

They key is to give yourself permission to make decisions. You have to realise that the clothes are only things. They have no claim on you. You have no responsibility to them. They have served their purpose. Clothes that are out of style don't look good on real people.

Maybe you could fork out old photos and put them out in frames, display them around the house, photos showing yourself having a good time wearing whatever you were wearing holiday snaps, Christmas, celebrations, whatever and then the memories that the clothes represent would be there in the photos instead of clogging up your closets and straining your attic.

I think I might cope with the 2yr thing

and I am good at giving to charity shops but usually stuff I have grown too small for

I'll have a go

Well, recognising that you can't fit into something any more is a good sign that this thing hasn't taken over your life.

I love the idea of photos round the house (except they will be in albums - I am too vain to display them)

I am just sad enough to photo the clothes before I give them away - even if I never print them out

& at the the size issue is still going in the right direction size 22 down to a 14 (over 50 lbs)

WOW! Well done. Good idea about taking photos of the clothes, in a way. Photos take up far less space.

I still have clothes in my wardrobe which my sister gave me when I was 15, I'm now 32. I tend to buy pieces I can wear for years rather then fashion that changes all the time, this helps. Could you ditch anything that you have not worn in 12 months?

That's great about the weight loss OP.

Bin all the things that are too big! If you ever fitted them again you would hate them anyway.

Bin everything you haven't worn for 6mo (1 yr if seasonal...I suppose...)

Once you have done this, if you buy sthg new, bin sthg similar (eg if buy new top, bin one you no longer wear/love).

When I say bin I mean charity shop or ebay (if arsed).

You may keep to treasure up...oohh let's say 3 things (I still have my wedding dress from 12 yrs ago).

(hiya fluffy! how's it here? been offline for 2 wks nightmare!)

I'm OK thanks clary Shall I start a thread dear so we don't hog this one?

Well I got a friend round & I have got rid of 2 large black bags of clothes/underwear/PJs/bags etc

I have kept the bits I like & dumped the too big, too sad & too old stuff

Nothing in my wardrobe was too young for me but at least 3/4 of a bag was waaay to old for me

I do feel good but I need some new stuff:

A warm jumper
Knickers
Maybe a waistcoat

We achieved

Well done!

Now you must treat yourself to some new clothes and a new look - I promise, when you see your beautiful new slim and fashionable self in the mirror, all lingering regrets about clothes past will be gone!

What sort of warm jumper - something for wearing with jeans, or something for wearing with a skirt?

Something soft - maybe chenille (is that how you spell it?) or cotton, nothing wool as I itch

For wearing with Jeans or trousers, I think but colourful - I have a lot of brown & black in my wardrobe

& I thought I'd go to Sainburys to get the knickers

The clothes will be off to the charity shop today