Clearing out my wardrobe ?, definitely need a kick up my bum!

I have been retired a while now but I find that I suddenly wear things I haven't worn for years and I find it looks good maybe with something newer. My husband thinks it is new. So be careful what you throw out.

Give away to a charity shop or sell on e bay or gumtree things in good condition that don't fit. Really tatty things put in the recycling bins.

If you want to wear a skirt at home then do so. If your going out make a bit of effort, change into something smarter and maybe use basic makeup. Value yourself and the clothes you have. Maybe you need to go out more and join some clubs, organisations or enrol for a class and you will find the need to dress smarter.

(As I write this I am still in my dressing gown, my friend calls it a pyjama day. Tomorrow I am going on a coach trip so will be up early and dressed suitable as the coach goes at 8am.)

I'm a terrible hoarder of clothes so I put my winter or summer wardrobe in storage boxes under the bed out of season. Then, when I get them out it's like seeing everything with fresh eyes - sometimes it's 'great to see' things, sometimes it's 'what was I thinking' .. and that's the stuff I send to the charity shop. Sadly, there's enough 'what was I thinking' to clear a chunk each time ..

Still have about 10 (maybe 12 ) business suits taking up space in the wardrobe, I'll never wear them again.

I suppose I could sell them on eBay, but have never done it before, and as some of them were worn when I was still smoking I would have to have them dry cleaned before selling them, which wouldn't be very cost effective!

I am like a lot of you - I slob about home in baggy jeans and an old top, change to smarter jeans and top to pop to shops, and they are always the same ones. Last weekend I wore a new dress to GD christening. DH looked at me and said that he wishes I would wear a dress more often. I usually only wear a dress to go out somewhere special, but maybe should think again. How many pairs of jeans and slobby tops do I really need? DH obviously notices me more than I thought he did!
Think I need to have a good sort out and makeover.

I was much stricter than usual when I got my summer clothes out this year. Quite a lot of stuff went because I was onlt keeping it because I liked the fabrics. Things weren't being worn because they were the wrong shape or colour - or even the wrong size!

I know that I spend most of the summer in linen trousers with tops that are at least hip length. I have a couple os summer skirts for when I feel like a change, a smart linen dress for going out and a bright cotton maxi dress for parties in the garden (In my dreams!) I try to keep to the same sort of colours, blues, greens and turquoises which makes planning outfits easier.

Here in north Scotland there is no difference between winter and summer wardrobes, just how many layers you wear ☹️

I'm hopeless, and have clothes that are 15 plus years old in my wardrobe.

In an effort to sort out, because I've totally run out of space, I've started putting clothes, after I wear them, back in the right hand side of the wardrobe. I then really try to wear clothes from the left side of the wardrobe.

Sometimes something won't look right, or fit well, or has marks, so I know that has to go. (I've even found myself thinking "I'll give it to charity... oh no, it's not good enough for that, I'll recycle it"... so why is it in my wardrobe if it's only fit for fabric recycling?!!)

I do this because I'm by nature a hoarder, and if I have a big sort out session of my wardrobe I'll end up thinking I might wear this again, this may come in, etc and not get rid of anything!

My daughter helped me out when I retired . First of all I got rid of all my work/office wear .

Then we hung everything back in the wardrobe with all the hangers facing one way. If I took something out I put it back in with the hanger facing the opposite way !

3 months later we checked and if it was in the right season and still facing the original way it was gone !! I did this every 3 months for the first year of retirement going through the seasons . The only things that escaped were wedding/party clothes .

Now I operate on a one in - one out scenario pretty much !

I sold most of my excess stuff on eBay too.

I think that's an excellent method NannaandGrampy am tempted to try it. My concern has always been items wearing out or being spoiled so needing to be replaced so then I would need to spend money to replace things that I'd previously bought but given away just a few months earlierabit like the earlier poster who bought her item back from the charity shop!

Loopyloo

...I could write a book on this !

I think it's all about psychology. There's a feeling of safety you get looking at the clothes knowing you have them even if they no longer fit/are not in fashion/remind you of happy times/or you just can't bear to part with them... type of thing

Pull out what you wear now and put them aside

Pull out what you have not worn for the pat five years and bag them up for charity.

Pull out what you have not worn for a year and bag them up too but don't part with them yet.

After a month if you did not feel the need to go back into the bags and take the first lot to charity. Drop them in the shop, walk out and don't look back

After another month do the same with the next lot.

This is what I do.

I have only had one regret ( a dress I bagged up mistakenly) but it has not spoiled my life

Good luck !

Thank you Nonnie1
So far I have been through one wardrobe and at least 50% of the clothes are in black bags for the charity shop, drastically pruned! Some of the clothes still had their price tags, a truly embarrassing shock...
Now to tackle jumpers, cardigans and tee shirts....

When I retired I had a clearout as I rarely wear smart trousers now but joggers or jeans and it was part of my general de-clutter. I had also gained a lot of weight. I planned to sell on Ebay but in the end could not be bothered. I've now lost that weight so had an excuse for new clothes and got rid of a lot again. Years ago I often bought things because they were a bargain, now I'm more careful what I buy. I also realised that modern trousers are slim and all wider and bootleg trousers went.

Yes but Grandma Moira, the fashions will probably change back again and you will be sorry you got rid of all your wider trousers!

See how hopeless I am?

Mission completed!?
Feeling very smug, a pile of black bags awaiting taking to the charity shop, DH will have to lug them to the car because I can barely lift them. All my drawers are neat and tidy, two wardrobes worth of clothes could be put into one and I feel as if a weight has been lifted from my shoulders. I still have too many pairs of trousers/jeans but at least I now know what I do have.

Thank you everyone , well deserved ?☕️??? all round! X

Well done Loopy

I've managed to fill three charity sacks, so I'm feeling a bit , but still need to be more ruthless!

Still haven't quite achieved Nandalot's 'swish' factor in the wardrobe, but almost there

Just the rest of the house to do .....

I've just lost rather a lot,of weight (family problems) and am finding that I need to go down one dress size. So our local charity shop has been getting quite a few things. However, there were some things that were tight last year and yippee I can get in them easily. This morning DH had a clear out and tried on some suits that he wore when he was at work. Only ONE fitted, he thinks that being hung in the wardrobe for a while has made them shrink, but I think the good life has made him expand (slightly).

looyloo and MiniMouse, well done. You put me to shame.

Nonnie1 that is one of the best method of de-cluttering I have read. I can think of things to go in the 5 year bag already. Definitely easier to do an initial purge without committing yourself.

Needs must in my case dustyangel, the rail in one wardrobe was buckling under the weight of clothes ?, and I've been procrastinating like crazy for months!

I'm feeling quite relaxed about clearing out so much because someone else will benefit, won't they? And I certainly don't need to think about clothes for some time to come, which is even better.
That's the whole house except for the attic (DH's domain) done!!! I can hardly believe it's done, all Kondo'd
?

What a relief to read this - I am not on my own.

I have wardrobes, in several rooms, choc full of clothes and... half a dozen enormous plastic storage boxes full too.

My husband refuses to let me put any clothes into the attic (probably quite right too) so they are all in the bedrooms.

What do I wear? The same few things over and over but I need the others, you see, just in case...........

I also fluctuate with my weight so have fat and thin clothes. Those are still needed for holidays either in the States or on a ship as I can't resist as 'I'm on holiday' and return at least ten pounds heavier than when I left.

I keep promising myself that I will weed things out (as someone said, why do you need X pairs of trousers?) but when I go to do it I see that I need the first pair to wear with flats, the second with heels, the third with very high heels (yes, I still try - for about 100 yards and then have to take them off but I won't give up!) and so on. One pair would be wide-leg and another sim... in those different leg length and before I know it I have a wardrobe full.

This is really a mini-moan as no one is stopping me from culling my wardrobe.... except me.

I will do it... one day......one day.... one day... but I'm so busy this week.........

Loopylou

Go shopping now.

For each new item you buy, get rid of an old one unless you wear it currently.

Never let this happen to you again !

Another good tip is not to keep anything for best. Just wear 'em

Oh that I should practice what I preach !

You all have made me sort out my wardrobe. Only threw a few things out but saved me buying some new stuff when I saw how much I had.

I have so many pairs of just in case trousers/shorts just counted them and I'm horrified.

2prs best blue jeans
1 black 1 white best pairs jeans
2 everyday pairs jeans
2 prs of best jeggings
2prs of everyday jeggings I wear for gardening/shopping
1 pr loose cotton trousers
2 pr in the garden shorts
3 prs going on holiday shorts
3prs capri trousers in various colours.
1 pr black going to a funeral trousers.
3 prs black cut off leggings..

Oh my I need help!!

I started on underwear today. Why had I got nearly 30 pairs of knickers? Have slimmed it down to ones I actually wear plus their matching bras. Should probably start on handbags but might leave them for a bit.

I have more regrets of not now owning a couple of items from being a youngster. I had a beautiful full length gown, in moss green with lace and tiny yellow flowers which I wore to go out on Christmas Eve and I felt so special in it.

I also had a "Paris" blouse, round collar, red with prints of the word Paris all over it and other pictures. I felt special in that too and I so wish I had kept hold of them but I do think they got thrown away when my back was turned. I must have been about 10 years old or so.

I don't own a lot of clothes now. I do have kaftans and kimonos though, nice and cooling and loose for this weather and in vibrant colours too so cheering. I have more dressy clothes for going out and I have slouch clothes for when I am feeling under the weather or trying to get better. I call them all my party clothes:-

Liberal : - my kaftans and kimonos.
Conservative : - my going out clothes.
Labour : - my working hard to get better clothes.

Have you read Marie Kondo the life changing magic. This really has made me overhaul everything in my life.

Having just had to clear out my mum's house following the death of her and my stepfather, close together, it made me realise how much stuff I don't need.

If you look at each item of clothing and ask yourself,
Is this comfortable?
Does it fit well?
Does it suit me?
Do I feel good when I wear it?
Would I still buy it if I saw it in a store?

Unless you can say yes to all questions,nit needs to go. I cannot believe how much space I now have in my wardrobes and drawers.