Questions as I'm de-cluttering

B

BAM

Cathlete
I'm in the basement and there's lots to do. I'm going through some clothes and am not sure what to do with the following:

1.) Pants that I have with pleats and/or a narrow cut at the bottom. I know people wear whatever they want and things come back in style but do I get rid of these?

2.) Clothes that I'd like to donate or put in a consignment shop but are not in season. I have things for fall and winter that I'd like to get rid of but do I hold on to the ones I would like to try and get some money for until fall?

3.) Clothes that I haven't worn in ages but are still in style. The reason I haven't worn them is a long story but basically because there's been many periods that I hadn't worked or gone out socially so the clothes would sit there. It's not because I don't like them but because I just wasn't out in the world to be able to wear them.

ETA: 4.) What about winter jackets? I'd like to get rid of some now but again, they're out of season.

O.K., that's it for the moment but I'll be back with more questions, I'm sure. Thanks for all your help! :)
 
IMO if you haven't worn them in at least 6-12 months then get rid of them. again IMO i just donate to who would take them(goodwill,salvation army,any shelters that need such items to help folks out). with tough times thrift stores are all the rage and even teens are learning how to sew to make fashionable clothes.

i think if there is a need whether in season or not, they will take them. in fact ppl were going nuts over long sleeve shirts at goodwill yesterday b/c they say "hey for $3 its worth putting away until the fall". if its in the way get it out of the way!!!

kassia, who re-iterates JMHO!
 
I'm with Kassia on this one. Get the stuff out the door! If you feel like you will really get some $$ for things and have enough room to hold onto that stuff then.... OK. But mostly I'm for bagging it all up and dropping it off as quickly as possible.

I'd go through your fancy and/or rarely worn things and just keep the things you love the most.
 
I just cleaned out my closets last months and had well over 10 garbage bags of clothes. Bring them to the Salvation Army. After calling over 10 shelters/rescue missions/etc they did not want the clothes. They said they had enough already. I brought some stuff to a consignment shop and they were extremely picky. They kept some of my stuff but the rest they rejected because it was not new/modern enough (and I had some beautiful expensive 3 piece suits that are still in style...they just don't fit anymore). I was quite shocked by how many places just didn't want the stuff. Save yourself the time and hassle and bring it to the salvation army where they take everything.
 
I agree--give it to the salvation army. Goodwill is good too. Get a receipt for taxes--you'll probably save about as much deducting from your taxes as you would have made selling the stuff, and with much less hassle!
 
O.K., O.K., I get the hint! :) It's tough when you KNOW some things will come back in style. I have to be quite conservative on my spending so I think holding onto them helps me think I may not have to invest more in the future. Thanks for your help!

Oh, but one other thing. Who's going to wring out my handkerchief full of my tears when I feel like I'm letting go of treasures? :-( :7
 
Hi,

I know exactly how you feel. I just filled 4 big garbage bags full of clothes from my "off Season" closet. Once I read through the other thread that started this ( Yeah thanks!)...I just started throwing things in the bags. I feel so good about it. There were only 2 or 3 things that I put in the bag, then took back out because I felt I would wear them again . Otherwise, everything stayed in. I even had suits and dresses that were in cleaners bags that I had never worn after having them cleaned! I don;t even want to try to go to a consignment shop... I just take everything to AmVets. They take everything and give you a receipt.

This feels so good, I wish I could get my DH to do the same with his stuff!

Deb
 
Thanks to those who mentioned about getting a receipt. I would have forgotten about that. How do you determine what the value is and do you have to itemize everything?
 
I'm hoping like he!! that pants with pleats and narrow ankles won't come back;)

I agree. Get it out the door however you can. Holding onto it is just prolonging the agony. What kinds of things are you tossing that you're going to cry over? Would taking pictures of them help?
 
OMG, Shelley, it's a good thing you're not here. You'd probably remove everything I have and start from scratch! :7
 
>3.) Clothes that I haven't worn in ages but are still in style. The reason I haven't worn them is a long story but basically because there's been many periods that I hadn't worked or gone out socially so the clothes would sit there. It's not because I don't like them but because I just wasn't out in the world to be able to wear them.


Those are the hardest for me to let go of, the special occasion outfits. I'd tend to hang onto them. But from what you said of the rest - let 'em go!

Also, and this is what I hate... special occasion outfits handed down to me!! x( My mom got married in a silk suit (2nd marriage, to my step-dad, they've been married over 40 years) that she had tailored in Hong Kong. It came complete with a top she crocheted herself. She just said, "Here, you take it. It doesn't fit me anymore."

Okay, lovely. But it's over 40 years old and you can imagine the style! Think Jackie O. She's tiny, I'm fairly petite. There's really not enough room to re-style it any way you go about it. But do I dare get rid of it, knowing the sentiment my mom has to it? Ugh!

I also have a couple of suits of my late grandma's. They're nice, haven't gone out of style - but I have no occasion to wear a suit. Okay, those should go - right?

Diane
 
Diane, I don't think "I" should answer that one! :7 I have gotten rid of quite a few things but there still are some things I'm not getting rid of yet. Sometimes it takes more than one round to do a complete clearing out. If you don't think you'd ever wear a suit, then wish them well on their way out or perhaps you could hold onto one of them if you really like it. I know, decisions, decisions. I don't like passed down stuff too much because you do feel obligated to keep them.
 
Diane, I say get rid of your mother's and grandmother's clothes. They may have given them to you because they felt guilty donating them themselves. You shouldn't feel obligated to hang on to someone else's memories. You won't wear them; pass them on to someone who might!
 
BAM and Lulu Belle,

Okay, the silk wedding suit is definitely going. And you seem to be split on the more in-style suits that I may never wear. Maybe I should just keep one of them, or see if the jackets work with jeans.

Grandma certainly doesn't care at this stage. Mom, well.... hopefully she never asks. ;-)

Diane
 
>>.....Maybe I should just keep one of them, or see if the jackets work with jeans......>>>>>

Ah, Diane, now that's a good thought. You could break up the suits and use what you can from them. I see some new outfits in your future. :7
 
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