Could you give up clothes for good?

I’m not talking about, ya know, giving up clothes for good, it’s more of a giving up clothes for good!

We all love a good declutter; while we might procrastinate and whine for a while, the sense of order and relief you get from finally releasing those unloved and unworn garments is priceless.

I’ve been on a ‘capsule wardrobe’ mission for several years; it’s been a goal of mine to have just a few, well chosen items in my wardrobe that mix and match with one another, creating endless outfit options.

The trouble is, I tend to be a bit of a ‘multiple personality’ type chick which means I change my mind about my look from day to day. And sadly, the conclusion I’m rapidly reaching is that a capsule wardrobe just wouldn’t work for me.

So I STILL have stuff lingering in my wardrobe for those ‘one day’ moments.

Like the dress I wore throughout my pregnancy. I’m not having more children but I remember wearing the dress, feeling fabulous, looking fabulous, announcing my good news to many friends whilst wearing that dress.

On Mother’s Day each year I still wear it; despite it being faded and tatty. (whispers, and it really doesn’t suit me at all).

I have a few pairs of Lycra leggings for the odd times I’m ‘into’ exercise. I hang on to those as a kind of ‘aspiration clutter’ – one day I hope to be a lycra-clad babe jogging down the street looking dewy and fresh…

So there I am, knowing a good declutter is in order (you know you’ve reached that point when it takes you half an hour to find anything and when you put laundry away you shove it in, hope for the best, shut the door and run before odd socks bounce out onto your head) when I hear about the campaign from TK Maxx and Cancer Research UK called “Give up clothes for good“. I first heard about it on Sally’s Tots100 blog.

The idea is that you take your unwanted items into your local TX Maxx store or Cancer Research UK shop throughout April. These will be tagged and sorted before being sold through one of 600 Cancer Research UK stores around the UK. The funds raised are used for researching cures and treatments for children’s cancer. If that’s not enough to have you reaching for the nearest black bag, I don’t know what is!

Sine 2004, £10 million has been raised through the campaign and the aim is to raise a further £2.5 million for groundbreaking research by the end of 2012.

I’ve found an item in my wardrobe that really does need releasing. It’s not going to be easy as it has a huge sentimental attachment to it. The truth is, I’ve worn it once and now I’m hanging onto it for emotional reasons. If I could help a child get life saving treatment for a terminal illness by donating this item, isn’t that the better option?

Have a look at my video to find out what item I’m finally going to bid a fond, and maybe tearful, farewell to…