4 Types of Clothes You Own But You Don’t Need (And How to Get Rid of Them)

NOT EVERYTHING NEEDS TO BE THROWN AWAY.

Article by Eleonora Mezzo

It’s that time of the year ladies and gentlemen. It’s time for a winter to summer wardrobe switch. It is the time of the year when we clear out our closet and find all the s**t that we bought thinking we would wear it and then completely forgot about it. We then proceed to simply put it back into the “winter clothes” box ready to be worn next year (thinking that things will change in 12 months) and replace it with summer clothes. What we should do is use this as an opportunity to make a distinction between what we want to keep and actually wear next year and what we want to get rid of. The following list only includes a few of the clothes which we all own but that we are always too lazy or afraid to get rid of.

Before moving onto the actual content of the post, I just want to remind you all that by “getting rid of” I mean giving your clothes away in a sustainable way. The last thing I want to suggest is to throw away your unused clothes, as it is not what I believe is the best decision. There are so many ways you can say goodbye to your old clothes by minimizing the impact on the planet, some of which I will mention in the post. Furthermore, I hope this also allows you to understand what type of clothes you actually wear on a daily basis and help you make better choices in the future, so that next time you are in a store you think twice whether you need or not a certain piece of clothing.

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CATEGORY 1:

Too pretty to be thrown away but too ugly to be worn.

This is the most difficult type to get rid of. Since the name for this category might sound a little unclear, here are some examples to help you understand:

The cute little strange top that you bought thinking it was cute but also knowing you would have never worn it in public falls into this category.
The sweater your grandma gave you that was somewhat out of style already in the 70s falls into this category.
Any type of alternative clothes which, although could be very cool and original, you bought thinking you would completely change your style in a matter of days (being completely aware of the fact it was never gonna happen) falls into this category.

CATEGORY 2:

Who knows I might get invited to Beyoncé’s birthday party one day.

I don’t mean to sound rude but it is never gonna happen sweetie. You might as well get rid of that never-been-worn Oscar de La Renta-inspired gown that you bought years ago thinking you would have the opportunity to participate in the next Met Gala.

BYE - BYE
OLD CLOTHES

IT'S BEEN FUN WEARING YOU.

CATEGORY 3:

It reminds me of that time I…

We are all attached to old clothes from when we were little or things that our best friend’s mum’s cousin got us for our birthday years ago but sometimes we have to let things go. Although it might be a difficult process, try distinguishing between the clothes that you actually wanna keep because they have a meaning to you and which ones you call “a memory” just as an excuse to never make the effort to get rid of them.

CATEGORY 4:

It might fit next year.

So many times I see clothes in stores that look absolutely gorgeous on the hanger but not-so-gorgeous once I try them on. And it’s absolutely ok, as the fitting rooms have been created with the purpose of letting customers figure out what looks good on them and what doesn’t. However, many times we skip this step and we tend to think it will definitely fit because “it looks right”. Big mistake. All you will end up with is a pile of clothes that might be very pretty but which will never fit right. This does NOT mean there’s something wrong with your body, so you just gotta accept that it’s not the right size and give them away. Having said that, it’s worth mentioning that your body can naturally change year by year so don’t worry if things that used to fit you don’t anymore and vice versa.

THE SOLUTION.

a) GIVE THEM AWAY

The most obvious answer is to give them away. Donating clothes makes you happy by making others even happier. It really is the best.

b) SELL THEM

This is the most convenient and profitable option. Try selling to friends and family and, if that doesn’t work, try using social media. I opened my own Instagram page a while ago (@shop_eles_closet) to sell the clothes I don’t use anymore and I guarantee it’s the best decision I have ever made. It’s quick, easy and allows people to stay updated on new items that they are interested in buying. If selling directly to the customer becomes a hassle, try selling your unused clothes to online websites, such as ThredUp. One of the best benefits of selling your own clothes is that it’s up to you to decide what price you want charge your customers for each piece of clothing. However, the only disadvantage is that all clothes need to be in good state and somewhat trendy, so maybe the grandma’s sweater will not be on the top seller list.

c) GIVE THEM TO A SECOND-HAND STORE

Giving your clothes away to a second-hand store is a easy way to get rid of them. The only disadvantage is that the store usually gives you a very low sum of money back, so it is definitely not as profitable as selling your clothes yourself.

d) REPURPOSE THEM

Many pieces of clothing can look outdated, old or just very ugly. However, this does not mean that they don’t have potential. This is the time for you to put your sewing skills into practice and give your clothes a second chance. Sometimes a dress can have a high quality fabric so just try to enhance it by giving the dress a more modern fit.

I hope this inspired you and remember to check out @shop_eles_closet on Instagram!

4 Types of Clothes You Own But You Don’t Need (And How to Get Rid of Them)