How many clothes are really necessary? Wardrobes overflowing

ripplyuk

I've posted on the site before about this and have made a real effort to 'downsize' my wardrobe/drawers. I still seem to have a serious amount of clothes. I've one double wardrobe full to bursting, a huge chest of drawers (length of half the room), another set of 5 drawers, a freestanding clothes rail, and a large underbed vacuum bag stuffed so full I can't zip it up. This doesn't include all the outdoor coats/shoes etc that I keep downstairs.

I think the problem is that I have so much, nothing ever wears out, since they are very rarely worn. Most people I know don't keep clothes as long as I do. They wear them for a year maybe. I've got plenty that is over a decade old. Should I get rid of things once they start looking a bit faded, or I buy another one that's similar? Are these 'worn out?

I also seem to have lots of similar items in various colours. Eg, twenty t-shirts in every colour you could possibly want. I think this is because I'm worried something won't match so I need to have every colour in everything.

My grandmother is always saying that in her day, people only had about three changes of clothes, and nobody batted an eyelid at you wearing the same things all the time. Nowadays, it seems there's pressure to always wear something new, and not be seen in the same outfit.

Does anyone have any advice about what to keep, or words of wisdom that will make me more ruthless with clearing out? I feel like my little tiny house is just cluttered with clothes.

Dill

Anything that never gets worn, EBay it. Nearly-new clothes, shoes and boots tend to fetch money more than older faded things.

[Deleted User]

Haven't worn it at all or for at least six months? Then it's not required. Mrs Sleazy always wants to buy me more clothes .... why?

missbiggles1

Sleazy wrote: »

Haven't worn it at all or for at least six months? Then it's not required. Mrs Sleazy always wants to buy me more clothes .... why?

Don't know about you but I don't wear my summer clothes in the winter, nor my thick jumpers in the summer.

ripplyuk

Me too, I've loads packed away for winter now. But still can't fit all the summers stuff in.

The problem is that most of it is only worn a couple of times a year, but it takes up so much space. I only wear a small amount of it day to day. I'm also beginning to doubt if it's really necessary to have summer and winter wardrobes, given our weather. I have masses of stuff suitable only for a holiday somewhere like Spain.

meritaten

I hope this makes you feel a bit better - but my mum had FOUR wardrobes full of clothes! plus three or was it four chests of drawers! and Imelda Marcos would have envied her shoe collection! admittedly some of it dated from the 1970s and every decade since.
perhaps you could cull what you haven't worn for the last two years - then the remainder could be sorted into categories and you ONLY keep a garment which goes with at least one other item!

Good luck!

Linda32

I have summer and winter clothes. For example thicker dresses with sleeves in the winter. Crop trousers and thinner tops in the summer.

The summer clothes are in a suit case in the loft and will be swapped around soon.

I have around five best winter items which I rotate and wear when I'm not working or gardening or whatever. I have a few extra for the summer but it's the same principle.

I have relegated old jeans and tee shirts for gardening in or scruffy work.

3 pairs of black trousers and tee shirts for work (specific requirement)

Then a few bottoms and tops for generally slopping about in.

Anne_Marie_2

Perhaps it's time to review your wardrobe then, particularly if a great deal is only suitable for holidays abroad.

Look at downsizing your summer wardrobe. Make a shortlist of what is essential to your summer holiday wardrobe and then look at getting rid of what is not necessary. However, bear in mind that t-shirts and vests are good for layering in the winter.

I'm a bit the opposite needing mostly summer clothing, but do need cosy winter clothing for a short period of the year. I underestimated how cold it was in the winter here, and how long it took clothing to dry without a tumble dryer. My winter wardrobe is now better, but by no means huge.
In the winter I layer, using vest tops or/ and t-shirts under jumpers/cardigans, so that some of my summer stuff is also used in the winter.
Perhaps you can do the same, although you do seem to have an excessive amount of t-shirts. Things don't always have to match, contrasts are good too.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with having clothing 10 years old or older if it still fits, you like it and wear it. I have dresses which are way older than that, which I still wear.

ripplyuk

That's a good idea, using the summer tops as layering for winter. It would reduce the amount I have greatly .

I think I'll also do as Linda suggests, having 5 best things and some casual stuff for around the house. It's the casual stuff I wear most of the time anyway. Usually just jeans and a fleece. I very rarely go out anywhere that needs fancy clothes.

I've never tried contrasting colours together, mainly because I haven't a clue what goes with what. But it would be nice to have a go . I think I need to think more carefully about what I buy too. I have about 10 pairs of jeans but only ever wear 3 of them. The rest just don't fit that well. They're OK, but not very comfortable.

Strangely, I don't 'hoard' anything else. I'm fastidious about clearing out regularly. I'm beginning to wonder if I have some irrational fear that I'll end up with nothing to wear, and keep it all 'just in case'.

[Deleted User]

I have too many clothes, nowhere to put them, and yet somehow can never find anything to wear! Definitely need to have a sort out for the local charity shop.

Eyeore

I have been through this in the last nine months so my advice would be, do each category of clothes and be honest with yourself, try it on is so important. For example, with your jeans you say you only wear three pairs so get rid of the other seven, you have to be ruthless! Give to charity or sell on flea bay. If you have so much clothing that it seems daunting then tackling one category at a time doesn't seems so bad. For me I spent a week just going through everything and I had really thought about what I wanted and needed and was very honest. I have to say have a very reduced wardrobe has been a revelation, I know I have everything I need at the moment, that it fits and looks good, I mix and match easily, don't shop so much and if I see something I like I ask whether it will 'fit' with my new wardrobe first! I also have a list with me of items I think I want/need so that I am not tempted to buy any old thing.

I got a lot out of a reading a blog which was Jennifer L Scott, she is based in the states and her advice really worked for and also Marie Kondo as I also wanted to decluttering the house!

Good luck - it is totally worth it!