A Wonderful Wardrobe Changeover and Declutter
Getting back from a motorhome trip in Spain recently focused my attention on the twice yearly task of changing my wardrobe around. It’s far too cold in the UK now for flimsy little dresses. So just a day after returning home I got the two plastic storage boxes out from under the bed and decided which clothes that I’ll want to wear during the chillier winter months.
As well as changeover I decided to indulge in a harsh spot of decluttering. Those boxes were brimming over when I pulled them out. I was determined that I’d get everything to fit into them once I was done. I hauled two rubbish bags full of clothing that I no longer wear down to the charity shop bins by the harbour. That was my workout for the day!
So what did I decide to say goodbye to? Here are a few of the categories that the stuff fell into. They might help you to decide what to get rid of during your own sort out.
Clothes That I Once Loved But Now Never Wear
The dress pictured above came into this category. About a decade ago I wore and wore and wore it. But I haven’t put it on in a while. It’s a bit on the short side for a robust women approaching her sixties even when worn with leggings. And I have a bit of a tendency of tucking flappy skirts like that in my knickers after going to the loo . So I let it go. Maybe a lovely young thing will enjoy it.
Another dress that I got rid of is on my mind a beautiful skater style number by Seasalt with daisies. This was a rare purchase from new that I felt called to buy when I saw it. But recently it has gone unworn and I’m becoming sterner about what I keep hold of. So off it went to be rehomed in another person’s wardrobe.
Clothes That No Longer Fit
Yep it’s confession time. There are a few things that I’m never going to fit into again. They’ve gone. However, against conventional decluttering advice, I’ve kept a few bits and bobs for the day that my inner racing snake emerges. It’s good to be the eternal optimist.
One of these is a fabulous Walking Zoo dress by Palava, a wonderfully quirky vintage inspired store. It’s the right size but comes up small. Everyone repeat the mantra ‘She will get into that lovely frock someday!’
Clothes That I’ve Never Been In Love With
OK there’s more to ‘fess up too. Very occasionally I’ll buy something that I never wear because I never really feel the love for the item. It’s usually a charity shop find or something from the ridiculously cheap sales that they run on Thrift+, my favourite online secondhand clothing store. So it passes to and fro from the wardrobe to those plastic boxes but never sees the light of day. Yes, there’s guilt involved when I gift these items of clothing on. It happened to a nearly brand new Saltrock hoodie this time. ‘What I waste of money’. I told myself. ‘Get over it.’ said my Higher Self. ‘Life is too short.’
Clothes That I Was Going to Mend
Yeah right! Actually this isn’t quite true. I do repair some items of clothing. However if I don’t get around to the job quickly and the torn or tattered piece lurks in a storage box for over a year isn’t it telling me something? I now think that it’s sending a message that it should move on.
Clothes That No Longer Fit My Lifestyle
My nineteen year old clubber self would be horrified that I don’t really like going out in the evening anymore. Daytime meet ups are more my bag these days. By night you’ll find me by the wood burner with a book in hand. So gone are most of the party frocks. I’ve kept one but it’s so understated that it can double up as daytime wear with a sweater over the top.
Clothes That Are Uncomfortable to Wear
Anything that’s itchy, scratchy or tight in the wrong places needs to be repurposed. I can’t really think of anything that came into this category this time round. Perhaps I’m get better at making informed choices about what to buy.
In the past I would have tied in my wardrobe declutter with a shopping trip to fill the gaps. But there’s very few of those these days. Perhaps I could do with a smart jumper, one that I forbid myself from wearing down the allotment. But I’ll just make a mental note to keep an eye out in the charity shops or online. I’m not in a desperate need and one will turn up eventually.