If your wardrobes are bursting at the seams, but you still find you have nothing to wear, you’re not alone. It’s time to get ruthless and be honest with yourself. Here are 5 things taking up valuable space in your wardrobe that you can declutter today!
Clothes You Are Keeping Out of Guilt
We all have things in our wardrobes that we overstretched ourselves to buy. We loved it so much that we splurged a lot of money on it, but somehow it has never quite worked out.
It gets overlooked each and every time we look for an outfit to wear. Yet we can’t bring ourselves to get rid of it because we feel guilty about the money we spent. It’s a tough decision but it’s time to say goodbye.
The money was wasted at the time we bought it, and no amount of time is going to bring that money back. And on top of that, do we really want that negative guilty feeling each time we open the wardrobe door? Let the item go and let the guilt go with it.
You may want to look into second-hand consignment stores in your area or online websites that allow you to sell and purchase used goods. Knowing that you at least made a few bucks back from your purchase may lift a little guilt.
Read more: 7 Brands That Buy Your Used Clothing.
Clothes You Want to Get Into
Now we come to the age old issue that we keep in our wardrobes items of clothing that don’t fit us. Whether we yearn to be bigger or smaller, many of us keep clothing that doesn’t work right now in the hope that it’s going to happen for us some time in the future.
The key is to be realistic and honest with yourself. Are you currently on a diet that is realistically going to get you to where you need to be? How long has it been since you were that weight?
If it’s been years or decades since you were the right size to get into that skirt you love, maybe now is the time to say goodbye. After all, if we achieve our weight goal, don’t we deserve to treat ourselves to something new?
Have you heard of clothing swap parties? Bring the items in your closet that you don’t wear or that don’t fit and other women do the same. What is old to you will be new for someone else. You may even find a new skirt that you love that actually fits.
Shoes That Hurt Your Feet
If you have been a shoe lover all your life, chances are you have some shoes – THOSE shoes that you really, really love – sitting at the bottom of your wardrobe. They take you back to a place when you could wear the heels you wanted, look amazing, and feel fantastic.
But time played its part, and your feet are sadly not what they used to be. You favour comfort over height or style now. You have your go-to favourites that work for you, and you know what you like. But you still yearn to wear THOSE shoes.
Read more: Why Wear Shoes That Hurt Your Feet? Make the Switch to Minimal Shoes!
Is this even realistic? Are your feet miraculously going to switch back to the feet they were in your 40s? It’s not an easy realisation to come to, but the likelihood is that you are never going to get back into those shoes. Life’s way too short for sore feet. Declutter them today, and let someone else enjoy them.
Office or work shoes that you no longer need can be donated to clothing outlets, like Dress for Success, that help women get back into the workforce.
Multiple Versions of Our ‘Safe’ Clothes
Black trousers, a little black dress, a floaty top, a cashmere sweater – everyone has a go-to item. An item that is safe, that makes us feel good, and never lets us down. We know it works for our shape, so we buy it over and over again.
Because it works so well for us, we tend to buy one every season, or even the same item in multiple colours.
But the problem is, even with our safe clothes we will still have our favourites – the perfect colour, the little black dress that looks the nicest, the version that’s most comfy – and we repeatedly choose our favourites when we are looking through our wardrobe each day.
Even within our safe clothes, the ones lower down the list get overlooked. So, it’s time for more of that honesty. Put your whole collection of ‘safe’ clothes together and rank them.
The ones that are below number 5 or 6 on the rankings are definitely up for debate. Don’t give up valuable space in your wardrobe for things you never wear.
DIY or Gardening Clothes
So, you have made a decision that you no longer need an item but it still has wear in it. It’s a perfectly good item of clothing so why get rid of it?
You have the perfect solution. Wear it when you’re doing dirty jobs – DIY, cleaning, or gardening. But how many outfits do you have for ‘dirty’ jobs? You definitely don’t need more than one or two. Don’t delay your decision. Send it straight for recycling today.
Accessories That Never Get Worn
Jewelry, scarves, belts, and handbags can quietly build up over the years. These items often carry memories or were bought for special occasions – but if they’re gathering dust instead of getting used, they’re just taking up space.
Many of us hang onto accessories because we might wear them again, or because they were expensive, gifted, or once loved. But styles change. Maybe you no longer wear bold statement necklaces or structured purses. Or maybe you’ve simplified your daily routine and gravitate toward the same few favorites.
Take a moment to pull everything out:
- Lay out your scarves, belts, jewelry, and handbags.
- Be honest—when was the last time you wore each item?
- Do they still reflect your current style or lifestyle?
If your accessories feel outdated, too fussy, or no longer suit your personal look, it’s okay to let them go. Keep the pieces you reach for regularly and a few meaningful items, and pass along the rest.
Try the Reverse Hanger Trick
Turn all your hangers backward at the start of a season. After wearing something, turn the hanger the right way. At the end of the season, anything still on a backward hanger probably didn’t get worn – and may be ready to go.
Further reading, SUITCASE CLOSET CLEARING – OR HOW I GOT MY CLOSET IN ORDER.
Editor’s note: Article updated by Sixty and Me.
Let’s Have a Conversation:
Is your wardrobe bulging at the seams, but you struggle to make the right decisions? What is your go-to safe item of clothing? Have you fallen foul of having too many clothes for ‘DIY’ jobs? Use the comment box below and let us know about your wardrobe decluttering efforts.
