Decluttering - breaking the habit of keeping things ‘for best’

Perhaps I need to smarten up even for the supermarket if I am going to get any wear out of some things, so if you see a shopper in gold lamé and chandelier earrings pushing a trolley, that might be me!

Let’s all do this! On a given date and time (soon) let’s dress up totally over the top and go shopping. What a great way to make a chore a bit more bearable.

I’ve never kept anything for ‘best’, I have a spare boxed set of the plain white crockery we use in case of breakages, that’s about it.

pandapatch

I have done this , but after my son died 5 years ago now I found this quote
"Time passes so quickly, you literally do not even notice it until it begins to show. So, don't wait to use the good china, go on the trip, eat the cake, watch the late movie, read your favorite book, and take a chance in life...the time is now. Tomorrow is promised to no one."
I try to do that now

Thank you for that quote.
My family were always very careful to keep things safe for best, and I followed their example. When my parents died, 40 years ago now, I decided to use their beautiful Dresden tableware on Sundays, but was mortified when one day the very naughty cat we had knocked the serving dishes from the worktops and they all smashed. Since then I have kept everything tucked away, but need to get pleasure from using them again.
I have a few "for best only" outfits and accessories which never date. They are wrapped in tissue paper because my mother taught me that was kindest to them!

When my sister and I cleared our Mums bedroom after she died, we were amazed at how many clothes she had in her best wardrobe some only worn once, some still
with tags, since then both of us wear what we want when we want.

Same with China & glassware, I doubt the children will want it.

I'm trying to stop having things for "Best", like a few have said have very few occasions to wear them. I even find myself thinking about what I am going to eat and whether it will leave a stain if it drops and changed my top to dark last night because the food had tomato sauce.
We do use napkins and more and more I am tucking it into my neckline because of the "Bossom shelf" I have acquired.
I'm trying to use "Best crockery" and if I smash anything I buy white then they all blend in.

pandapatch

I have done this , but after my son died 5 years ago now I found this quote
"Time passes so quickly, you literally do not even notice it until it begins to show. So, don't wait to use the good china, go on the trip, eat the cake, watch the late movie, read your favorite book, and take a chance in life...the time is now. Tomorrow is promised to no one."
I try to do that now

❤️❤️

I don't save anything for best now. I used to have best clothes, best dinner service, best cutlery but as I don't entertain much I just use all my best things every day.

Pandapatch that is very touching and so very true. As I get older the days seem to fly by faster than ever. Most of us on here are from a generation that was taught to save for a rainy day and be frugal and it's difficult to break the habit.

So much that I agree with on this thread!
But first of all, do not despise your “mismatched” china Greenfinch - that is apparently the smart thing to have -“Matching dinner services? So very 80’s my dear!”
But no, do use your Poole pottery- go back to that Marie Kondo cliché, “if it brings you pleasure” etc etc.
As to clothes I do rarely have any occasion for “best” I’ve forgotten how to dress even semi-smartly. I largely blame the pandemic plus an inner fear of appearing “over dressed”
Perhaps I need to smarten up even for the supermarket if I am going to get any wear out of some things, so if you see a shopper in gold lamé and chandelier earrings pushing a trolley, that might be me!
I sold a lot of things I no longer wear or had never actually worn on eBay during the pandemic and just afterwards and actually slightly regret some of them now because they were more my style and usually better quality than what I see in the shops. So that’s my excuse for keeping some things- not necessarily for “best” but certainly “better”
“It’ll see me out will” be my watchword from now on.

I have done this , but after my son died 5 years ago now I found this quote
"Time passes so quickly, you literally do not even notice it until it begins to show. So, don't wait to use the good china, go on the trip, eat the cake, watch the late movie, read your favorite book, and take a chance in life...the time is now. Tomorrow is promised to no one."
I try to do that now

The last time I had anything for best, I was a child. We grew out of beautiful clothes and shoes. Why would you at our age save so for best.

I think it's the way we were brought up, having a dress for best, and then everyday clothes. I have started wearing what I call my nice tops more often. Saving them for special occasions which don't happen seems silly. It makes me feel better wearing them too.

I have moved all my napkins (except the ridiculous "cocktail" ones) into the kitchen.
I love deciding which one to have!
Lots to choose from.
Traditional white damask, wild coloured seersucker, smart linen (various colours) or strange cotton floral my mother made in the 60s!

I’ve got a wardrobe full of dresses bought for special occasions that never get worn. Some of them have never been worn. I can’t remember the last time I wore a dress to go anywhere.I used to dress up for the theatre at one time but no longer go to the theatre. It crossed my mind the other day that someone should start organising events for us laidees to put on our glad rags just to give them an airing! I do sometimes try on my girlie clothes and then put them back in the wardrobe and put my leggings back on! ( or, since the pandemic, put my pyjamas back on!).

We used to have a ‘best’ set of china, but once the line was discontinued, and more items got broken, we opted for just one, whoever was going to eat off it. I’ve saved some of the remnants for the odd occasion when we need extra plates, but that’s it.
It certainly saves cupboard space!

I do keep a few clothes for non-everyday occasions, and the white linen table napkins only come out for guests, but nothing else is ‘kept for best’.

I have a cupboard of Wedgwood China and some has just come into the kitchen for everyday use.
Not the tureens, salt and pepper sets or gravy boats I hasten to add!

I've never really kept things for best and never did with my children.They tended to wear what they wanted ,even if it just came from the shop.Its such a waste as kids grow out of their clothes so fast ,my neighbours wee girl wanted to wear her "holiday clothes" for weeks before the holiday and her mum wouldn't let her,sadly she was diagnosed with cancer the week before the holiday and died within days .I learned a lesson then,enjoy what you have today ,you may be dead tomorrow

I think GSM is right - we all had things for ‘best’. I’ve got so much stuff now that I’m having a sort out. There are dresses I bought for occasions that have never happened. Might as well give them to my local animal charity shop now. At least there will be a plus in that they will raise some money for a good cause.

My mother used to keep china, tablecloths, linen etc, and rooms, for 'best' with the consequence they were rarely used.When I married I swore I would use things I liked regularly, which I have done. (I do wish, though, I had a separate room I could keep for 'best', as the living room is increasingly messy and looking 'well-used.' and there is only me to blame.)

Thank you Casdon you are so right. I have a full set of Poole pottery that I gave to my mother when I got married over 50 years ago. When she died I put it all in the sideboard in my dining room where it stays unless we have guests. In my kitchen cupboards I have a real hotchpotch of mismatched crockery which we use every day. Nothing matches so I think I might de -clutter the kitchen cupboards and move the Poole pottery over there and actually use it. My AC won’t want it.

I suppose it was the way we were brought up, being careful with things and making them last. I find it hard to use things I feel are ‘for best’. My lifestyle now really doesn’t require much in the way of ‘best’ clothes. I must try harder!

I dont know- but i think more i have done for 'special occasions' or 'high days & holidays' with a lot of things- but seeing as we havent had a lot of those since start of pandemic then i am really not getting the enjoyment out of them (think special handbags or outfits or make up etc) Maybe i have to change to your way of thinking Casdon, but then again, i dont get out much in general lately as i used to, unless its medical appts mostly!🫤

I think you should always use your nice things. They cheer up your day!