I Haven't Worn it in a Year: Keep? Give Away?

Laura

Spring fever has hit, and I'm going through my winter clothes to make room for spring items. Yay!! But in doing so, I've found multiple items (sweaters and tops mostly) that I didn't wear at all this season.

Honestly, I feel it's likely I won't wear them next winter either, because I'll be on to something new. Does that mean I should give them away? Store them? Do you automatically follow the "not worn in a year, give it away" rule or go on a case-by-case basis?

15 years ago

General

13 replies

Latest reply was from yublocka

Dusty

(website)

Active Member

I mostly follow the "not worn in a year" rule, but there are a few exceptions for things that are especially meaningful (like I still have the dress I wore for the formal night on our honeymoon cruise - almost 7 years ago) or special purpose clothing that I just haven't particularly needed in the last year but is still usable and would cause a scramble if I did need it and had given it away (like, say something for a funeral).

15 years ago

JuliaInGermany

Active Member

I'm with Dusty. But I always edit at the beginning of the season instead of the end. I always fear that at the end I am so fed up with certain things that I will toss them end later regret it.

15 years ago

Isabel

Veteran

If you really know that you won't wear them next year, then toss. You sound pretty clear on what you wear.......

I hold onto my clothes a long time and sometimes I change my mind. So I do it in stages. If I haven't worn it all year, but I still like it and it fits, I put it in a box in the cellar, in a holding pattern. If I don't wear it next season, then I give away.

15 years ago

Anonymous

It might be best to edit out in the fall. You may see some of those pieces through different eyes. If you decide then not to keep them, it will be the right time of year to take them for consignment.

15 years ago

Kristine

Veteran

Yeah, I agree, the start of the season might be better and you can mix and match with new pieces which might make them work. You could also take photos and let us give you input with fresh eyes.

15 years ago

Laura

(website)

Veteran

Dusty, that is so sweet! Awwww. I have a sentimental box too. It includes jeans from the 90s that scare me with their high rises and light washes

So far it seems the recommendation is to store the items until fall and take another look. Joy makes a good point about consignment shop buying cycles too.

I try to follow Angie's suggestion of not storing anything in boxes, and keeping all seasons of clothes out and handy at all times, so it requires serious, continuous closet editing. Do you guys follow that too?

15 years ago

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

At the moment, editing is not a problem- keeping enough in my wardrobe to keep me clothed is! I have a few sentimental clothing items- costumes, baby clothes, wedding gown- which is all put away. I have some pants that I bought on our honeymoon that are in my closet. That reminds me to try them on.
I'm not keeping anything that is too big, and I have on-going bags of donations that I seem to always need to take over. Between myself and the kids, we could just about run our own thrift shop.
Actually, I am going to go through some of that today. I need to be selling some of that instead of just giving it all away.

15 years ago

Sarah

(website)

Veteran

It's really hard to say. I tend to get rid of things before I give myself a chance to think about it.
Only a handful of times have I regretted it.
I have so many clothes, it's not even funny. I don't wear most of them because our storage is so bad. This weekend hubby moved his clothes to another closet so I have twice the space I did before. That helps because now I can see what I have. Hopefully that will help me whittle it down even further. It was so hard with things in bins and on shelves I couldn't see every day.
I wore a lot of cutesy things last fall and this fall I didn't even touch them. I am getting rid of most of it - not quite all though.
I realize that fashion, and even more so, *I* constantly evolve. I can't afford a revolving wardrobe, so if something still fits impeccably I may hang on to it but put it in the back of my closet for awhile. If it's trendy or a bad fit or color option, I'll toss without a second thought.
I heard somebody once say that you should always hang on to accessories (jewelry, scarves, etc) and handbags so I try to do that. Accessories can keep looks more up to date.
Anyway.

15 years ago

Isabel

Veteran

Laura, I keep things out that will work any time of year - but I just don't have the space to keep very season specific clothes out - like wool pants or wool sweaters or woven sleeveless tops, lightweight dresses . I also worry about moths. So I clean everything and store in either small cedar closet or a zippered cloth bag.

If I had the space, I would put my woolens/cashmere away - but keep everything else out.

15 years ago

taylor

Veteran

I usually keep only the very best quality and condition , then I store in a holding place(garage) everything else I give or away toss . Then I revisit those items a few weeks later...If I still love them to much to part with I keep untill the next go around:)

15 years ago

agrace

Active Member

This is a great question. I often store things and then later, inspired by this forum for example - I'll think 'I sure wish I had kept that' only to go 'discover' it in storage and then bring it back into rotation. For me, the secret is I need to be more selective on what I welcome into my closet because I have the hardest time editing things out. I get rid of things if they are in horrible condition (sweater pilled beyond repair), really uncomfortable or truly do not fit but aside from that I am often too scared I'll later regret it.

Just like now - i'm wishing I'd kept those denim shirts from the mid- 90's!

So I suppose I'm not much help but I appreciate you bringing up the question.

Oh, and I will say I have been enjoying some success with consigning and ebay this year so when I do get rid of stuff and get money for it it feels good too b/c that way I can justify buying something I will use more. So sometimes that does work for me!

15 years ago

Anonymous

Perhaps selling on Ebay is an option.

15 years ago

yublocka

(website)

Veteran

I don't stick by the year rule too precisely, but if its something I can't see myself wearing again, or I know there are other options I will always choose over that option that's when I give it away.

15 years ago

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