How to Stop Buying Clothes You Never Wear

Picture this: It’s a Saturday, you’re browsing through stores, and you fall in love with a piece. You take it home, place it in your wardrobe… with the tag still attached. A year later, you’re putting it up on Vinted.

Sound familiar?

It’s completely normal. Most of us wear only a small fraction of our wardrobe. Sometimes, it’s a matter of seasonal cycles and we can’t wear it all at once. But more often, it’s just a bad purchase.

As a wardrobe detox expert, I see this all the time.

👉 Here are the top five types of clothes we buy… but never wear:

1️⃣ The “For an Event” Purchase

You bought it for a special occasion… but at the last minute, you reached for your go-to outfit instead. Familiarity and comfort always win.

2️⃣ The Unnecessary Duplicate

You already own the perfect navy crewneck sweater… but you buy another one “just in case.” The result? You always reach for the first one you bought, which was perfect.

3️⃣ The Pressure Buy

This is common in second-hand shops: “It’s a unique piece! If you leave, it’ll be gone forever!” You give in… but if you never wear it, what was the point?

4️⃣ The “Orphan” Piece

It’s stunning… but it doesn’t go with anything in your wardrobe. Or then: it only works with one specific outfit.

5️⃣ The “False Compromise”

You dream of owning that Toteme coat. Instead, you buy a dupe. Then another. And another. In the end? You could have saved up for the original.

How to Avoid These Traps

Because yes, unworn clothes are frustrating. They remind us of wasted money. And often, when we add up these purchases, we realise we could have invested in a truly beautiful, high-quality piece instead.

Here are my best tips to shop smarter:

✔ Craving an expensive piece? Write down every avoided impulse buy and track your savings. You’ll afford your dream item sooner than you think.

✔ Before purchasing, ask yourself: Does this replace a worn-out item? Do I truly need a new one?

✔ Dealing with a pushy sales assistant? Ask them to hold the item until the end of the day. If they refuse, they’re just pressuring you into buying.

✔ The ultimate test: Can you style this piece into five outfits using only what’s already in your wardrobe? If not, it’s likely to sit unworn.

✔ Need an outfit for a special event? Why not try WhereWear, a peer-to-peer clothing rental service? It’s cheaper and smarter.

💬 What’s hiding unworn in your wardrobe? Tell me in the comments! 👇

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