Anyone feel like they’ve just accumulated too many clothes and don’t even know where to start to get rid of them?

OP, I try to purge my closet once or twice a year and then take everything to a local women’s shelter. The women at the shelters have sometimes had to leave everything they own to escape an abusive relationship and are starting over with nothing.

I recently cut my closet in half. Since I work from home, I don't need much formal attire. I also hated everything that I had for winter (mostly plain shirts from talbots - why am I dressing like I'm in my 70s????). So I donated a large part of my closet to a charity that does pick up and they sort it by either if someone will actually wear it or if it's for textile recycling.

Since I am losing weight and going to work out everyday, my incentive to buy new clothes is gone until I'm down to a weight that I want to be at. So I'm focusing mostly on having enough clothes to go to the gym and a few nice outfits. Other than that, my closet is basically empty.

Me! Every time I meet a friend I go with 2-3 tops to give away. I send them a heads up message like this and if they’re okay with it, I give it to them.
“So this year, I’m trying to make sustainable choices with my clothes. Every time I meet a friend, I give away a piece of clothing I haven’t worn in a while. These are great clothes/some of my favorites, but I’m just not wearing them very much and they deserve a better home. They’re in great condition and ofcourse, free. I just want to keep them going instead of throwing them away or donating to a charity which also throws them into landfill in 3rd world countries. I can send you pictures of them before we meet. Any chance you’d be interested?”

I have no room for clothes. It is full and so is my dresser. I purge all the time. My biggest issue though is that half of my closet is full of nice work clothes that I don’t wear anymore since I have been WFH for 3 years. Yet, I can’t get rid of them because the second I do, I’ll have to go in lol

Can we do a clothing swap in this group tho? Like I have so much old work clothes that idk what to do with because Dress for Success is never accepting donations near me and that stuff never sells on Poshmark 😩

Yes! It’s a huge problem with America’s “consumption” society. A couple of things
1) I have stopped but anything unless I love it and know how/when I will use it
2) Rule for anything you buy, get rid of 1-2 other things from closet
3) I am so busy that I don’t much anymore.
To get rid of stuff- I start by bringing to a consignment store and see what they will take. What they don’t take, I put into a donation box. My kids use Poshmark and have pretty good luck with that. There are also women abuse/career places that will take nicer items, such as suits. I also pass down designer items to my daughters if they want them- professional jackets and so on. It’s better stuff than they would buy themselves and they are now in workforce so they like it.

That was me a few years ago, I’ve donated so many clothes that I probably could have a downpayment to a house at this point if I had saved the money instead of buying lol (or at least half of a downpayment)…. I had to learn to only buy things that I absolutely love and couldn’t wait to wear them (not because they’re on sale or are just “cute”). Also buy quality over quantity.

I have a full time work from home wardrobe and now a full time travel wardrobe plus a full time “travel while I was 2 sizes smaller” wardrobe. It’s bad.

I've started listing everything on Poshmark, but it's slow going and I'm not sure I want to keep them around while I sell them. The cheaper stuff will probably end up donated soon

Clothes that are clean and in good shape can go to Dress for Success or consignment shops. Clothes that are damaged or stained either need to be fixed/cleaned or turned into rags.

There was a depressing article in the NYT recently (I think that’s where it was) that was essentially, “if you don’t want your old clothes, chances are, no one else does either.” It basically said that most of our old clothes are going to end up in a landfill, so we need to stop buying “fast fashion” and buy fewer, better things. I try to remember that when I look at my closet. I’m still buying way too much stuff, though.

For me, I’ve really had to think about why I own so much stuff. I admittedly overshop. If I’m looking for a dopamine hit, I’ll go to the grocery store instead to buy something edible and perishable that won’t fill up my closet 😊.

I post in my local Buy Nothing group and people claim them pretty fast

Check out a seasonal capsule wardrobe. Buy better quality, then switch things up by styling with accessories, adding "in" colour with scarves or sleeveless layers, etc.

I started sending them to ThredUp in exchange for gift cards to Athleta or MM LaFleur. When you get money via those partnerships you get a larger bump in payout and it is done quickly. I don't have the time or energy to take clothing to consignment or sell on Poshmark/Mercari and ThredUp donates what they can't sell so figure it is the path of least effort.

One of my fav topics! I’ve done complete purges a few times and about to do another for an upcoming move to a different climate.

With a few exceptions, l stopped buying brand new clothes about 10 years ago since a stylist showed me all the great timeless outfits I had in my closet. I purged the rest.

Now about 80% of my wardrobe is thrift or vintage. And I take a donation bag with me when I go.

Since Covid, the thrift stores are overflowing with gorgeous office clothes.

Yesterday I got a really nice DKNY print blouse, a classic Tahari Blazer, (slightly oversized) a satin Ann Taylor top only because it was awesome with the jacket, a like new Franklin covey leather tote to replace my worn out tumi, a like new ribbed turtleneck, and a cami. I almost picked up a pair of nice brown leather riding boots, but I had to stop myself. Got it all for under $100. So if I don’t wear any of it I’ll just donate some back and don’t feel like I overspent.

I previously scored an Armani suit, Chanel loafers, Jimmy choo pumps at vintage shops or eBay. I go straight for top brands and materials like silk and cashmere because I love it. And I love knowing I can put to use something someone else couldn’t.

Once in a while I will get something at a fast fashion place because I need something or get in a mood for the latest trend - but I usually regret it. It’s often the first to get donated right back. And lately the clothes from saks and nordstroms just haven’t been great. I did pick up a new silk button down from the mall that I love. But I really didn’t need it.

I genuinely enjoy the treasure hunt. And my inner sustainability consultant likes it better

I had to stop buying and started doing clean ups every year. Anything I hadnt wore for a year gets tossed. After learning that fashion industry is detrimental to environment it was easier

I post nicer things on posh mark and the rest I donate through my local buy nothing group. I like this better than donating to thrift stores who often have to throw a lot of clothing away

Yes! I have a whole closet of work attire that I dont use now. Just takes up so much space but im scared to get rid of it.

If a one-time purge is too overwhelming, try this: At the beginning of every season (or if you live in a place that doesn’t really have seasons, like I do, maybe do this to your whole closet 2-3 times per year), turn all of your hangers around the wrong way so that the open part of the hook is facing you. Then, as you wear things, turn the hangers around the normal way. At the end of the season, set aside a couple of hours to go through everything that’s on a hanger that’s still backwards - those are the things you didn’t use that season. Aim to donate everything in that pile except for things you keep for a special occasion (e.g., “the dress I wear to fall weddings,” but you didn’t end up attending a wedding this fall).

Omg I was watching Marie Kondo last night at midnight and just started making mountains of clothing to get rid of 😅

I used Marie Kondo’s method to declutter. Once everything has its place, don’t get something new unless you have room for it