The Sewing Place
The Emporia => In the wardrobe => Topic started by: SewRuthieSews on September 15, 2021, 20:14:19 PM
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I'm going to have a wardrobe sort out now we've moved.
I did have a clear out before I moved of things that were too small or constricting in any way.
I'm now wondering if I need to get rid of anything largely polyester as they are horrible when a hot flush hits.
I'm also not sure I want anything 100% wool, as that's too warm.
Also I have a lot of coats, and lots of footwear of various comfort levels.
I am doing more social activities and not going in an office anymore, so I guess that changes what's useful in a wardrobe.
Anyone done something similar? And if so how did you tackle it?
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I did when I started with the flushes, everything apart from my coats that wasn't cotton or linen including my bra's got disposed of to either the charity shop or the clothing bins at the recycling centre.
It nearly broke my heart to do it but I was getting the flushes so badly and frequently I had to do something. I'm still getting them now 20 years on from when they started but not as many or as badly.
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@Surest1tch - 20 years? oh heck!
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@Surest1tch - 20 years? oh heck!
That's not normal! Might actually be from other causes. Usually it's 2 years or less. It's made worse by being overweight, drinking alcohol or caffeine, smoking or eating spicy foods. Lots of self help info online. Best remedy is estrogen. Read up once you get settled in then consult your doctor.
For the wardrobe, pitching most polyester makes sense to me. Since you like to go for walks retaining some woolens might be practical. If they fit now remember that the hot flashes will go away and then you'll want them. I imagine you can have a good sort out of the shoes. Separate them by types to make that easier. I'm hoping you'll be able to stay retired in which case you'll need one or two smart looking work/ funeral outfits including shoes. The rest of those can go.
I've been procrastinating on doing this. I have all sorts of clothes and almost nothing that I wear. The closet and dresser are pretty full. I'm planning on one to two dresser drawers this evening after I change the bedding. Before the cats get to the bed. :meow:
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Sounds like a plan getting rid of polyester. I fetched a little jacket with me here and I wore it yesterday evening but the sleeve lining is poly and after a very short while I was running with sweat, so that will be looked at to see if I can alter or else it's going.
I have a lot of clothes again after a boring period of lockdown with nothing much to do apart from sew. I try to work on a one in one out policy but it has gotten away from me big time recently so some serious pruning will happen soon. I am also rapidly coming to the conclusion that I really don't enjoy sewing for me and I do enjoy clothes shopping. Yesterday I bought a pair of trousers and a great shirt in no time at all. No fabric hunting, pattern adjusting, sewing unpicking sewing unpicking. Quite a nice experience instead
My normal sorting out policy is anything that doesn't fit etc goes, then I sort by sets - each thing has to work with at least 2 other things - orphans not allowed, mind you I've done that for years so no real room for pruning there, but it might give you a start point.
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I've done a similar (quite brutal) sort out since being redundant in March 2020.
I always check fabric labels before buying anything RTW and avoid 100% polyester.
Viscose is ok and doesn't make me too hot. I make a lot of viscose tops and always ask the fabric retailer to confirm it's 100% viscose. Immanuels are very helpful about this.
I kept a couple of formal jackets/trousers/dresses.
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My method of wardrobe organisation is simple. Wear black with occasional purple, red or silver.
That way everything goes together :laughing:
I am now reaching the point of having bought clothes in lockdown that I really don't like but didn't have much choice as I lost weight after my thyroid began to behave itself. I bought what I could in Tesco but they had limited availability of black :[
It goes against the grain to get rid of things I have had less than a year, but I will probably never wear them so a clear out is inevitable I suppose. Especially as so much of it is really useless for those hot flush moments! I have had them for getting on for 10 years now and it is beginning to irritate no end!
BB
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When I got made redundant and realised I wouldn't be working again, I had almost nothing to wear apart from some jeans and tops.
It took a while to assemble a coherent wardrobe for my new way of life. I never wore polyester if I could help it, wool suits for winter and linen/cotton for summer. I hate sewing polyester ,just all natural fibres.
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Same happened to me, no more work as such so most of the wardrobe is redundant, I have sorted some of it but still need to do more. Shoes and boots are my nightmare I have way too many but a lot are still new or in excellent condition, I am finding it difficult to get rid of them.
At the moment I am not going out hardly at all and that makes it much more difficult to make the right decisions. If I threw all everything out I haven’t worn in the last 18 months I would keep very little :loveit: :loveit:
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@Renegade Sewist, apparently it is normal, something to do with genetics :'(. My grandmother was still getting them right up to when she died in her late 80's and my mother who is 90 is still getting them, so it looks like I'm going to be stuck with them :'( :'( :'( :'(.
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@Renegade Sewist, apparently it is normal, something to do with genetics :'(. My grandmother was still getting them right up to when she died in her late 80's and my mother who is 90 is still getting them, so it looks like I'm going to be stuck with them :'( :'( :'( :'(.
Oh joy. It's like when I found out about adult acne. Noooo! I think I finally stopped breaking out after menopause had firmly set in.
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I think for now I may unpack the bags, but fold things up and store in cupboard for when there is less chaos.
I have loads of shoes and boots but most are not great for walking which I do more now (I used to drive to work and switch to trainers for lunchtime walk).
I suppose I could try and sell a few bits on ebay and charity shop/recycle the rest.
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I read somewhere that women wear 20% of their clothes 80% of the time and 80% is worn 20%. I now try to only make or buy something that I know I will wear on a regular basis although I don’t always succeed.
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I can imagine you're in a dilemma @SewRuthieSews. I find shoes and boots the hardest to sort. I'd toss any you no longer like but hold on to any that you do and would be hard to replace if you needed to. Maybe hold for a year to take you through all seasons in your new settings. I need to do a sort myself!
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I think for now I may unpack the bags, but fold things up and store in cupboard for when there is less chaos.
I suppose I could try and sell a few bits on ebay and charity shop/recycle the rest.
That way lies doing nothing with them! If you unpack and immediately sort out into recycle and sale bags then go the extra yard and take those to the charity shop then that's job done!
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@SewRuthieSews are you planning to ever work again? If not then there is probably no point in keeping work only clothes. I never had strictly work clothes. It was more private at home vs public wardrobes.
I've been looking at consignment shops for some of my higher end boutique items that are now too big for me after losing 20lbs. They cost too much for me to want to donate to a charity shop. Not really interested in going the eBay route. I loved eBay when it was strictly an auction site but don't like what it has morphed into. Plus with all the fees it feels like the net amount I'd make would be minimal. What will probably happen is after enough time passes I will be able to more easily get rid of an item. I imagine consignment would be less hassle and probably would end up with the same amount in pocket.
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Definitely get rid of the polyester - though donate or repurpose what you can! Hold onto the wool unless it's awful, though. Might be because I'm in the northeast but there's usually a few weeks in winter when even my least successful knits get worn. I've also found that now I'm past perimenopause, I occasionally feel the cold again.
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Another suggestion @SewRuthieSews. Have you thought about making up outfits including shoes, bag and outerwear (even if you probably won't need it)? Maybe allow 2 tops for each bottom and 2 options of footwear but don't keep if just 'okay'. If something doesn't work ditch it.
This is something I've done this spring/summer. I've found I've worn fewer clothes (and found out what doesn't really 'go' with anything at all!) but many more on rotation than I've done in the past. I've felt happier knowing if I wear said skirt/pants which tops go well and don't get fed up deciding what to wear. I'm going to have a good sort as I put away very summer clothing and shoes. I have too many 'oddments'. I'm going to try it for summer/autumn and then autumn/winter.
I'm hoping to end up with fewer clothes!
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But I spent good money on it
Yes, I know I can't remember when I wore it
But I spent good money on it
Yes, it's black and black is draining - I look better in paler colours
But I spent good money on it
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@Sewingsue Yes, you spent good money on it. Put it on ebay.
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If you are on Facebook try Marketplace