How to give your clothing a second life

Guest Post by Jessica Y. 

I am a hoarder, especially when it comes to clothing. I have tried to live a hoarder free life but for some reason I have never been able to resist buying a bright colored pair of flats, a vintage 70s dress, or a pair of Levi's (I currently own 17 pairs). In February, I moved into a much smaller place, where I had to downsize my life in half and it wasn't till I started packing that I became aware of how much clothing I really owed, and more importantly how much of it I’ve never really worn. Seriously, why must a girl own 9 identical brown cardigans?! Although it felt rewarding downsizing my wardrobe, I still had a hard time letting go of all the clothes I never wore. During this process, I thought of some fun, creative ways to make sure all my clothes could be given a second life, and I wanted to pass them along to all of you grateful
readers!

5 ways to give your clothing a second life:

1. Throw a clothing swap party!
Invite your friends over and have them bring their unwanted clothing, put out some snacks and drinks, and swap around. Everyone leaves home with great "new" pieces.

2. Turn your clothing into a DIY project!
My friend in New York recently sent me a photo of how she took her unwanted dresses and tops and turned them into home decor using embroidery rings! Pintrest is a good place to look for other ideas like this.

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3. Sell and Trade
- Crossroads and Buffalo Exchange are great places to get some extra cash for your unwanted clothing, or get store credit and update your wardrobe. I always wind up finding great scarves, purses and jewelry at these consignment shops.

4. Give a gift!
One year for my birthday my friend gave me the cutest dress, it was a dress that I had always borrowed from her when we lived together years back. Every time I wear it I always think of all the good times we've had.

5. Donate!
There are great alternative places to donate your clothing: Out Of The Closet is a second hand store who's proceeds go to benefit the Aids Healthcare Foundation and Dress For Success is a non-profit organization that provided suits and interview development to women, it's a great place to donate your unwanted work clothes.

I encourage you all to shop smart, and think of the lifecycle of a garment when you make a purchase.

xoxo,

Jessica Y.