Contrary to what Instagram would have you believe, curating the perfect wardrobe is hard. You’re constantly towing the line between investing in classic pieces and splurging on those more fun, trend-driven buys, deciding whether to go established designer, or new-name, or to skimp out on the fast-fashion alternative.
As you get older, separating the wheat from the chaff gets easier. You become more discerning and (in theory) wiser when it comes to your sartorial decision-making. But if you explore your wardrobe thoroughly enough, you’ll still find the odd piece that needs to be banished to its rightful place—be that eBay, the charity shop donation bin, or the actual bin.
Fortunately, on October 21, 2023, Uber and Red Cross are bringing back their donation drive, through which you can have your old clothes picked up from your doorstep for free.
Via the ‘Package’ section on the Uber app, you can order the service to your door, where a driver will collect up to 20kg of your unwanted items (that fit in a car) and take them to a Red Cross charity shop.
While the donation drive is only accepting quality clothes (come on, guys — it’s for a good cause), you may be able to find some of the following in good condition.
1. Those Cheap Ballet Flats You Bought To Wear To And From Work
They disintegrate within three months and they look as cheap as they cost. Invest in a great loafer or flat that will serve you on weekends too.
2. Sentimental Logo-Print Tees From Your High School Sports Team
It’s time to move on.
3. Ill-Fitting Or Old Underwear
Anything that digs in, has lost its elasticity or shows (in a bad way) underclothing needs to go. Invest in a lingerie drawer you love.
4. Acrylic Or Poly-Mix Jumpers That Are Pilled Beyond Repair
Cashmere and a great-quality chunky knit should be your bread and butter in the cooler months.
5. Costume Jewellery From Yesteryear
Chances are that a) it’s got that unsightly blue-green tinge and b) you’re lying to yourself that it may come back into fashion at some point.
6. Any Shirts That Are Off-White
You deserve nothing less than a crisp, white shirt.
7. That One-Size-Too-Small Dress
You bought it at a sample sale and convinced yourself that you’d make it fit come summer, but summer came and went and it’s still sitting in your wardrobe with its tags on, gathering dust. Sell that baby on eBay.
8. The Piece You Love That Has An Obvious Stain
I know it breaks your heart to part with it, but if the stain won’t go, it’s time to let it go.
9. That ‘Went Out On A Whim’ Boho Piece
You know the one. Mine’s a black suede, tasselled top from a vintage store in Los Angeles that I fell so deeply in love with that I momentarily mistook myself for Shanina Shaik at Coachella and forked out an inappropriate sum on it. Naturally, it has sat unworn, taunting me in my wardrobe ever since.
10. Skin-Tight Bodycon Dress
Even Kimmy-K has moved on from bodycon. Switch out for a sleek slip dress instead.
11. Cheap Plastic Thongs
Although the ‘fashion thong’ is on its way back in, your Sunday afternoons by the beach should be spent in a high-quality option that doesn’t rub or fall apart.
12. Sky-High Heels You Can’t Actually Walk In
Yes, suffering for the sake of breaking in the perfect pair of heels can be a worthy cause, but if you’re wobbling, uncomfortable and riddled with blisters at the end of the day every time you wear them, they’re not worth the trouble.
13. Dresses Or Skirts That Are Too Short
The key to looking stylish is being confident and comfortable, and if you’re constantly pulling your skirt or dress down out of fear it’s riding up, your whole ‘vibe’ is going to be way off.
15. Trend-Driven Pieces That Don’t Suit You
Self-awareness is a huge part of curating a wardrobe that you love. If you’re 5 foot 3, don’t buy a pair of high-waisted, floor-skimming trousers because they looked great on the models on the Stella McCartney runway.
16. Beat-Up Sneakers
People can tell that they got their ‘distressed’ look from Splendour in the Grass circa 2011. Plus—it’s far more chic to rock a bright, white pair (a la Victoria Beckham) these days anyway.
17. Fast Fashion Buys That Have Lost Their Sheen
Fast fashion can be a great way to keep your wardrobe up-to-date, but you need to keep in mind that, as the quality is diminished, so is the lifespan of a piece. If it shrinks, or develops that strange shiny look after a few washes, don’t wear it anymore.
Related stories
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
