What to Do with Your Old Clothes?

Are you looking to refresh your wardrobe and sort through your old clothes? How about differently donating or selling the garments you no longer wear?

I'm here to help you.

As a fashion enthusiast, I often find that my wardrobe no longer reflects my tastes and is filled with clothes I no longer wear. In this situation, I don’t throw my clothes away: I try to give them a second life, so they can be worn by someone else or recycled.

Today, I'm sharing my tips for tidying up your wardrobe and finding new uses for your old clothes.

If your old clothes are cluttering your wardrobe, it's important to sort them out. Start by taking them out of your closet and setting aside those that are damaged, no longer fit, or just don't appeal to you anymore. You have several options for these items. You could try upcycling them to give them a new lease on life. Alternatively, you could donate them to friends, family, or colleagues, or directly to a charity like Vinnies or the Salvation Army. There are also collection bins located throughout the country where you can drop off your clothes. Lastly, if you're keen to make a bit of extra cash, you could organise a wardrobe sale or sell them online through secure marketplaces, such as the Vinted app.

Want to know more? Keep reading to find out:

• How to sort through your wardrobe,
• Tips for reselling your clothes and saving a few bucks,
• How to sell your second-hand clothes online,
• More advice on how to recycle or give your clothes a new life,
• Tips for choosing clothes that will last you a long time!

What are the signs that your clothes no longer fit you?

When we're rummaging through our wardrobe looking for something to wear, we often realise that some clothes just don't fit anymore. This is especially true if a piece of clothing or an accessory:

• no longer fits properly: it is either too tight or, on the other hand, too loose,
• is torn or damaged and difficult to repair,
• is permanently stained, with no chance of being cleaned,
• feels completely outdated and doesn't match your style anymore,
• is nearly impossible to mix and match with the rest of your wardrobe,
• has not been worn for more than six months.

If some of your clothes meet one or more of these criteria, then it's time to have a clean-out in your wardrobe! 😉

How to Sort?

Are you looking to declutter and free up some space in your wardrobes? I’ve got a simple little method to decide which clothes to keep and which ones to set aside. This method is inspired by the well-known tidying approach of Marie Kondo, which has worked wonders for many people, but it's specifically tailored for clothing.

🔸 Firstly, take all your clothes out of your wardrobe. If it's too much, you can take out all the clothes from one category (coats, pants, shoes, etc.) and lay them out in front of you so that they're all visible.

🔹 Next, start by getting rid of the items you definitely want to part with by sorting them into three piles:

• to give away,
• to resell,
• to recycle.

Try to place the clothes in better condition and on-trend in the “to resell” section, those that are still wearable in the “to donate” section, and those that are too damaged in the “to recycle” section.

🔸 Next, place back in your wardrobe the items you absolutely want to keep, making sure to check each piece for its condition, whether it still fits you, and if it can be paired with others to create at least three different outfits.

🔹 Before sorting through your final items of clothing, particularly those you’re unsure about, take a look at the space left in your wardrobe. It’s important to ensure that you maintain some available space for new clothes and to keep everything organised. Try to estimate how many pieces you could still add to your wardrobe from those you have yet to sort through.

🔸 Finally, sort through the last items of clothing that you’re unsure about. If you decide to keep them, ask yourself:

• what outfit will you wear them with,
• for what occasion,
• and how often.

This should help you make up your mind. 😉

👉 Especially if you're not used to organising, it may take several attempts before you successfully optimise your wardrobe. Don't hesitate to tidy up every month for a while to ensure you only keep clothes that truly reflect your style.

5 tips to stop throwing your clothes in the bin

Have you sorted out clothes that you no longer wear? You’ll be pleased to know that it’s entirely possible to give them a second life, no matter what condition they’re in. Throwing them in the bin is definitely not the best solution, especially since there are many simple options available that can help those in need, contribute to the fight against waste, or even earn you a bit of money!

Create New Outfits from Old Ones by Customising and Accessorising Your Wardrobe

There are plenty of ways to give a new life to a piece of clothing that you're unsure of how or when to wear. Here are a few ideas:

🔸 Sometimes it's possible to give a completely new look to a dress 👗 or a tunic just by wearing it with a belt. If you're interested, I invite you to check out this blog post dedicated to this topic. 😉

🔹 For a jacket 🧥, you can customise it by changing the buttons, for instance, or by adding a ribbon trim to it.

🔸 Your shoes 👞 can get a fresh lease of life with new laces and a darker or lighter polish!

🔹 A pair of jeans 👖 can gain a bit of uniqueness with various fabric patches that you can find in any haberdashery. Guaranteed retro seventies vibe!

Recommend them to your loved ones to bring some joy!

Before donating or selling clothes to strangers, you might want to check with those around you to see if they would be of interest to your colleagues, friends, family, neighbours… This is especially common with children's clothes, as they tend to outgrow them quite quickly, but you can definitely do the same with your own clothes! 😉

Donating your clothes at a recycling station: a civic responsibility

Today, there are numerous clothing recycling bins available in most cities and towns. The garments placed in these containers are sorted and then either recycled or repurposed depending on their condition. To find the nearest bin to you, please visit this link.

You can drop off your bags of clean clothes at these bins, or directly with local organisations that combat poverty (such as the Smith Family, St Vincent de Paul, and Emmaus…). It's an easy way to help out and make a difference!

Host a Clothing Sale

Got a heap of clothes to sell or give away? If so, you can organise a wardrobe clear-out, either by yourself or with your friends, at your place. Spread the word about the date and time when interested folks can come and browse through your clothes. The aim is to declutter and help out, so don't set prices that are too high!

If you'd like, you can also sign up for some garage sales in summer, which can be the perfect opportunity to declutter your home a bit.

Sell Them Online

Lastly, if you have clothes in good condition that you'd like to sell, you can try reselling them online. You can use platforms like Gumtree and Facebook Marketplace, but I highly recommend the Vinted app, which is dedicated to fashion. This app makes it easy to sell and ship your clothes by simply taking photos and uploading them. Payments are secure, and you’re covered by insurance, which is definitely a bonus!

How to Find Clothes You Won't Get Tired Of?

To wrap up this article, I’d like to share a few tips based on my experience and that of other fashion enthusiasts I know. You'll discover how to better manage your clothing expenses and select outfits that you’ll love and keep for years without getting tired of them!

Select the Right Size

When a piece of clothing is poorly fitted, either too small or too large, it's quite uncommon for it to be worn more than a few times. To avoid this, it's important to know your measurements well when shopping online and to make use of the size guide.

When you buy a piece of clothing, it shouldn't be too tight. Aside from knitwear, it's quite rare for clothes to stretch out.

Know the Cuts That Enhance Your Features

When you're shopping, don't hesitate to try on various styles of clothing and take note of the ones that flatter you. This could be, for example:

• a bardot top,
• an asymmetrical top,
• an oversized batwing jacket,
• a split mid-length skirt,
• some unique necklines: round, tunisian, V or square…
• certain colours that suit your skin tone: warm colours, pastel shades…

It will then be easier to use it as a base for your online shopping!

Bohemian Long Dress

Don’t overlook the basics

Even though we value originality, a well-balanced wardrobe often includes a few basics that are easy to match with most of your outfits. They are suitable for a variety of occasions and can be worn for a long time without becoming boring. For a practical and versatile wardrobe, I particularly recommend these must-haves:

• A stripy top,
• A smart pencil skirt,
• Several plain basics t-shirts that show off your neckline,
• A lightweight jacket, like a biker style,
• A blazer,
• One or two well-fitted jeans,
• A light-coloured shirt,
• A little black dress,
• A pair of tailored trousers…
• A pair of white sneakers,
• A pair of black or brown ankle boots,
• A pair of heels or stylish heeled sandals.

Discover Your Fashion Style

Finally, the best advice I can give you to find clothes that you'll wear for a long time is to get to know your tastes and determine your personal style. When you can choose clothes that you love and that fit you well, it becomes a joy to get dressed, and you'll end up wasting less money on clothes that you'll never wear.

If you're searching for a simple and effective method to help you find your personal style, feel free to check out our comprehensive guide on the topic.

I hope this article has helped you find solutions for what to do with your old clothes, whether it's upcycling them, selling them, or donating them.

If you’re on the lookout for unique and timeless clothing that you can keep for years, I recommend checking out our online bohemian fashion store. Our clothes are designed for all women and will suit most styles: bohemian fashion draws inspiration from a variety of major clothing trends and is incredibly versatile. 😉

Tunic and blouse