Let’s admit it. Just about all of us girls have too many clothes pushed and shoved into our closets, and most of it we don’t wear. It can be hard to let go of some of those clothes. That sparkly dress you wore on NYE ’09, that worn-down pare of denim that has retired to the back of your closet, or that gorgeous pare of heels you got at a major shoe sale half off but hare half a size too small and haven’t left the plastic.
But soon, this overflowing mess becomes too much to handle and the closet monsters begin to overflow into your room. Let’s be real, no one needs that. First step? Set aside some time in your schedule and really purge that deep hole. Or decide to do a few items one day and another the next weekend.
Ask yourself a few questions. Does this fit? Have I worn it in the last 12 months? Will I ever wear this again? Does this actually represent my style? Is this broken and will I actually make the effort to get it repaired? If I was shopping right now, would I buy this? If any of these were no, get ready to toss it.
While you could sell it, a lot of us wear our clothes until they are falling off the seams. Why not try donating those unwanted items to charity? There are many other not-for-profit institutions to look into outside of Goodwill and the Salvation Army too. Here are a few:
- Dress for Success is a not-for-profit that sponsors financial independence of disadvantaged women, helping them with their career but also professional attire. They ask for new or nearly new and cleaned interview-appropriate attire.
- Pick Up Please is a national nonprofit that focuses its efforts on American veterans and their families. It asks for all clothing styles and can even pick up at your home.
- Find a local women’s shelter as they are always in need.
- Have an old prom dress you never wear? Check out the Cinderella Project, a charity program that collects gowns and accessories for disadvantaged girls and helps them experience prom.