What to Do with Your Old Clothes?

Would you like to refresh your wardrobe and sort through your old clothes? Are you considering donating or selling the clothes you no longer wear?

I will help you.

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

Today, I’m sharing my tips for organizing your closet and discovering new uses for your old clothes.

If your old clothes are cluttering your closet, it’s important to declutter. Start by taking them out of your wardrobe and set aside items that are damaged, don’t fit anymore, or simply no longer appeal to you. You have several options for these clothes. You can try to customize them to give them a fresh look. Alternatively, you can donate them to friends, family, or colleagues, or directly to organizations like Goodwill or other local charities. There are also drop-off bins available in many areas where you can leave your clothes. Lastly, if you want to make some extra cash, you could host a clothing swap or sell them online through secure marketplaces, such as the Vinted app.

Do you want to learn more? Keep reading to discover:

• How to organize your wardrobe,
• Tips for reselling your clothes and saving some money,
• How to sell your second-hand clothes online,
• More tips on how to recycle or give new life to your clothes,
• Advice on 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 in your wardrobe, it often happens that you realize some clothes are no longer suitable. This is especially true if a piece of clothing or an accessory:

• no longer fits properly: it either feels tight or is too loose,
• is torn or damaged and is hard to repair,
• is permanently stained and cannot be cleaned,
• feels completely out of date and no longer matches your style,
• is nearly impossible to pair with the rest of your clothes,
• has not been worn in over six months.

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

How to Sort?

Are you looking to clear some space in your closets? I’m here to offer you a simple method to decide which clothes to keep and which to set aside. This method is inspired by the highly popular tidying technique 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 feels like too much, you can remove all the items from a single 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 absolutely want to part with, sorting them into three piles:

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

Try to place clothing in good condition and fashionable in the “for sale” section, items that are still wearable in the “to donate” section, and those that are too damaged in the “to recycle” section.

🔸 Next, put back in your closet those items you definitely want to keep, making sure to check each piece for good condition, if it still fits you, and whether it can be paired with others to create at least three different outfits.

🔹 Before you start sorting through the last few clothes, the ones you’re unsure about, take a look at the space left in your closet. It’s important to ensure you have some available space for new clothes and to keep things organized. Try to estimate how many of the remaining clothes you can add to your closet once you’ve finished sorting.

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

• what outfit you’ll 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 may take several attempts before you can achieve a well-optimized closet. Don’t hesitate to tidy up every month for a while, so you can 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? You should know that it’s entirely possible to give them a second life, no matter their condition. Throwing them in the trash is definitely not the right solution, as there are many simple options available that can help those in need, contribute to the fight against waste, or even earn you a little extra money!

Creating New Outfits from Old Clothes by Customizing and Accessorizing Your Wardrobe

There are many ways to give a new life to a piece of clothing that you’re not quite sure how or when to wear anymore. Here are a few ideas:

🔸 Sometimes, you can completely transform the look of a dress 👗 or top just by adding a belt. If you’re interested, check out this blog post dedicated to this topic. 😉

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

🔸 A pair of shoes 👞 can get a fresh new look with some new laces and a darker or lighter polish!

🔹 A jean 👖 can gain a bit of flair with various fabric patches you can stick on, which can be found in any craft store. Guaranteed retro seventies vibe!

Share them with your loved ones to bring joy!

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

Donating Clothes at a Recycling Bin: A Community-Oriented Act

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

You can drop off your clean clothing bags at these collection bins, or directly with local organizations that fight against poverty (such as the Red Cross, Catholic Charities, Emmaus…). It’s an easy way to do something good!

Host a Clothing Swap

Do you have a lot of clothes to sell or give away? If so, you can organize a clothing swap at your home, either by yourself or with your friends. To do this, inform your friends about a date and time when they can come over and browse through your clothes. The goal is to get rid of your clothes and help others out, so keep the prices reasonable!

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

Sell Them Online

Finally, if you have clothes in good condition that you’d like to sell, you can try selling them online. You can use platforms like Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace, but I highly recommend the Vinted app, which is specifically for fashion. It allows you to easily sell and ship your clothes by taking photos and posting them on the app. The payment is secure, and you are covered by insurance, which is a significant plus!

How to Find Clothes You’ll Never Tire Of?

To conclude this article, I’d like to share some tips from my experience and that of other fashion enthusiasts I know. You will discover how to better manage your clothing expenses and choose pieces that you can love and keep for years without growing tired of them!

Choose the Right Size

When a piece of clothing is poorly fitted, too small, or too large, it’s quite rare that we wear it many times. To avoid this, it’s important to know your measurements when shopping online and to use the size guide.

When you buy clothing, it should not be too tight on you. Aside from knitwear, it’s quite rare for garments to stretch out over time.

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 look good on you. For example, this could be:

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

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

Bohemian Long Dress

Don’t Skip the Basics

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

• A striped sailor shirt,
• A slightly dressy pencil skirt,
• Several basic, solid-colored t-shirts that flatter your figure,
• A lightweight jacket, like a biker jacket,
• A blazer,
• One or two well-fitted jeans,
• A light-colored shirt,
• A little black dress,
• A tailored pair of trousers…
• A pair of white sneakers,
• A pair of black or brown leather ankle boots,
• A pair of pumps or nice heeled sandals.

Find Your Fashion Style

Finally, the best advice I can give you for finding clothes that you’ll wear for a long time is to get to know your preferences and determine 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 clothes that you won’t wear.

If you’re looking for a simple and effective method to help you discover 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 customizing them, selling them, or donating them.

If you are looking for unique and timeless clothing that you can keep for a long time, I recommend checking out our online bohemian fashion store. Our clothes are made for all women and will suit most styles: indeed, bohemian fashion draws inspiration from many other major clothing trends and is very versatile. 😉

Tunic and blouse