I like your method @TempeMom . I think I’ll try that one. I do have to say I do hold on to some shorts or pants if my weight fluctuates. It never does more than 5 to 7 lbs, but for me that’s a whole pant size.
Kajon- had that same experience. I now just give things to the thrift store.
I’m due another closet cleaning. Where I am bad is “dress up” clothes. I don’t thend to purge that section of the closet. I should because some of the stuff is 20’years old and I doubt I’d wear it again. Same with “dress” shoes.
I also need to do a clean out of the jeans. Some of them are out of style and others have become baggy in the rear. Or some I bought and ended up not loving them. Living in Ca I don’t do the switch out the seasonal clothes and my closet is fairly big which leads to bad habits.
My oldest has been basically the same size since age 13. She has a dresser and large closet full of clothes at my house. I keep meaning to get her to purge. I don’t need the closet space which is why I think I’ve not pushed it.
My MIL is the worst. She has clothes from when her kids were children. Granted the grandchildren have always enjoyed taking home pieces of clothing that had belonged to their parent. The other day my oldest wore a t shirt that said It’s better in the Bahamas. She picked the shirt up at her grandma house when she was in junior high. She is now 30. It had belonged to her aunt when her aunt was 17.
You might feel even better if you give your reasonable-quality used clothes to a “clothing-closet” organization, that is, one that provides free clothes to people in need.
I’ll give something in perfect condition about two years, then if not worn I give it away. Anything that’s stained, pilled, etc., I get rid of immediately. I hate closet clutter. I hate to hang onto things that someone else can use before it goes out of style.
The only items I’ve kept indefinitely are either keepsake or truly unique designer items that someone may want someday. I have a large cedar closet, so it’s not a big deal to keep those things.
I have settled into 3 years with day to day clothes…if I haven’t worn it in 3 years out it goes. I kept a couple suits but I think those will be going in next year’s purge. I, too, have trouble giving away cocktail dresses and two long formal gowns…just can’t believe I will never dress up again in my life.
I have two categories of clothes that I cannot bring myself to get rid off. Evening clothes/fancy dresses which I will probably never ever wear again. And over 25% of my closet has been taken over with ‘costumes’ from years of dance shows. I need to clear out both these areas.
I am pretty good about going through regular items about once a year but I really need to throw out my corporate pant suits. I keep thinking I might need to go interview for a job someday. I’m pretty sure I’m not going to make a good first impression with those old things!
There is a donation box in the basement, where our laundry room is, and I toss things in there when I’m in the mood.
When going through clothes, I usually ask myself if I’ve worn it in the last year, if I’d miss it if it were to disappear, etc.
I’ve found I tend to grab the same favorites to wear over and over again. If something is not in rotation, it’s a prime target for the donation bin.
My closet somewhat decides for me. If it’s too packed, it’s time to purge. I try to be honest with myself: do I really LIKE this? If not, odds are I haven’t worn it much, and there’s no reason to keep it.
I go through my closet twice a year. If I haven’t worn something in the last year - it’s out. Someone else can use it. People will happily buy donated clothing that is a few years old, but no one wants dated stuff that is 10 or 15 or 20 years old. I have kept one dress from college and one from HS. I have a few (very few) baby items my kids wore.
When I had S my in laws brought H’s entire baby wardrobe! The clothing was 39 years old and had been sitting in an attic. I had to throw it all in the trash which was unfortunate because someone could have used those things years ago.
I get rid of them when I ruin them – when there’s a stain that won’t come out, or a sweater has a very visible snag, or there’s a hole or rip in a garment that can’t be fixed without having it show.
These things happen often enough that I rarely need to get rid of clothing for any other reason.
I’m something of a klutz.
If I haven’t worn regular clothes for two years…they get donated! Or given away.
For things like special dresses, it depends. I have a silk two piece dress I haven’t worn in a few years…but it’s a classic…so I’m keeping it.probably will wear it to DH’s office party this year.
Regular clothes??
I think she meant clothes that you wear regularly – like what you wear to work – as opposed to special occasion clothes.
I think most of us we are a combination of work clothes and “regular clothes”. I wear dresses, skirts and tunic top/leggings. Also jeans sweaters etc. Sometimes dressier slacks and jackets for everyday wear for dinner etc. Just a bit confused by the terminology
As I sit here wearing a well loved, super soft, long-sleeved tee shirt, that is a bit frayed on the cuffs, and a pair of sweat pants that I bought when I found out I was expecting DS, I guess I should answer probably not often enough.
I have never been one to spend a lot of money on my wardrobe, I simply never cared enough. I regularly wear sweaters and jeans that are older than my pups - but I bought solid colors, sturdy fabrics, with a classic cut that as far as I am concerned, never goes out of style.
If clothing gets stained , then it becomes a gardening or painting shirt. It it gets torn, it gets mended. If beyond repair, it gets cut into small squares for the “quilting” pile. We have a group of friends / seniors at our library who get together twice a month for a couple hours to make patch quilts, then these are raffled/auctioned to benefit the library or scholarship funds.
I love clothes. I love to buy clothes. I have a lot of clothes. Lol!
I try to go through my clothes twice a year. I really have been trying to purge ruthlessly. 3 or 4 piles. One, stuff that is torn or stained, throw away. Actually when I stain stuff, I usually just throw it away then. 2, stuff to donate. 3, stuff to consignment shop. This is new, I used to just donate it. But now I do take it to consignment. I’m very picky and she accepts most of my stuff as long as it’s in season. 4, high end athletic clothing that doesn’t fit right. That I give to my d, she’s smaller than me if she can’t wear it, I ask her to give to gym friends.
I am trying (somewhat unsuccessfully) to only buy clothes I love. I used to buy clothes on sale. Now I pay more but get what I really want.
As i was telling our new intern the other day, I have regularly-worn shoes in my closet that are older than you.
I have been this size forever, so my reasons for getting rid of things are: 1) haven’t worn it in a year; 2) it’s out of fashion and isn’t well made enough to look good when it comes back into style; 3) it isn’t that comfortable or it requires some kind of weird foundational garment to look good; 4) I am buying a better or nicer version of it and would feel guilty if I kept it; 5) I see some obviously poor person in the grocery store and think, someone like that would probably love to find this at a thrift store while it is still in good shape and in style 6) every other thing in my wardrobe is navy blue and I can certainly spare this one item 
“Regular clothes” may be a regional thing. I heard it all the time growing up in the midwest. Regular clothes were for school or play, dress-up clothes were for church on Sundays.
Will the clothing deemed to be ‘irregular’ by default of not being ‘regular’ feel insulted or micro aggressed? Do we need to change the wording in oder to avoid offending certain clothing items… 
?
One never knows these days and it’s tough to keep up with it all.