Keep, fix, charity...

Yesterday I spent the afternoon having a good old clear out, sorting through my clothes in preparation for spring (although, with snow forecast this evening, I don't know why I bothered!). As always when I have the urge to purge, I ended up with three piles of clothes: one for charity/recycling; one for fixing up; and one for keeps.

These are the simple rules to my system (please note: they don't apply to things that are vintage or have sentimental value!):

* If an item is faded, torn, marked etc, it goes in the recycling pile.
* If I haven’t worn an item for over a year/I must have been having a funny turn when I bought it/it doesn't fit, it goes in the charity pile.
* If it needs a simple repair, like a button sewing on/hem taken up, it goes in my fix-it pile to be sorted out next time I'm watching a film.
* If it needs a more complex alteration, it goes in the fix-it pile ready to be taken to a tailor.
* If an item is in good condition, fits well and I enjoy wearing it, it earns its place back in my wardrobe.

As I've never been a great hoarder, I'm normally pretty good at sticking to the rules. Although I'm not totally ruthless - occasionally I have a change of heart, and slip something back into the wardrobe... where it hangs, unworn, until the next purge.