How many pieces of clothing do you own? Dozens? Hundreds? The average UK adult’s wardrobe contains 118 items, including underwear, according to environmental charity Wrap. That shocked me until I started counting my own clothing mountain and reached number 237, at which point I had to stop and write this newsletter.
When the Filter asked me to spend March testing six ways to consume less, I didn’t expect fashion to feature much: I work from home wearing boys’ joggers from Asda (they’re cheap, and they fit my sub-5ft frame perfectly). But after auditing my belongings as part of the challenge, I have to ’fess up, not least to myself: I’ve been over-buying clothes for years.
Most of my fashion landfill dates back to my insecure 30s and 40s, when I’d panic-barge through H&M on my way home from work, buying whatever I felt I should be wearing. Much of this has been squirrelled away in the loft for years, and I reached it late in my anti-consumption challenge, after clearing away the half-ton of homewares it was hiding behind. Sorting through it has laid bare the buying mistakes I made for years. For every much-loved piece (the band T-shirt I wore almost daily at university) are scores of items I bought and never wore (13 pairs of jeans that don’t quite fit; umpteen dresses bought even though I don’t wear dresses; an electric blue ra-ra skirt I swear I’ve never seen before).
I’ve bagged up 90% of it and am taking it, bit by bit, to my local charity shop. I’m treating the other 10% to a fashion reassessment. To help with this, I’m taking photos of the potentially wearable pieces and using the wardrobe-organising apps Whering and Acloset. This has already breathed new life into some pieces I’d written off. Who knew that a ra-ra skirt and a giant pyjama top would go so well together?
A no-new-clothes pledge
Comparing the items in my unworn wardrobe with those I wear on rotation (about 20), a surprising pattern emerged. My favourites were often bought secondhand, costing between 50p and £2.50 each. My beloved black Fat Face trousers, the Salisbury 10-miler running top, the playsuit that began my Turtledove obsession.
I’m not sure why I choose more successfully when buying secondhand. Maybe I can afford better quality at preloved prices, or perhaps I’m more relaxed in charity shops than in a crowded Primark – or online, where I can’t try on, touch or even properly see the pieces. Whatever the reason, I’ve now made a resolution to buy no new clothes for the next year, undies excepted. See you back here in a year for the lowdown.
This week’s picks
Editor’s pick
If you’re as nosy as I am, you’ve probably enjoyed hearing about the everyday items celebrities buy in our How I Shop series, from Henry Holland’s brand of boxers to Jo Malone’s favourite olive oil and Ben Fogle’s bougie toothpaste. This week, queen of New York City Kim Cattrall boasts her British credentials, telling us about her favourite teabags and the best place to get fish and chips. (And if you’d rather hear chef Tom Hunt’s pick of the best teabags, you can read yesterday’s Food Filter.)
Monica Horridge
Deputy editor, the Filter
In case you missed it …
At this time of year, it can be cold, then hot, then cold again, all within a 10-minute trek to the bus stop. Our guide to the best light jackets for women will have you covered for every flavour of springtime weather, from a shower-proof jacket to a lightweight barn jacket.
Get involved
Everyone loves a holiday, but sometimes they can be, well, kind of annoying. What have you discovered that has made your holidays better? From the packing cubes that make it easier to cram everything back into your suitcase to a travel towel that doesn’t feel like you’re drying yourself with crepe paper, let us know by replying to this newsletter or emailing us at thefilter@theguardian.com.
