What to Do with Your Old Clothes?

Are you looking to refresh your wardrobe and sort through your old clothes? Donate or sell the clothes you no longer wear?

I will help you.

As a fashion enthusiast, I often find that my wardrobe doesn’t quite reflect my taste anymore and is overloaded 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 decluttering your closet and discovering new uses for your old clothes.

If your old clothes are taking up space in your closets, it’s essential to sort them out. Start by taking them out of your wardrobe and set 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 customizing them to give them a fresh new look. You also have the option to give them to friends, family, or colleagues, or to donate them directly to a charity such as Emmaus or the Salvation Army. Additionally, there are bins located throughout the area where you can drop them off. Finally, if you're looking to make some extra cash, you can organize a clothing swap or sell them online through secure marketplaces like the Vinted app.

Want to learn more? Keep reading to discover:

• How to organize your wardrobe,
• Tips for reselling your clothing and saving some money,
• How to sell your used clothing online,
• More advice on how to recycle or give your clothing a new life,
• Tips for choosing clothes that you will keep for a long time!

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

When searching for something to wear in your wardrobe, it’s common to realize that some items are no longer suitable. This is particularly true if a piece of clothing or an accessory:

• doesn't fit properly anymore: it's either too tight or, on the contrary, too loose,
• is torn or damaged and difficult to repair,
• is permanently stained, with no possibility of cleaning,
• seems completely outdated and no longer matches your style,
• is nearly impossible to coordinate with the rest of your wardrobe,
• hasn't been worn in over six months.

If some of your clothes meet one or more of these criteria, it’s time to declutter your wardrobe! 😉

How to Sort?

Would you like to declutter and create some space in your closets? I have a simple method to help you decide which clothes to keep and which ones to set aside. This is inspired by the very popular tidying method of Marie Kondo, which has worked wonders for many people, but it is specifically tailored for clothing.

🔸 First, take all your clothes out of your closet. If that's too much, you can take out all the items from one category (coats, pants, shoes…) 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 clothing that's in good condition and stylish in the "for resale" category, those that are still wearable in the "to donate" category, and those that are too damaged in the "to recycle" category.

🔸 Next, place back into your closet 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 other items to create at least three different outfits.

🔹 Before you start sorting through the last of your clothes, especially those you're unsure about, take a look at the space left in your closet. It's important to ensure that you have room for new clothes and can keep everything organized. Try to estimate how many additional items you could fit in your closet from what you still need to sort through.

🔸 Lastly, sort through the last few clothing items 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 a decision. 😉

👉 Especially if you're not used to organizing, it might take several attempts before you successfully optimize your closet. Don't hesitate to tidy up every month for a while to truly keep only the clothes that suit you.

5 Tips to Stop Throwing Your Clothes in the Trash

Have you sorted through clothes that you no longer wear? Keep in mind that it's entirely possible to give them a second life, regardless of their condition. Throwing them in the trash is definitely not the best solution, as there are numerous simple options available that can help those in need, contribute to reducing waste, or even earn you a little extra cash!

Transforming Old Clothes into New Outfits by Customizing and Accessorizing Your Wardrobe

There are many ways to give a new lease on life to a garment that you’re unsure how or when to wear anymore. Here are a few ideas:

🔸 Sometimes, you can give a completely new look to a dress 👗 or a tunic just by wearing it with a belt. If you're interested, join me now at this blog post dedicated to this topic. 😉

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

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

🔹 A pair of jeans 👖 can gain a touch of uniqueness with various fabric patches that can be found in any craft store. Guaranteed to give you that seventies vibe!

Share them with your loved ones to spread some joy!

Before giving away or selling your clothes to strangers, you might want to check with those around you to see if they would be of interest to: colleagues, friends, family, neighbours… This is particularly common for children's clothing, as they tend to grow out of things quickly, but you can definitely do the same with your own clothes! 😉

Donating Your Clothes to a Recycling Bin: A Positive Community Action

Today, there are many clothing recycling bins located in most cities and towns. The garments placed in these containers are sorted and then either recycled or repurposed based on their condition. To find the nearest bin to your location, I recommend checking out this link.

You can drop off your clean clothing bags at these bins, or directly with local organizations that fight against poverty (Food Banks, Salvation Army, Emmaus…). It’s an easy way to do a good deed!

Host a Clothing Swap

Do you have a lot of clothes to sell or give away? If so, you can organize a clothing swap, either on your own or with your friends, at your home. To do this, let people know the date and time when they can come and choose from your clothes. The goal is to declutter and help others, so try not to set prices too high!

If you want, you can also sign up for some garage sales in the summer, which can be a great opportunity to declutter your home.

Sell Them Online

If you have gently used clothing that you'd like to try selling, you can also consider selling it online. You can use platforms like Kijiji and Facebook Marketplace, but I highly recommend the Vinted app, which is focused on fashion. It allows you to easily sell and ship your clothes by taking photos and uploading them to the app. Payments are secure, and you are covered by insurance, which is definitely a plus!

How to Find Clothes You'll Never Get Tired Of?

To conclude this article, I’d like to share some tips from my experience as well as insights from other fashion enthusiasts I know. You’ll learn how to better manage your clothing expenses and how to select pieces that you won't tire of keeping for years!

Choose the Right Size

When clothing is poorly fitted, either too small or too large, it’s quite uncommon for us to wear it multiple times. To avoid this, it’s important to know your measurements when shopping online and to use the size guide.

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

Know the Styles That Flatter You

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

• an off-the-shoulder top,
• an asymmetrical top,
• a batwing oversized jacket,
• a midi skirt with a slit,
• a unique neckline: round, Tunisian, V-neck, or square…
• some colours that suit your complexion: warm colours, pastel shades…

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

Bohemian Long Dress

Don't Skimp on the Basics

While we appreciate originality, a balanced wardrobe often includes a few basics that are easy to mix and match with most of your outfits. They are suitable for various occasions and can be worn for a long time without becoming tiresome. For a practical and versatile wardrobe, I especially recommend these must-haves:

• A striped shirt,
• A pencil skirt, slightly dressy,
• Several basic t-shirts in solid colours, featuring a flattering neckline,
• A light jacket, like a biker jacket,
• A blazer,
• One or two well-fitted jeans,
• A light-coloured shirt,
• A little black dress,
• A pair of tailored pants…
• A pair of white sneakers,
• A pair of black or brown leather ankle boots,
• A pair of heels or pretty heeled sandals.

Discover Your Clothing Style

Finally, the best advice I can give you to find clothes that you'll actually wear for a long time is to get to know your tastes and figure out your personal style. When you know how to choose clothes that you love and that fit you well, getting dressed becomes enjoyable, and you waste less money on clothing that you'll never wear.

If you're looking for a simple and effective method to help you find your clothing 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 customizing, selling, or donating them.

If you're looking for unique and timeless clothing that you can keep for years, I invite you to check out our online boutique for bohemian fashion. Our clothing is designed for all women and will suit most styles: in fact, bohemian fashion draws inspiration from various major fashion trends and is incredibly versatile. 😉

Tunic and Blouse