Now I'm retired what do I do with all my smart(er) work clothes?

*Ebay is a buyers market. You have to sell am awful lot of clothes before you get a sum you could buy clothes with.
The only chance is if they are clothes with a good label sewn inside.*

We are finding this Margaret

My partner is almost giving things away. He has sold some valuable items for peanuts which makes me quite cross. His view is that any money is better than none and the things weren't needed and taking up room.

I think he is being fleeced! He is selling brand new, still boxed tools to the highest bidder and getting very little in return. However, I am not sure what the answer is. Car boot buyers want everything at knock down prices too.

I have decided to give most of my work clothes and the ones surplus to requirements to charity. I have had excellent NHS operations and treatment for various bodily malfunctions over the last decade, so am thankful for all the research carried out which has made such procedures successful. It does grieve me slightly to give away the most valuable stuff (no idea why, but probably because I have always had to budget coming from a poor background) but there aren't enough hours in the day to go down the Ebay route. I am happy if someone needs clothes I don't wear anymore. It feels good to donate and be rid of reminders of work!

Charity shops iare the answer unless you can really get some good money for them.

Oxfam also take really good quality stuff and sell them at higher prices.
One day I will get round to selling on Ebay. DD does it quite often.

Not long ago I emptied my wardrobe and only put back clothes that fitted me. I also put a bright pink padded hanger at the side of them. As I wear any of the clothes, I then move them to the right side of the hanger. Over a couple of weeks, I could see how few clothes I actually used and it's made me mix and match more so that I can move clothes to the "right side". My promise to myself is to give away clothes unused after a year.
You could give away some of your stuff and then see how much of the rest you wear over time. If you are still a tax payer, you can sign up to Gift Aid when you donate and the charity will get 25% tax back from the Gov - at no cost to you. Win, win all round

I gave mine to a variety of charity shops. The charities benefit and perhaps someone was getting something smart for an interview or first job.

Cash for clothes is a way of making at least pennies on old clothing, and it goes to worthy causes. Its ok if you don't mind your clothes being examined to see if they'll accept them.

Agree Bluebell! Anyway I think EBay is more a buyers market than a sellers. You don't get much and have all the bother of parcelling and posting. As mentioned, the Air Ambulance is very good forgetting rid of good stuff, as are other charities and makes you feel you are doing a bit of good. The few pounds you get on eBay will never make much difference to your finances.

My work clothes were my daily clothes so no problem for me there but charity shop is the best bet everyone gains then

I've kept quite a few of what I used to call my Karen Brady dresses (bought at a fraction of the price of hers!). I wore one at the weekend for a meal out with friends and felt really smart. It's hard now to imagine that these were once my everyday outfits. I don't see a problem with keeping them - I may as well have a full wardrobe as a half empty one. I have got rid of most of my heels though.

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Have started trying everything on, big pile of clothes on the bed to go ?
I think the charity shops around here will be busy!

Lots of good ideas above, but I second keeping a few good pieces - dry clean them, add a moth repellant, and put them in a cover.

I was in a job that mostly called for 'smart casual' so most of my clothes, if not worn every day, still get some life - but I have kept my 2 'smart'outfits and they come out occasionally. I had a friend who said 'never again' and now regrets that she got rid of a very good suit that would make an impact.

Without going into detail, I needed to look smart and business-like on a personal occasion and was glad to take my old smart jacket out of mothballs and look like I was someone to be reckoned with!
And whilst I agree that nearly every funeral I attend is 'dress as if you were spending time with xxx'; I did attend a fairly formal 'civic' funeral recently where I felt that my good black suit was necessary.

Whatever you do don't get rid of all of them. Really nice clothes are becoming harder to get hold of and I am glad I've got my things from the good name shops.

I was invited to big family affair on Sunday and wore a simple black long sleeved top from M&S- 25 years old. together with a Windsor (Harrods)Cashmere jacket which I bought at a ladies Round Table flea merketaffair. The two garments always look well together and DD1 complimented me which almost never happens.

Ebay is a buyers market. You have to sell am awful lot of clothes before you get a sum you could buy clothes with.
Photograph them well in daylight, hung on hangers and danglisg from some bush in the garden. The only chance is if they are clothes with a good label sewn inside.

eBay is very popular my d is often hunting on there for something. Try it, but do it a little at a time. I have been retired 10 years, and though I love my jeans do get a tiny bit fed up with some of my things. So I put them in a case and leave them there for about 3 months months then have another look and decide whether to keep them or not.

Car boot season just started, or shpock car boot online it's free to sell just take pictures and post away you go, with the money buy yourself some nice new casual cloths or weekend away.The jackets will look nice with jeans to smarten the look up. Enjoy retirement.

Well done Bonnie losing so much weight!

I sold what was worth selling on eBay. As I had absolutely hated my job and it had made me ill, it was very satisfying to make some money from my work clothes and I couldn't bear to look at them because they reminded me of an awful time. I then lost over 5 stone so they were never going to fit me again!

Gave most of mine to the 'clothes rail' in the mental health unit I worked in (for patients who had hardly any clothes ...for sewing workshops (convert things and use buttons and zips), more to a charity shop and a few I kept (jackets, good trousers, etc) ...sadly they never fitted me after a couple of years ! so I gave them to a charity shop and friends ....I invited everyone to tea and caked and opened my wardrobe up ...had a couple of full length mirrors and had a really good afternoon nothing left at the end of the day (except of course the things I wanted to keep !)...got rid of hanbags and shoes as well ! or you could try a car boot sale and give the proceeds to a charity of your choice ...or buy something new with the proceeds !! Have fun !

I kept a nucleus of "smart clothes" as I was - and still am - a school governor. Now many years later I have many casual clothes but still keep some smart ones, which I replace when necessary for meetings and social events. Clothes are an interest which I am able to share with my daughters! In fact just back from a shopping trip with my middle daughter - great fun!

I volunteer for a local hospice, where jeans are not allowed. Keeps me on my toes turning out smartly once a week or more, and good to spend time in an office environment again. Glad I didn't get rid of mine!

Do you have any local charities which help people back into work? Or even on line ones which would pick up? They would love some work clothes. Or a local " items for sale in your local area? Or phone social services and ask if they know or any people going back into work who need help?

I ebayed all mine as well, especially all those black trousers,smart little jackets and suits. Good quality cardigans amd jumpers were also snapped up. Likewise big leather bags, statement bead necklaces and high heeled shoes & boots. It's the way forward!

My sub-conscience knew before I did that I wouldn't work again once I retired and didn't need the business suits and shoes. Within a month I took the lot to a charity shop and I've never looked back. I have decided you need one good summer dress, one black dress, one pair of smart black trousers and a few tops.
The rest is jeans and tops and casual shoes/trainers/wellies. I am very comfortable slopping about.

near me there's a shop where you can take your unwanted clothes and the lady there will [hopefully] sell it and you will get some money back ........... sort of pre-loved clothes shop where YOU get the benefit. a friend of mine did this when she retired and she had loads of business clothes from her work.
have a look in yellow pages or on google and see if there's anywhere like that near you.
by the way you can also buy someone else's pre loved clothes if you see anything you like.

Send them to me, i would appreciate them. :-)