What to do with old clothes?

Looking to refresh your wardrobe and sort through your old clothes? Want to donate or sell the clothes you no longer wear?

I will help you.

As a fashion enthusiast, I often find that my wardrobe no longer reflects my tastes and it's 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 instead.

Today, I'm sharing my tips on how to declutter your wardrobe and find new uses for your old clothes.

If your old clothes are cluttering your wardrobe, it's important to sort them out. Take them out of your cupboard and set aside those that are damaged, no longer fit you, or just don't appeal to you anymore. You have several options for dealing with these items. You can try to customise them to give them a new lease of life. Alternatively, you can give them to your family, friends, and colleagues, or directly to a charity like the Salvation Army or other community organisations. There are also donation bins located throughout the area where you can drop them off. Lastly, if you're looking to make some extra cash, you could organise a clothing sale or resell them online through secure marketplaces like 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 some money,
• How to sell your second-hand clothes online,
• More advice on how to recycle or give new life to your clothes,
• Tips for choosing clothes that will last you a long time!

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

When searching for something to wear from your wardrobe, it's common to realise that some clothes are no longer suitable. This is especially true if a piece of clothing or accessory:

• doesn't fit you properly anymore: it feels too tight or, on the flip side, too loose,
• is torn or damaged and hard to repair,
• is permanently stained with no chance of cleaning,
• feels completely outdated and no longer suits your style,
• is nearly impossible to match with the rest of your wardrobe,
• hasn't been worn for over six months.

If some of your clothes meet one or more of these criteria, it's time to clear out your wardrobe! 😉

How to Sort It Out?

Are you looking to declutter and create some space in your wardrobes? Let me share a simple method to decide which clothes to keep and which to set aside. This approach is inspired by the well-known tidying method of Marie Kondo, which has worked wonders for many, but it's tailored specifically for clothing.

🔸 First up, take out all your clothes from your wardrobe. If that’s too much to handle, you can take out all the clothes from one category at a time (coats, pants, shoes…) and lay them out in front of you so that they are all visible.

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

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

Try to sort your clothes: put those in good condition and trendy in the "for resale" pile, the ones that are still wearable in the "for donation" pile, and those that are too damaged in the "to recycle" pile.

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

🔹 Before moving on to sorting out the last few clothes, especially the ones you're unsure about, take a moment to check the space left in your wardrobe. It's crucial to ensure that you have enough room for new clothes and to be able to see everything clearly. Try to estimate how many garments you can fit into your wardrobe from the ones you still need to sort through.

🔸 Lastly, sort through the last few pieces of clothing that 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 a decision. 😉

👉 Especially if you're not used to decluttering, it might take several attempts before you successfully optimise your wardrobe. 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 Bin

Have you sorted out clothes that you no longer wear? You should know that it's absolutely possible to give them a second life, no matter what condition they are in. Throwing them in the bin isn't a suitable option, especially since there are many simple alternatives that can help those in need, contribute to reducing waste, or even earn you some extra cash!

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

There are plenty of ways to give a new lease of life to an outfit that you're not quite 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, check out this blog post dedicated to this topic. 😉

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

🔸 A pair of shoes 👞 can feel brand new again with some fresh laces and a coat of darker or lighter polish!

🔹 A pair of jeans 👖 can get a unique twist with various fabric patches that you can find at any haberdashery. Guaranteed to give you that retro seventies vibe!

Share them with your loved ones to bring some joy!

Before giving away clothes or selling them to strangers, why not check if people you know might be interested? Think of your colleagues, friends, family, and neighbours. This is especially common for children's clothes, which seem to be outgrown in no time, but feel free to do the same with your own clothes too! 😉

Donating Clothes at a Recycling Bin: A Responsible Act

Nowadays, there are many clothing recycling bins available, found in most towns and villages. The clothes placed in these containers are sorted and then either recycled or repurposed depending on their condition. To find the nearest bin to you, check out this link.

You can drop off your clean clothing bags at these donation points, or directly to local charities that fight against poverty (like the Singapore Red Cross, food banks, or other community organisations…). It's a simple way to do something good!

Host a Clothing Swap

Got plenty of clothes to sell or give away? If so, you can organise a wardrobe sale, either by yourself or with your friends, at your place. To do this, let people know about a date and time when they can come over and pick out items from your wardrobe. The aim is to declutter and help others out, so don’t set prices that are too high!

If you're keen, you can also sign up for some car boot sales in the summer, which can be the perfect opportunity to clear some space in your home.

Sell Them Online

Lastly, if you have clothes in good condition and are thinking of selling them, you can try selling online. You can use platforms like Carousell or Facebook Marketplace, but I highly recommend the Vinted app, which is specifically for fashion. This app allows you to easily sell and ship your clothes by taking photos and listing them online. The payment is secure and you are covered by insurance, which is definitely a plus!

How to find clothes you'll never tire of?

To wrap up this article, I’d like to share some tips from my experience and insights from other fashion enthusiasts I know. You'll learn how to better manage your clothing expenses and choose pieces that you can keep without getting tired of them for years!

Choose the Right Size

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

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

Know the Cuts 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. For example, this could include:

• a off-shoulder top,
• an asymmetrical top,
• a batwing oversized jacket,
• a slit midi skirt,
• some unique neckline styles: round, boat neck, V-neck, or square...
• certain colours that suit your complexion well: warm colours, pastel shades...

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

Bohemian Long Dress

Don’t Overlook the Basics

Even though we appreciate originality, a balanced wardrobe often includes a few basics that are easy to 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 striped top,
• A smart pencil skirt,
• Several basic, solid-colour t-shirts with a flattering neckline,
• A lightweight jacket, like a perfecto,
• 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 sneakers,
• A pair of black or brown ankle boots,
• A pair of high-heeled shoes or pretty sandals.

Find Your Clothing Style

Finally, the best advice I can give you to find clothes you'll wear for a long time is to understand your tastes and define your personal style. When you know how to choose clothes you love and that fit you well, it becomes enjoyable to get dressed, and you'll waste less money on clothes you won’t actually wear.

If you're looking for a simple and effective way to discover your personal style, do check out our comprehensive guide on the topic.

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

If you are looking for unique and timeless clothing that you can keep for a long time, I invite you to check out our online bohemian fashion store. Our clothing is designed for all women and suits most styles: in fact, bohemian fashion draws inspiration from many other major fashion trends and is very versatile. 😉

Tunic and blouse