# Do You Have Clothes You Never Wear? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 20, 2009, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-clothes-you-never-wear/500367 "2009-06-20T03:08:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Lamia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Lamia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamia)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2009, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-clothes-you-never-wear/500367/21 "2009-06-21T18:44:31Z")
I have a few, but only a few, clothes that I have never worn. Some were gifts, some were things that seemed better in the store (often sale items) than they did at home. A couple are things that I realized weren’t really a good color on me or look frumpy. I feel bad getting rid of these things because they fit and there’s nothing wrong with them. I probably have more things that I don’t wear _anymore_, either because they don’t fit (but I hope to someday get back into them), I used to wear them a lot and got tired of them, or they’re too youthful/out of style but I still have a sentimental attachment to them. A while back I did decide to be tough on myself and, since I wanted to buy some new summer work clothes, told myself that I’d need to clear out some closet space first. I made myself pick out at least ten things to take to Goodwill. In the end I actually managed to part with 12 items, although I probably could have done 15 or more if I’d been totally honest about what I never wear. But I think for people with this problem then “Nothing new comes in unless something old goes out” is a good rule to make yourself obey. The last time I moved I also decided that there was no reason for sentimental items like old rock concert or school club t-shirts to be taking up dresser space. I bought one of those under the bed storage containers and rolled up all such shirts and put them away. If I ever want them for a school reunion or to show off at a concert that I saw this band way back when then I know where they are, but they aren’t in my way on a daily basis. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2009, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-clothes-you-never-wear/500367/22 "2009-06-22T03:39:57Z")
> [@don\_t\_ask](#): > > You never see the stains on anything you wear, even once in a while, and then wash, but things that sit on hangers for years accumulate all sorts of stains particularly if there are smokers in the house or you live near a railway line. > > [music] passage of time [/music] > > Well I just went upstairs to check all the stuff in my closet and none show signs of what I mean but honestly I used to regularly find light coloured shirts and jackets with permanent stains just from hanging in the closet. Yeah, I can confirm age stains. I’ve seen them on items that were stored away in bins over time. Have to wash them once if I want to wear them again. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2009, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-clothes-you-never-wear/500367/23 "2009-06-22T14:35:36Z")
> [@gravitycrash](#): > > Way too many but I’ll try to sum them up: > > Wishful thinking clothes… when I lose thirty pounds I might just be able to get my ass into them. > > WTF clothes… Usually bought when on a bender. Hey, they may look good on me next decade. > > Out of style clothes…same as WTF clothes. > > The above mentioned take up a good 3/4 of my closet space. I have about 10 outfits for work in regular rotation and about the same amount for leisure. Same here. ---
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2009, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-clothes-you-never-wear/500367/24 "2009-06-22T16:40:21Z")
Yup - probably a third or more of my closet. Stuff that’s too big (because I’ve lost weight since I bought it) or stuff that’s too small (because I’ve gained weight since I bought it). Stuff that’s old but Mrs. Homie won’t let me throw away, and stuff that’s fugly but Mrs. Homie’s mom bought it for me so I can’t throw it away. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2009, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-clothes-you-never-wear/500367/25 "2009-06-22T18:54:26Z")
I’m pretty good about getting rid of stuff because clutter gets on my nerves, but there are a few things. One is a skirt I bought just because the pattern reminded me of the illustrations in one of my favorite childhood books. It fit and I wore it a few times, but now I’m too old to wear a skirt that short. But I can’t throw it away because the pattern makes me happy! Another is a long silky beautiful robe. I don’t know about you guys, but I either roll out of bed and get dressed, or slop around in T-shirt and undies. There is no “robe-time”. But it’s so beautiful…what if I want to wear a robe someday? Then there’s my wedding dress. It still fits and it’s not too obviously wedding-y. I could use it again if I had a fancy-dress occasion. Of course, my husband would have a fit if I recycled like that…some sort of weird sentimental thing. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2009, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-clothes-you-never-wear/500367/26 "2009-06-22T19:16:37Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > I have the front half of the t-shirt I was wearing the day I first soloed an airplane. So your first solo didn’t work out too well, then. 😉 I have a T-shirt my college judo club gave me that doesn’t fit anymore. Everything else that doesn’t fit is gone. Our church has a huge rummage sale every September. If I haven’t worn it since the last sale, out it goes. Regards, Shodan [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-clothes-you-never-wear/500367.md?page=1)