Hoarding Clothes - GUILTY!!

Ok I'm guilty, 100% guilty! I have soo many clothes and shoes and old jewellery. I don't like them, but I hold onto them because my wardrobe of clothes that I'm happy to wear has got so bad and I always feel like I have no clothes. It looks like I do, but honestly most of them are either the wrong size now, not appropriate to my current body image, would be a massive fashion crime to wear now (think 19yr old clubbing clothes). I try to throw them out but fear I won't have anything left.

What do you think, should I throw it all out (well donate) and then DH can see really do have no clothes and run the risk of being caught out with nothing to wear.

I know I need to get rid of them but it is just my fear of having nothing to wear. I get my bonus (well half of it) next month - my last income before I go back to work and am thinking of spending a little on seeing a stylist to help me dress for my new motherly, womanly image. I just don't feel confident choosing clothes now since my bbs are huge and my butt thighs and belly are all different. Anyone had any experience with these?

HELP ME!

Im the same. Most of my clothes in my wardrobe i don't wear at all, i dont even think half of them fit me. But i keep them so it looks like i have clothes and its always just in case i fit into them again.

I have only really now started dressing for my body shape, i always tried to wear clothes other girls wear but they dont have my love handles or my boobs.

When my bubba is born i will be going to a stylist and finding clothes that flatter my shape.

I think for now, throw out what you REALLY don't see yourself being able to wear. Or bag them up and stick them aside and if you ever have a moment of having nothing to wear but know something in a bag is decent enough you are able to pull it out rather than being left with nothing.

If you don't wear them, they're wasting space in your wardrobe!

Here's how I get rid of clothes like this (I used to be a shocking hoarder too!!):
Pull EVERYTHING out of your wardrobe. Then, only put the things back if you wear them. Not if you one day will wear them again (they'll be out of fashion by then). Have you worn them in the last year? 6 months? Put them straight in a cardboard box or opshop bag. No mercy! :lol: Same principle applies with shoes, socks, undies, accessories, make-up, toys....(well you wouldn't op-shop makeup I guess!)

The great thing about this method is that because it takes effort to put things back away in the wardrobe, it helps me to be more ruthless. I do this every 6 months (maybe more often) and find more things to give away :redface: I think it helps to do it regularly, because this last time I said 'well I said I'd wear this since the last cull, and I haven't, so obviously I don't like it, so I'd better get rid of it!'.

My trouble is also we don't have much money for clothes, but as DH points out, if I'm not wearing something (either because it doesn't fit or I don't like it), I'm not saving money by keeping the clothes anyway!

I think you'd be surprised at what you can survive on clothes-wise. Really, a few good pairs of versatile pants, maybe jeans and tailored pants or whatever your style is, a few plain tops and cardis and then cheaper accessories like necklaces, bangles, scarves, and a few pairs of cool and comfy shoes! When I think about it, I can spend a week in 2 pairs of pants, a different tshirt/top, 2 cardis, and the same pair of shoes!

A stylist sounds like a good idea too, I have a friend who's a stylist and says all her clients (and their partners) are always really happy at the end and at follow-up.

My DH is the clothes hoarder in our house, so recently I packed away a heap in a space saver vaccuum bag and hid it. He didn't even notice! SO when he didn't go looking for one single thing in that bag, I told him and donated it.
Maybe you could try that. Do what Nelle said and store those clothes away from your wardrobe and your eyes. I bet you find you don't go to them once.
Even though you're worried you are going to be caught out aren't you more likely to make use of what you know fits and is comfy rather than those that don't/aren't?

I would love to go to oneo f those stylists but dollar wise it's a no go. I have been scouring the net though and found the Trinny and Sussannah website really helpful and have been looking at 'capsule' wardrobes.
Like Nelle said you really only need a few key things.
This is especially useful for me as we're about the move interstate, first to one place for 3months whilst our stuff goes into storage. SO I need to only take the amount of stuff you would for a holiday for three months....including all the stuff I might need for the kids.

Good luck - you can do it!!

Thanks girls. I will do it. But it is soo hard to part with those really pretty 10D bras with matching underwear even though I'm sure I'll never fit into them again lol. I was never hoarder of clothes too bad until last few years. There are plenty of other things I should be spending my little bonus on but DH has spent lots on himself the last year so I think I should just do it. He can reap the rewards lol

I have the same problem. I think its time to get ruthless with my clothes. I have no clothes to wear but DH tells me I have heaps in the cupboard. Plus I find since having DD my taste in clothes has changed. The local op shop will love the clothes when i take them in :)

ooooh, I am so guilty of hording, always in the hope that I will fit into it someday! There's even stuff in there that I haven't worn ever yet can't bear to part with!! I'm more ruthless with everyday stuff like t-shirts and jogging pants etc, but when it comes to my 'nice' things, like evening dresses, tops and pants, I'm loathe to throw them away. I've even got a ball-gown from a uni ball back in 1999 (gosh, a whole decade!) that I doubt I'd ever wear! We're moving in about 6months, and I think I'll have to do what Nelle suggests - however hard it may be!

I'd love to go to a stylist too, but money is the issue! I want to be one of those mum's who look pulled together, instead of the "slumperdink" look (I heard it on Oprah last year and thought it fitted me perfectly!). My other problem about buying new clothes (on top of the money factor) is that I'm always meaning to lost weight, so don't want to buy new clothes until I do.

Good luck - let us know how you go!

I'm much better now at getting rid of clothes because I've realised that it's far better to have fewer clothes that actually suit me than lots of clothes that don't fit/suit.

It makes it so much easier to get dressed in the morning and my head feels clearer. In doing a clean out, I usually also find stuff I haven't worn in ages but actually DOES fit/suit me that I've forgotten about.

If I'm wavering on an item that is really nice but just doesn't suit me/fit, I just tell myself that someone else would make much better use of it than me and give it to charity. I give myself a pat on the back for being so selfless :)

I think the Trinny/Susannah advice is great.

My friend recently used a stylist and she's been absolutely delighted. It cost her $300 but she thought it was well worth it. You could easily waste $300 on some bad clothes choices. For that she got a consultation and half-day of shopping and she gets a report written up too.

Well I've been working away at this mammoth task and, pleased to say I have a few garbage bags full. But now is what to do with them... the community I live in really doesn't need it. It is quite a high income earning town and I think it is a waste. My friend also has some, we were thinking of trying to post to Perth or something. But I was thinking maybe a womens refuge/crisis care could do with them, what do you think?