Are you looking to refresh your wardrobe and sort through your old clothes? Want to donate or sell the items you no longer wear?
I'll 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 away my clothes: I try to give them a second life, so that they can be worn by others or recycled.
Today, I'm sharing my tips on how to organise your wardrobe and find new ways to make use of 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 set aside those that are damaged, no longer fit, or simply don’t appeal to you anymore. You have several options for these items. You could try customizing them to give them a fresh look. Alternatively, you might consider donating them to friends, family, or colleagues, or directly to a charity like Simon Community or St. Vincent de Paul. There are also collection bins placed throughout the country where you can drop them off. Lastly, if you’re looking to make a bit of money, you could host a clothes swap or sell them online through secure marketplaces, such as the Vinted app.
Would you like to know more? Keep reading to find out:
- How to declutter your wardrobe,
- Tips for selling your clothes and saving some money,
- How to sell second-hand clothes online,
- Other advice on how to recycle or give your clothes a new lease of life,
- Tips for choosing clothes that you'll keep for a long time!
What are the signs that your clothes no longer fit you?
When searching for something to wear from your wardrobe, it often happens that you realise some clothes are no longer suitable. This is particularly true if a piece of clothing or an accessory:
- doesn't fit you properly anymore: it's too tight or, on the contrary, too loose,
- is torn or damaged and difficult to repair,
- is permanently stained, with no chance of getting it clean,
- looks completely outdated and no longer matches your style,
- is nearly impossible to pair with the rest of your wardrobe,
- hasn't been worn in more than six months.
If some of your clothes meet one or more of these criteria, then it’s time to have a clear-out in your wardrobe! 😉
How to Sort Things Out?
Are you looking to create some space in your wardrobes? I have a simple little method to help you decide which clothes to keep and which ones to set aside. This is inspired by the well-known decluttering method of Marie Kondo, which has worked wonders for many people, but tailored specifically for clothing.
🔸 First of all, take all your clothes out of your wardrobe. If that feels like too much, you can pull out all the items from one category at a time (coats, trousers, shoes…) and lay them out in front of you so that everything is 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 putting the clothes that are in good condition and on trend into “to sell”, those that are still wearable into “to donate”, and those that are too damaged into “to recycle”.
🔸 Next, put back into your wardrobe the items you absolutely want to keep, ensuring that each piece is in good condition, still fits you, and can be paired with others to create at least three different outfits.
🔹 Before you start sorting through the last of your clothes, particularly those you’re unsure about, take a look at the space you have left in your wardrobe. It's essential to ensure that you leave some room for new clothes and to keep everything visible. Try to estimate how many items you could fit into your wardrobe from the clothes you still need to sort through.
🔸 Finally, sort through the last few clothes you’re unsure about. If you decide to keep them, ask yourself:
- what outfit will you be wearing them with,
- for what occasion,
- and how often.
This should help you make up your mind. 😉
👉 Especially if you’re not used to decluttering, it may take several attempts before you manage to have an organised wardrobe. Don't hesitate to tidy up every month for a while, so you can really keep only the clothes that suit you.
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 absolutely possible to give them a second life, regardless of their condition. Throwing them in the bin is really not the best option, especially since there are many simple alternatives that can help those in need, contribute to the fight against waste, or even earn you a bit of cash!
Transforming Old Clothes into New by Customising and Accessorising Your Wardrobe
There are plenty of ways to give a new lease of life to a piece of clothing that you're not quite sure when or how to wear anymore. Here are a few ideas:
🔸 Sometimes, you can completely transform the look of 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 trim of ribbon to it.
🔸 A pair of shoes 👞 can get a new lease of life with some fresh laces and either a darker or lighter polish!
🔹 A pair of jeans 👖 can gain a bit of originality with various fabric patches that you can find in any haberdashery. Guaranteed seventies vibe!
Offer them to your loved ones, to make them happy!
Before giving away clothes or selling them to strangers, you might consider checking with those around you to see if they would be of interest to: colleagues, friends, family, neighbours… This is especially common for children's clothes, which tend to be outgrown quite quickly, but you can certainly do the same with your own clothes! 😉
Donating Your Clothes in a Recycling Bank: A Kind Act for the Community
Today, there are many clothing recycling bins located in most towns and villages. The clothes placed in these containers are sorted and then either recycled or repurposed based on their condition. To find the nearest bin to you, please follow this link.
You can drop off your clean clothing bags at these collection points, or directly with local charities that fight against poverty (Community Welfare, St. Vincent de Paul, Emmaus…). It’s an easy way to do a good deed!
Host a Clothes Swap
Do you have a lot of clothes to sell or give away? If so, you can organise a clothes swap, either on your own or with your friends, at your home. To do this, let people know about a date and time when they can come and choose from your clothes. The aim is to clear out your wardrobe and help others out, so don’t set prices too high!
If you fancy it, you can also sign up for some car boot sales in summer, which can be the perfect opportunity to declutter your home a bit.
Sell Them Online
Finally, if you have clothes in good condition and want to try selling them, you can also consider selling them online. You can use platforms like DoneDeal and Facebook Marketplace, but I can highly recommend the Vinted app, which is dedicated to fashion. It allows you to sell and ship your clothes easily by taking photos and uploading them on the app. Payments are secure and you're covered by insurance, which is definitely a bonus!
How to find clothes that you won't get tired of?
To wrap up this article, I’d like to share a few tips drawn from my own experience and the insights of other fashion enthusiasts I know. You’ll discover how to manage your clothing expenses better and how to choose pieces that you’ll enjoy wearing for years to come!
Choose the Right Size
When a piece of clothing is poorly fitted, either too small or too big, it’s quite uncommon for us to wear it more than a couple of times. To avoid this, it’s important to know your measurements well when shopping online and to use the size guide.
When you buy clothing, it shouldn't be too tight on you. Apart from knitwear, it's quite rare for clothes to stretch out over time.
Know the Styles that Flatter You
When you're shopping, don't hesitate to try on various styles of clothing and take note of the ones that flatter you. For example, this could include:
- a bardot top,
- an asymmetric top,
- an oversized batwing jacket,
- a thigh-high slit midi skirt,
- a unique neckline: round, tunic, V-neck, or square...
- some colours that suit your complexion: warm tones, pastel shades...
It will be easier to use it as a basis for your online shopping!
Don't Skimp on the Basics
While we value originality, a balanced wardrobe often includes a few basics that are easy to mix and match with most of your clothes. They are suitable for various occasions and can be worn for a long time without becoming tiresome. For a practical and versatile wardrobe, I particularly recommend these must-haves:
- A Breton shirt,
- A slightly dressy pencil skirt,
- Several basic, solid-colour t-shirts with a flattering 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 tailored pair of trousers…
- A pair of white trainers,
- A pair of black or brown ankle boots,
- A pair of heels or pretty heeled sandals.
Discover Your Fashion Style
Ultimately, the best advice I can give you for finally finding clothes that you'll wear for a long time is to get to know your tastes and figure out your personal style. When you can choose clothes that you love and that fit you well, it makes getting dressed a joy, and you end up spending less money on clothes that will just sit in your wardrobe unworn.
If you’re looking for a simple and effective method to help you find your personal style, be sure 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 personalising them, selling them, or donating them.
If you're looking for unique and timeless clothing that you can cherish for years, I invite you to take a look at our online bohemian fashion shop. Our clothing is made for all women and will suit most styles: indeed, bohemian fashion draws inspiration from many major clothing trends and is incredibly versatile. 😉