Could you give up clothes for good?
How much of your wardrobe do you actually wear now you have children? Be honest…
We’re currently doing a massive house clearout (more ‘loft conversion happening imminently’ than ‘Marie Kondo can-do’) and although we’re trying to get rid of everything currently in the loft, it’s making me think about things I don’t really need in my own wardrobe. Mainly because we really need all the spare wardrobe space we can get for redistributing all the…stuff from the loft.
There are a lot of things in my post-baby wardrobe I’m probably never going to wear again. Things like:
- Ten hundred breton striped tops. OK, I wear these all the time, but I don’t really need so many slight variations on a theme (Do I? Do I?)
- Anything in the ‘smart office’ category (I work from home. Dress code: get dressed)
- Anything in the ‘going out; twenties style’ category (see: two children)
- Things that were vaguely fashionable / uncomfortable a few years ago, but I haven’t worn because of pregnancy then breastfeeding then pregnancy then breastfeeding
- The gold shoes I wore on my hen do and never again since. The chances of these getting an outing to playgroup are exactly nil
- Actually, anything with a heel
- All of the many things that are not 100% right
- Dry clean only; no chance
- Maternity clothes…just…on the off-chance.
Have you heard of the Give up Clothes initiative? If you’re undertaking any kind of household clearout then you can take your used clothes, accessories and homeware to any TK Maxx store. The items will then be passed along for sale in Cancer Research UK charity shops, and the proceeds are used to fight children’s cancer. Since 2004 the campaign has raised £22million for Cancer Research, with £18m of this invested directly into research into childhood cancers.
We currently have three giant bin bags full of clothes to get rid of – here’s us playing around on the bed with some of them – so will be dragging it all down the road to our local TK Maxx. There are permanent donation points in every store, so you can donate year-round. And while you’re there you can always have a good rummage around in for mostriped tops (what else?!)
What items of clothing in your wardrobe do you know you won’t wear again? Go on, be truthful…
This post is in collaboration with TK Maxx. More info on Give up Clothes is available here.
More posts…perfect parkas for the park, winning at twinning and simple tips for stress-free newborn dressing
14 Comments
Alison
February 15, 2016 at 9:07 am
It’s SO HARD to say goodbye to some of those clothes though, isn’t it? We’re about to embark on a similar declutter (no loft conversion sadly but we need to reorganise the whole house!). Love the sound of the TKMaxx campaign.
gillian
February 17, 2016 at 8:20 pm
Really hard! I’m always gripped with the fear that I might want them in twelve months time. Although I clearly won’t, will I? x
Mel Wiggins
February 15, 2016 at 11:38 am
Awesome! We have just had our attic rooms done up and it has forced a massive clear out too – so liberating! This sounds like a win win way to donate all those impulse buys and ‘wore once’ bits and pieces! x
gillian
February 17, 2016 at 8:19 pm
How was it, was it really disruptive? Has it changed your house? xx
Jess @ Along Came Cherry
February 16, 2016 at 7:57 am
I love decluttering, in fact the boot of my car is always full of things we are getting rid of but then I end up driving around with them there for months! I have got rid of loads of clothes but there are still so many that could go, I have about 50 vintage skirts but in reality I only ever shove on trousers and a jumper in every day life. I’m trying to do the whole ‘if you haven’t worn it in a year then you probably won’t again’ thing. This sounds great, will have to drop one of the many bags of clothes in my boot off at a TK Maxx store x
gillian
February 17, 2016 at 8:18 pm
This makes me feel loads better! If we had a car it would be exactly the same (everything’s just up in the loft). I always think I should do that American ‘shop your wardrobe’ things but it never happens really x
Slummy single mummy
February 17, 2016 at 1:50 pm
You know, I actually feel pretty smug reading this, as I am the total opposite of a hoarder and am very good and keeping my clothes in order. I have half a wardrobe and one large drawer of things I wear regularly and that’s it! (You see? How smug am I?!)
gillian
February 17, 2016 at 8:15 pm
I would be smug if that was me! Please send all your tips this way…:-) x
Lori
February 18, 2016 at 10:53 am
What a great idea, I swear there are sooooo many shoes that are not going to see the light of day again unless I retrain myself to walk in killer heels. My core muscles just don’t cut it anymore lol. A huge clear out is in order I think x
Kathryn
February 18, 2016 at 2:21 pm
The answer is no, i don’t think i could give up clothes for good, I love them too much (tragically). But I’ve also become stricter with myself as I’ve got older and only buy stuff I know I’ll wear a lot. For example, I never buy any footwear with a high heel because I just get nowhere fast. Breton tops are essential but weed out regularly. Same goes for jeans. A good clear out is important but then I just replenish :-/ xx
Rachel
February 19, 2016 at 4:35 pm
I have to admit to being confused by the title – having read it as “giving up clothes for ever” rather than for a good cause (as in, no, I am not ready to go naked or never buy anything again).
Getting rid of clothes I am not using or wearing though, yes! I gave 10 bags to Cancer research a while ago and need to go through everything again.
PS. What is the benefit to giving them to TK Maxx rather than straight to Cancer Research?
gillian
February 21, 2016 at 10:38 am
Yep, it was a play on words 😉 Ten bags is impressive! Guessing it’s good if you’re near a TK Maxx but not charity shops (if you work in town, for e.g.?) x
fritha
February 19, 2016 at 9:38 pm
haha dry clean clothes, I have those that I’ve worn once and literally have lived in a wash basket for 3 years! I wish they’d collect from you as we find it tricky to get our donations to places without a car but this is such a great idea (I’d just have to not buy anything whilst I was there!) x
gillian
February 21, 2016 at 10:44 am
I know, what’s that point of them? Although someone told me on Twitter that you can wash them on a 30 degree wash and they’ll be fine? We’re the same, wish they did collect, it would be loads easier! x