What to do with your old clothes?

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

I’m here to help you.

As a fashion enthusiast, I often find that my wardrobe no longer reflects my style and is filled with clothes that 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 instead.

Today, I'm sharing with you my tips for decluttering your wardrobe and finding new uses for your old clothes.

If your old clothes are cluttering up your wardrobe, it's essential to sort them out. Start by taking them out of your cupboard and set aside those that are worn out, no longer fit, or just don't appeal to you anymore. You have several options for what to do with these items. You could try customising them to give them a fresh look. Alternatively, you could give them to family, friends, or colleagues, or donate them directly to a charity like the Salvation Army or a local community organisation. There are also collection bins located throughout the country where you can drop them off. Finally, if you're looking to make a bit of cash, you could organise a clothing sale or sell them online through secure marketplaces, such as the Vinted app.

Want to know more? Keep reading to find out:

• How to declutter your wardrobe,
• Tips for reselling your clothes and saving some money,
• How to sell your second-hand clothes online,
• Other advice on how to recycle or give a new life to your clothes,
• Tips on choosing clothes that you'll keep for a long time!

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

When you’re sifting through your wardrobe looking for something to wear, it’s common to realise that some clothes just don’t fit anymore. This often happens if a piece of clothing or an accessory:

• doesn't fit you properly anymore: it either feels too tight or, on the other hand, is too loose,
• is ripped or damaged and is difficult to repair,
• is permanently stained and cannot be cleaned,
• feels completely out of place and no longer matches your style,
• is nearly impossible to pair 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 have a clear out in your wardrobe! 😉

How to Sort Things Out?

Are you keen to declutter and create some space in your wardrobe? I’ve got a straightforward method to decide which clothes to keep and which ones to set aside. This approach is inspired by the well-known tidying method by Marie Kondo, which has worked wonders for many, but is tailored specifically for clothing.

🔸 First up, take all your clothes out of your wardrobe. If that's too much, you can pull out all the clothes from one category at a time (coats, trousers, shoes, etc.) and lay them out in front of you so that they’re all visible.

🔹 Next, start by getting rid of the ones you absolutely want to eliminate, sorting them into three piles:

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

Try to place the clothes that are in good condition and stylish in the "to sell" category, those that are still wearable in the "to give away" category, and those that are too worn out in the "to recycle" category.

🔸 Next, put back into 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 the final garments, especially those you're unsure about, take a look at the space remaining in your wardrobe. It's important to ensure that you have enough room for new clothes and to keep everything visible. Try to estimate how many items you could add to your wardrobe from the ones you still need to sort through.

🔸 Lastly, sort through any clothing that you're uncertain 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 decluttering, it may take several attempts before you manage to organise your wardrobe efficiently. 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 bin

Have you sorted through clothes you no longer wear? It's entirely possible to give them a second life, regardless of their condition. Throwing them in the bin is definitely not the best solution, especially since there are plenty of simple options available that can help those in need, contribute to reducing waste, or even make you a bit of extra cash!

Creating New Clothes from Old Ones 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 sure how or when to wear anymore. Here are some 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, head over to 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 have a fresh lease on life with some new laces and a darker or lighter polish!

🔹 A pair of jeans 👖 can gain a touch of individuality with a variety of fabric patches that you can find in any haberdashery. Guaranteed to bring that retro seventies vibe!

Share them with 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 might be of interest to your colleagues, friends, family, or neighbours… This is especially common with children's clothes, as they tend to grow out of them quite quickly, but you can definitely do the same with your own clothing! 😉

Donating Your Clothes to a Recycling Bin: A Community-Minded Action

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

You can drop off your clean clothing bags at these donation bins, or directly with local charities that fight against poverty (such as the Salvation Army, Catholic Welfare Services, or Emmaus…). It’s an easy way to do a good deed!

Host a Clothing Swap

Do you have lots of clothes to sell or give away? If so, you can organise a wardrobe sale at your home, either by yourself or with your friends. To do this, let people know about the date and time when they can come and choose from your clothes. The aim is to clear out your wardrobe and help others, so don’t set prices too high!

If you like, you can also sign up for flea markets during the summer, which can be a great opportunity to declutter your home.

Sell Them Online

If you have clothes in good condition and are thinking of selling them, you can also try selling online. You can use platforms like Trade Me and Facebook Marketplace, but I highly recommend the Vinted app, which is specifically designed for fashion. It makes it easy to sell and ship your clothes by simply taking photos and uploading them to the app. The payment is secure and you’re covered by insurance, which is definitely a plus!

How to find clothes you'll never tire of?

To wrap up this article, I’m sharing a few tips from my experience and from other fashion enthusiasts I know. You'll discover how to better manage your clothing expenses and how to choose garments that you'll love and keep for years without getting tired of them!

Choose the Right Size

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

When you buy a piece of clothing, it shouldn't be too tight. Apart from knitted items, it's quite rare for clothes to loosen up 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 suit you best. For example, this could be:

• a off-the-shoulder top,
• an asymmetrical top,
• a loose oversized batwing jacket,
• a split midi skirt,
• a unique neckline: round, keyhole, V-neck, or square...
• some colours that suit your complexion: warm tones, pastel shades...

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

Bohemian Long Dress

Don't overlook the basics

While originality is appreciated, a balanced wardrobe often includes some basics that are easy to mix and match with most of your clothing. They are suitable for a variety of 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 striped top,
• A tailored pencil skirt,
• Several basic, plain t-shirts with a flattering neckline,
• A lightweight jacket, like a perfecto,
• A blazer,
• One or two well-fitting jeans,
• A light-coloured 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 heels or lovely heeled sandals.

Find Your Clothing 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 tastes and determine your personal style. When you can choose clothes that you love and that fit you well, dressing becomes enjoyable and you waste less money on clothes that you won’t wear.

If you’re looking for a simple and effective way 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 that's upcycling, selling, or donating them.

If you’re looking for unique and timeless clothing that you can enjoy for a long time, 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 many other major clothing trends and is incredibly versatile. 😉

Tunic and blouse