Decluttering help/advice needed re: clothes

ninnoodle

I have a really OCD way of dealing with my clothes that I have done for years. It's rather embarrassing actually but it has worked for me for so long, and I am still wearing clothes I have had for years because of it.

I have written down a list of all my tops, all my bottoms and all my dresses. Then I duplicate the list so I have 2 copies, and one of the lists I cut up into 'bits' - one paper strip per item of clothing. I fold up all the strips and put them all in a jar (apart from occassion wear) and give it a shake. Every day I choose a strip which gives me one item of clothing, and put the chosen folded up bit of paper in another jar. I then have to make an outfit for the following day from it. I have certain rules:

- if it is clearly out of season (eg. summer dress when it's snowing) I put it in the other jar. If it is 'office' wear and I'm not working in the office, then it either gets chucked back or put in the other jar
- If I 'don't want to wear it' then I put it back, ready to be picked another time. If this happens a number of times for the same item, then I clearly don't like this item, or have not much use for it, so away to the charity or ebay it goes.

Once the other jar is full I swap around and start again!

I have done this for 20 years, haha! But it has made me wear all my clothes, I know exactly what is in my wardrobe, I rarely buy duplicates of things, and it helps me to be ruthless - if something isn't working then I get rid. And, because I am wearing all my clothes and none get forgotten about at the back of the wardrobe, some have lasted years and years! And it helps keep my wardrobe 'fresh' so I don't wear eg. black leggings all the time.

OK, now I have actually admitted this I will slink away in embarrassment . But it works, honest!

Cat501

It's strange to me when people talk about summer clothes, the only item of clothing I have which ONLY gets worn in summer is a pair of shorts! I guess because I don't wear skirts and dresses these days - everything else that's worn in summer is also worn in winter - jeans, vest tops (as a layer). I suppose I have winter clothes which could be stored away (coats, jumpers, boots) but not summer!

I'm also a black clothes person and have quite a few similar black tops, and I do like to keep one or two tops/pairs of jeans in a smaller size because I will lose that weight, I will:D But the size 10s have gone (I do have some realism left) and anything really out of date. But I think most of my clothes are pretty "classic", I don't really follow fashion as such these days:)

newlywed

Sort out all the skirts of similar colours.... try each on. Anything that doesn't fit (or won't fit within a couple of lbs or so) or that you don't love the way it makes you look - get rid.

Do the same for tops... etc

I have to confess to having collected similar colour skirts from my wardrobe and discovered rather too many chocolate colour ones!!

meritaten

I have to be honest - I rarely chuck clothes or give them away. I shop with my 'basic' wardrobe in mind. my basics are black trousers, black skirts, shoes and bags. almost anything 'goes' with them. I do ring the changes with jeans and white trousers/skirts for the summer. But, I have sometimes found surprising combinations - the jungle print Tshirt goes really well with both the black trousers/skirt and the white ones! my favourite black skirt is in a silky fabric which works both winter and summer and seems to go with just about any top! works with boots or shoes or sandals too as it is ankle length.
I dont buy loads of clothes and what I do buy seems to be from outlet stores! (I love a bargain). but, I can put an outfit together for any occasion - and I do have a drawer full of scarves, belts etc (mostly from charity shops, as they are so cheap I feel I CAN splurge about £2!).

electric_comperella

Thanks guys all noted and taken on board

I must say I agree with Cat501 - I don't really have a summer wardrobe...it's more that what I wear in the summer is worn in winter plus a jumper ....so perhaps that's something I need to address....

My main problem is jeans...t-shirts.....I bought loads once upon a time...really boring of me to be honest...not a follower of fashion...don't wear skirts so can think of a couple of those which can go immediately!

Last night I hit the bedroom and bagged the clothes mountain into sizes - I have the size I'm at now (16) which is the 1.5st overweight comfort eaten to extreme bereaved me....which I don't want to be anymore....

then there's the 14's which I was back in April time...and then the very small pile of 12's which I fit about 6 years ago and will likely not fit again...besides which they're a bit "young" .... so this pile is going to go too

once I've sorted the size bags into types (trousers/tops/shirts etc) I'm going to then use your wisdom of making outfits looking forward to this bit...

thank you all ever so much for your advice - muchly appreciated!! xx

Fruball

ninnoodle wrote: »

I have a really OCD way of dealing with my clothes that I have done for years. It's rather embarrassing actually but it has worked for me for so long, and I am still wearing clothes I have had for years because of it.

I have written down a list of all my tops, all my bottoms and all my dresses. Then I duplicate the list so I have 2 copies, and one of the lists I cut up into 'bits' - one paper strip per item of clothing. I fold up all the strips and put them all in a jar (apart from occassion wear) and give it a shake. Every day I choose a strip which gives me one item of clothing, and put the chosen folded up bit of paper in another jar. I then have to make an outfit for the following day from it. I have certain rules:

- if it is clearly out of season (eg. summer dress when it's snowing) I put it in the other jar. If it is 'office' wear and I'm not working in the office, then it either gets chucked back or put in the other jar
- If I 'don't want to wear it' then I put it back, ready to be picked another time. If this happens a number of times for the same item, then I clearly don't like this item, or have not much use for it, so away to the charity or ebay it goes.

Once the other jar is full I swap around and start again!

I have done this for 20 years, haha! But it has made me wear all my clothes, I know exactly what is in my wardrobe, I rarely buy duplicates of things, and it helps me to be ruthless - if something isn't working then I get rid. And, because I am wearing all my clothes and none get forgotten about at the back of the wardrobe, some have lasted years and years! And it helps keep my wardrobe 'fresh' so I don't wear eg. black leggings all the time.

OK, now I have actually admitted this I will slink away in embarrassment . But it works, honest!

:rotfl: I may know you!!! One of the mums at school never seems to wear the same clothes twice!! Maybe she follows the same system and by the time the clothes come around again, we have forgotten them?

It did give me a giggle, thanks for sharing

ninnoodle

Frugal wrote: »

:rotfl: I may know you!!! One of the mums at school never seems to wear the same clothes twice!! Maybe she follows the same system and by the time the clothes come around again, we have forgotten them?

It did give me a giggle, thanks for sharing

Hahaha - it is true - people have remarked about how many clothes I have! I don't have that many, just I wear them all!

Brighton_belle

ninnoodle wrote: »

I have a really OCD way of dealing with my clothes that I have done for years. It's rather embarrassing actually but it has worked for me for so long, and I am still wearing clothes I have had for years because of it.

What an interesting system! And thinking it through, it sounds really good.
I got rid of 70% of my wardrobe earlier this year and now live with a capsule wardrobe and have found it really freeing (was inspired by project 333). It takes all the onerous decision making away in the morning and I love everything I wear. I don't own any black, as for me it make me look and feel drab and I still find everything goes with everything else.